SR 6 bills in the Senate/ Messaging Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Prep (VA&EP) members:

MESSAGE: These bills have been passed by the full House of Representatives and are now in the Senate VA&EP committee. Please consider these pieces of legislation in committee so they can be sent to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.

● HB 1448- Sturla- voter referendum to expand loan assistance ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1834- Sainato- Extends and expands grant for recruitment and retention ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1838- Causer- Increase funding for EMSOF ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1869- Owlett- Ambulance staffing waiver ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1673- Farry- Volunteer Firefighters Length of Service Award Program ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1773- Struzzi- First responder tuition assistance ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1816- Schlegel-Culver- Increase VLAP loan Limits ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1839- Brooks- Tax credits for volunteer first responders ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1705- Gabler,M- Title 35/ tax credits for volunteer first responder ○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

● HB 1459- Schlossberg- establishes a mental wellness and stress management protocol within the PA Department of Health

○ Referred to Senate VA&EP Committee

Senate Finance Committee members:

MESSAGE: These bills have been passed by the full House of Representatives and are now in the Senate Finance committee. Please consider these pieces of legislation in committee so they can be sent to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.

● HB 269- Driscoll- provide an exemption from the Realty Transfer Tax for the surviving spouse/children of a first responder.

○ Referred to Senate Finance Committee
● HB 732- Quinn- provide an exemption from the Realty Transfer Tax for volunteer service providers.

○ Referred to Senate Finance Committee

To Bring to Senate Leadership’s Attention for Floor Vote:

MESSAGE: These bills have been considered by the Senate and are either awaiting a vote on the Senate floor or are in the Senate Appropriations committee awaiting fiscal analysis before being considered on the Senate floor (a​ s noted on each bill below)​. Please consider these pieces of legislation so they can be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

● SB 94- Martin- This legislation would ensure workers’ compensation coverage for all active duty Volunteer Firefighters, Fire, Police, officers or directors of a Volunteer Fire Company, and integral members of a volunteer fire company if injured in the performance of their duties.

○ This bill is now in a position to be considered by the full Senate

● SB 331- Brooks- Amends the Public School Code, in terms and courses of study, further providing for firefighter and emergency service training and establishing the Fire Training Fund.

○ This bill is now in the Senate appropriations committee. Once the committee considers the bill for a fiscal review it will be in a position to be considered by the full Senate.

● SB 908- Regan- Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in volunteer firefighters for funds and for audits and providing for fire relief formula study.

○ This bill is now in the Senate appropriations committee. Once the committee considers the bill for a fiscal review it will be in a position to be considered by the full Senate.

● SB 910- Mastriano- Amends Title 35 (Health & Safety), in grants to fire & EMS companies establishing award of grants, for Grant Program, additional funding, & expiration of authority.

○ This bill is now in the Senate appropriations committee. Once the committee considers the bill for a fiscal review it will be in a position to be considered by the full Senate.

Other Committees:

While we are not targeting these committees, it will be helpful to bring them up in your conversations with Senate Leadership.

MESSAGE: These bills are also part of the SR 6 package and have been passed by the full House of Representatives and are now in various Senate committees. Please consider these pieces of legislation in committee so they can be sent to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.

● HB 1758- Ortitay- exempts both volunteer fire and EMS companies from the payment of PSP accident report fee; adds both to municipal police accident Reports

○ Referred to Senate Transportation Committee
● HB 1786- Sainato- First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program

○ Referred to Senate Education Committee
● HB 1780- James,R- Title 35/ volunteer fire/EMS companies and the Right-to-Know Law (exempts from RTKL)

○ Referred to Senate State Government Committee

Senate co-sponsorship memos:

MESSAGE: These are important concepts brought up in the SR 6 report and we support the concepts and would like to see these pieces of legislation introduced and considered in the Senate.

● Volunteer Fire Company Reimbursements – Killion
○ Allowing volunteer fire companies to bill for real and reasonable costs incurred when responding to a 911 emergency. Currently, there is no state law that authorizes or prohibits volunteer fire companies from billing for their services.This legislation would specify that an individual who is involved in an emergency, that necessitates a response from a volunteer emergency services organization, shall be liable for the actual and reasonable response costs, when services are rendered.

● Office of the State Fire Commissioner Restructuring – Hutchinson
○ This proposed piece of legislation advances a major goal by restructuring and enhancing the Office of the State Fire Commissioner by:

■ Requiring Senate Confirmation of the State Fire Commissioner
■ Establishing a State Fire Advisory Board
■ Charging the Office of the Fire Commissioner as the lead agency for fire services in the Commonwealth