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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 4, 2008

 

Senate Approves Tax Credit for Volunteer Responders

Senator Browne's amendment provides $100 for firefighters, EMS

The Senate today (July 4) approved legislation providing a $100 tax credit for active volunteer firefighters and EMS workers, according to Senator Pat Browne, author of an amendment providing for the tax credit. The provision was included as part of House Bill 377, the tax code bill passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget.

"Recruitment and retention are serious issues facing many volunteer fire and rescue companies," said Senator Browne, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Pennsylvania’s tax policies. "This tax credit will have a minimal impact on the state budget, but could be a major incentive to keep volunteers in uniform and possibly attract more people to consider volunteering."

Senator Browne's amendment, which was adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, also directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study to determine whether alternative forms of personal income tax forgiveness would be more beneficial to low-income Pennsylvanians.

Contact:

Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349