THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, KASUNIC, BROWNE, ORIE, ARGALL, RAFFERTY, KITCHEN, TOMLINSON, PIPPY, ALLOWAY, FARNESE, SOLOBAY, WAUGH, BREWSTER, COSTA AND BOSCOLA, JANUARY 12, 2011

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 12, 2011  

AN ACT

Establishing a tuition credit program for certain members of

volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and

volunteer rescue squads and their dependent children and

spouses.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Volunteer

Emergency Service Tuition Credit Program Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Community college."  A public college or technical institute

which is established and operated under Article XIX-A of the act

of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School

Code of 1949, and all branches or campuses of a community

college.

"Firefighter."  A member of a volunteer fire company.

"State Fire Commissioner" or "commissioner."  The

Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner appointed under section 3

of the act of November 13, 1995 (P.L.604, No.61), known as the

State Fire Commissioner Act.

"Volunteer."  A firefighter or member of a volunteer

ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad.

"Volunteer ambulance service."  Any nonprofit chartered

corporation, association or organization located in this

Commonwealth and regularly engaged in the service of providing

emergency medical care and transportation of patients.

"Volunteer fire company."  A nonprofit chartered corporation,

association or organization located in this Commonwealth that

provides fire protection services and may offer other voluntary

emergency services within this Commonwealth. Voluntary emergency

services may include voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue

services.

"Volunteer rescue squad."  Any nonprofit chartered

corporation, association or organization located in this

Commonwealth which provides rescue services in this

Commonwealth.

Section 3.  Tuition credit program.

(a)  General.--A person who is an active member of a

volunteer fire company, volunteer ambulance service or volunteer

rescue squad in good standing and the dependent children and

spouse of such volunteer shall be eligible to enroll in

postsecondary courses on a tuition-credit basis in a community

college.

(b)  Amount.--A volunteer and the volunteer's dependent

children and spouse shall be eligible to receive tuition credit

in the aggregate amount of $600 per year, not to exceed an

aggregate maximum of $2,400 over a four-year service period.

(c)  Availability.--The tuition credit may be utilized for a

course offered by the community college provided that available

classroom space permits and that tuition-paying students

constitute the minimum number required for the course.

(d)  Fees.--Nothing in this act shall be construed to

prohibit a community college from requiring registration and lab

fees for individuals attending courses under this act.

Section 4.  Eligibility.

In order for a volunteer or a volunteer's dependent child or

spouse to be eligible to receive tuition credit, the volunteer

shall agree to serve as a member of a volunteer fire company,

volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad for a

minimum of four years and sign an agreement with the volunteer

organization pledging four years of service in exchange for the

tuition credit. Following each year of active volunteer

services, the volunteer organization shall provide the State

Fire Commissioner with a letter verifying that the volunteer has

been a member in good standing for the past 12 months.

Section 5.  Verification of service.

Upon being accepted and enrolled in a community college, the

volunteer, dependent child or spouse shall provide the community

college with a sworn or official statement of fact by the

commissioner attesting that the volunteer has performed the

service required for the tuition credit. Upon completion of each

semester, the volunteer shall submit a transcript to the

commissioner to be maintained in a permanent record. The

volunteer, dependent child or spouse shall maintain a "C" grade

average in order to continue eligibility for the tuition credit

program.

Section 6.  Issuance of certificate of authorization.

The commissioner shall issue a certificate of authorization

to the volunteer, dependent child or spouse to be presented to

the community college, stating that the volunteer, parent or

spouse is a member in good standing of a volunteer fire company,

volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad.

Section 7.  State Fire Commissioner duties.

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner shall develop such

procedures and forms as it deems necessary to carry out the

provisions of this act.

Section 8.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 30 days.