Legislative Alert – 9/12/19

Jerry
September 13th, 2019
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Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute

Legislative Alert – Call to Action

September 11, 2019

House VA & EP Committee Action

Greetings!

PFESI has been advised of the following House legislative activity that supports the recent SR 6 committee report

Please be advised that members of the Fire & EMS community should contact and meet with members of the House VA & EP Committee and advocate for the following:

Committee Vote – September 18^th – 9:00 A.M.

HB 759 (Dush/Jozwiak)

Authorizes volunteer fire departments to bill for real and reasonable costs.

HB 1347 (Masser)

Requires insurance carriers to reimbursement ambulance companies directly that are not in the insurance carrier’s network.

HB 1673 (Farry)

Authorizes volunteer fire departments to use Volunteer Fire Relief Funds for Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAP), which are mini-retirement programs for volunteer firefighters.

HB 1705 (Gabler)

Authorizes school districts to provide a property tax credit of up to 100% for volunteer emergency responders.

HB 1773 (Struzzi)

Establishes the First Responder Tuition Assistance Program.

HB 1780 (James) – Exempts volunteer fire/EMS companies from the Right-to-Know Law

HB 1786 (Sainato)

First Responder College Loan Forgiveness Program.

SB 146 (Brooks)

Online training for firefighters.

Action NEEDED:

The key is to CONTACT members of the House VA & EP Committee so they are aware and cannot make an excuse that they do not know about these bills!

How to identify Members of the House VA & EP Committee contact and district Information:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=42&CteeBody=H

Click on the members name
Identify district on the Google Map
1. If you live or your emergency services organization is in that district, this is your member.
Contact the members District Office and set up a meeting or send message of support for the above legislation.
Example Message to communicate:
1. I wanted to contact you to ask you to support SR 6 bills that are coming out of the House VA&EP committee and will very likely be in front of the House for a full vote this Fall.

Example of Email that we are requesting you to send:

Chairmen and Committee Members of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee:

Both Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute (PFSEI) and Firemen’s Association State of Pennsylvania (FASP) support the SR 6 bills that are on the committee’s agenda for Wednesday, September 18th. These important pieces of legislation will help to provide the much needed assistance fire and emergency services across the Commonwealth very much so need. Please vote in support of:

- HB 759 Dush, Cris Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in emergency management services, providing for emergency response payment.
- HB 1347 Masser, Kurt Amends the Insurance Company Law, in casualty insurance, further providing for billing.
- HB 1673 Farry, Frank Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in volunteer firefighters, further providing for definitions, for statement of purpose, for funds and for audits.
- HB 1705 Gabler, Matt Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in incentives for municipal volunteers of fire companies and nonprofit EMS agencies, further providing for definitions, for real property tax credit and for rejection and appeal.
- HB 1773 Struzzi, James (F) Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in emergency management services, providing for tuition assistance for active volunteers; & establishing the Active Volunteer Tuition Assistance Program & Fund.
- HB 1780 James, Lee Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety), in miscellaneous provisions, providing for exemption.
- HB 1786 Sainato, Chris Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in incentives for municipal volunteers of fire companies & nonprofit emergency medical services agencies, establishing the First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program; and making editorial changes.
- SB 146 Brooks, Michele Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety), in Commonwealth services, providing for online training for firefighters; and making a related repeal.

Thank you for your support!

Members contact information is below:

Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee

Majority Members

Stephen Barrar – Chair

717-783-3038

sbarrar@pahousegop.com

Mark Gillen R. Lee James

717-787-8550 717-783-8188

mgillen@pahousegop.com rljames@pahousegop.com

Frank Farry Zachary Mako

717-260-6140 717-772-5398