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A bill authorizing school districts to offer tax credits to active volunteer first responders recently passed by unanimous vote in the state House.
State Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Wellsboro, chief sponsor of the bill, said the legislation will help in the recruitment and retention of EMS and firefighters.
"As it should, support for our first responder agencies transcends political ideology," Owlett said. "We are all committed to providing additional tools to help our first responder agencies recruit and retain the volunteers they need to continue their life-saving service in our communities."
Owlett said his bill expands Act 172 of 2016 allowing counties and municipalities to offer the tax credits.
Presently, the property tax credit allowance is up to 20% of an active volunteer's tax liability, but Owlett's proposal increased the amount to 100% of a tax liability across the board.
Owlett said the change is necessary to ensure school boards that choose to implement a tax credit program are able to do so.
Authorization for school districts to participate in the program started last year, but the tax credit has been available to municipalities for nearly five years.
More than 50 communities in counties across the state are offering the benefit, he noted.
State Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock, said first responders including volunteer fire departments face challenges with needed resources. COVID-19, he noted, made it difficult to hold fundraising events that help them meet their budgets.
He said he's open to any suggestions for helping first responders.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see they are hurting," he said.
State Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, could not be reached for comment for this story.