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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 10, 2022 04:00 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Katie J. Muth |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Minimum Pay for National Guard Members |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to increase the minimum daily pay for state active duty Pennsylvania National Guard personnel. My legislation would amend Title 51 (Military Affairs) to increase the minimum daily special state duty and state active duty pay rate for members of the National Guard from the current $100 per day rate to $180 per day. Pennsylvania National Guard personnel are entitled to “special state duty” or “state active duty” pay whenever they are ordered on active duty for service by the Governor for in-state community events, activities, missions or disasters and emergencies. These costs are paid out of the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) General Government Operations appropriation and state active duty for emergencies are subsequently reimbursed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). PEMA may be reimbursed by the federal government through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if the Governor requests a declaration of a major disaster from the President of the United States. The last time the legislature enacted an increase to the minimum state active duty pay was in 2016, when it was increased from $75 to $100. Over the past six years, the cost of living has significantly increased, along with increased disaster incidents across our Commonwealth, such as catastrophic natural and climate-related disasters, we are relying on assistance and support from our National Guard members. Based on a typical 12-hour shift, our National Guard personnel are making $8.33 per hour at the current $100 per day rate. Increasing state active duty pay to a minimum of $180 per day would increase the hourly rate based on a 12-hour shift to at least $15 per hour. Our National Guard provides invaluable critical assistance to our communities across the Commonwealth. Whether it is in response to a natural disaster or an emergency staffing situation in our nursing homes, they are always ready to step up to get the job done for the greater good of Pennsylvanians. It is time that the General Assembly recognizes their service to our Commonwealth and enacts a long-overdue and much-needed increase to the minimum state active duty pay for National Guard personnel. I hope that you will join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB1242