Senate Resolution 60 Commission
Executive Summary
Bucks County Association of Township Officials
Bucks County Association of Borough Officials

The SR60 report is a collective view of ways to strengthen and maintain the voluntary delivery of fire and EMS services in Pennsylvania. Participants in the study included fire and EMS leaders, representatives from State, County and Municipal government, as well as representation from various fire and EMS associations, emergency services volunteers and labor groups.

The primary focus of the report is to recommend ways to sustain the recruitment and retention of volunteers who are estimated to save Pennsylvania taxpayers over $6 billion dollars annually. The report summarizes 23 recommendations which will be used to help set the legislative agenda for 2005 and beyond. It is important for local municipal officials and emergency services personnel to understand the impact of these recommendations within their communities and to work with our legislature to influence legislation designed to meet the needs identified in the report.

Recommendations are focused in five areas; these are summarized below along with the recommendation number and brief description. Refer to the full text of “Report to the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” report dated November 2004 for additional detail regarding each recommendation.

Recommendations

Policy Consistent Statutory Requirements
1. Adopt Legislation to ensure consistent statutory requirement at all levels of municipal government to provide for emergency services.

Administrative Requirements
2. Adopt Legislation to require municipal government to establish a service delivery model to ensure that volunteers provide an expected level of service.

3. Restructure Act 84 (Volunteer Relief Funding), to ensure volunteer firefighter safety. Expand program to include volunteer Emergency Medical Services. Emphasis protection vs. equipment.

5. Revise EMS Act 45 to better reflect out of hospital emergency medicine with enhancement of funding to meet the delivery structure. Partner with other public safety agencies to eliminate duplication. Clear regulatory authority for the Dept. of Health and EMS Commissioner.

10. Enact legislation to provide a framework for emergency service mutual aid agreements.

15. Establish the position of EMS Commissioner.

19. Restructure the Loan Assistance Program to better address the use and distribution of funds. Include a risk assessment for funding structural modifications or apparatus purchases.

Operational Finance
6. Provide permanent funding to the Volunteer Fire Service/Volunteer Ambulance with future grants indexed to the Consumer Price Index beginning 2006.

7. Permit local taxing rate of 3 mils for fire and 3 mils for EMS. Higher rates by voter approval.

8. Draft legislation to permit Regional Fire/EMS Boards, Authorities and Districts to create a regional delivery district, empowered to establish a tax or assessment rate to meet the defined delivery system for that particular area.

13. Public Safety Service Fee. Enacted: Amendment of Act 511 of 1965 during the 2004 legislative session to permit a $52 per year tax on resident and non-resident workers.

14. Permit direct reimbursement to EMS/Fire agencies from insurers minimizing follow-up activities.

16. Expand services of the Department of General Services, PA Council of Governments and the PA Fire and Emergency Services Institute to expand a Fire and EMS purchasing process to include additional choices of basic ambulances, engines, and aerials.

17. Move legislation from committee (HB 767) to reimburse cities for career fire staff training.

18. Expand the ability for fire and EMS agencies to bill for incidents other than medical and hazardous materials. Establish reasonable fees for services.

Benefits and Incentives
4. Provide $250 state income tax credit to “active” volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel.

9. Provide a statewide retirement program for volunteers. Modify Act 84 (Volunteer Relief Funding) to provide Length of Service Award Programs.

11. Provide reduced tuition/credits for volunteer fire and EMS personnel through the PA State University and Community College Systems.

12. Provide Business Tax Credits for businesses which allow volunteers to respond to calls or attend training during business hours.

21. Create a Permissible Benefits Spending Program to allow the use of Act 84 money to fund a $575/person contribution to a qualified retirement annuity fund. Other incentives: participation in credit unions, development of a reduced rate home mortgage program.

22. Develop legislation to provide health care insurance through the State’s health care system (including family benefits) for volunteer fire and EMS personnel who are in need of coverage.

23. Eliminate unnecessary administrative reporting of fire and EMS organizations. E.g., Charitable Registration Law, additional requirements to have “dissolution clause” in organizations charter in able to continue to receive sales tax exemption status, regular audits of relief organizations, PA State Police charge for criminal background checks.

Operational
20. Establish a regional/county level position to consult with local Fire Commissioners, Presidents, Fire Chiefs, EMS Managers, etc. for items involving recordkeeping, fire suppression counseling, urban search and rescue, report filing, grant development, PENNFIRS reporting, training program coordination, recruitment/retention, legislative changes, etc.