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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2009
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Sen. Orie Works to Continue Funding for Volunteer Responder Retention and Recruitment Tax Credit

Each year $5 million is allocated from gaming revenue for local government grants to enforce gambling laws, but the money is not being fully utilized and currently there is a surplus of $11.5 million.

Senator Jane Orie, R-40th Majority Whip, has joined with Senator Sen. John C. Rafferty, Jr., R-44th Chair of Law & Justice Committee, and Senator Lisa Baker, R-20th Chair of Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee, to change that and plan to introduce a bill that will provide for the transfer of this surplus and use it for our volunteer firefighters and EMTs.  

"While at this time resources are scarce, we need to continue to support our local volunteers and this surplus should be utilized until a permanent funding source can be secured for the tax credit program" said Senator Orie. 

The legislation would transfer $1.5 million annually to the Pennsylvania State Police for enforcement and prevention of illegal video poker.  All remaining unused money would be allocated to the Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Retention Program Fund, which will allow for the continuation of the state income tax credit for fire and emergency services volunteers that was adopted last year, Act 66 of 2008.

Senator Baker noted, "These funds were set aside to help protect the public.  Our volunteer responders work to keep our communities safe every day.  We believe they should be able to take advantage of this money."

The information on the unused funds was discovered during Senate budget hearings in Harrisburg.

"It is unfortunate that this money is sitting in an account in Harrisburg and could be utilized by the state police and benefit our local fire and emergency service volunteers," said Senator Rafferty.  

The Senators are supported in their efforts by Senator Mike Waugh, Majority Chairman of the Senate Firefighters and Emergency Services Caucus who commented, "Volunteers give their time to protect our communities, so it’s appropriate that these unused funds, which were originally set aside to help our communities enforce gambling laws, be used to both retain current volunteers and encourage new ones." 
 

Contact:

Mike Sarfert
(717) 787-6538