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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 23, 2023 09:50 AM
From:	Representative Mandy Steele
To:	All House members
Subject:	Tax Credits for Volunteer First Responders

Recruitment and retention of volunteer first responders in our communities is vital.  Unfortunately, many volunteer companies/departments are suffering from the ability to recruit and retain the personnel needed to keep us healthy and safe.     For example, in the 1970s, Pennsylvania had over 300,000 volunteer firefighters.  That number has dwindled to approximately 37,000.  Even with the reduced numbers, everyone continues to depend on these hard-working and dedicated volunteers on a daily basis to protect them.   A Volunteer First Responder Education Tax Credit Program would encourage more people to serve by providing them with tuition assistance for a higher education, which is why I will be introducing legislation that would provide a scholarship of up to $5,000 to each active volunteer first responder who attends a Pennsylvania institution of higher learning on a full-time basis.   Those enrolled as part-time students would be eligible for a scholarship of $2,500.  Businesses that make a contribution to a scholarship program at an institution of higher learning would be eligible for a tax credit.   Providing this educational incentive would help to increase the number of volunteer first responders in our state.  Please join me in support of this important legislation.

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