Hearing Set to Consider Volunteer Fire Dept. Bill

Legislation intended to improve delivery of emergency services

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on legislation intended to encourage mergers and partnerships among private departments, according to Senator Don White, Committee Chairman and prime sponsor of the measure, Senate Bill 1236.

The Hearing is set for 1 p.m., Wednesday, September 6, in Room 8E-A in the State Capitol East Wing.

SB 1236 would establish a grant program funded by using part of a $100 million bond issue approved in 2002. The legislation has strong bi-partisan support with 21 co-sponsors in addition to Senator White, the prime sponsor, and Senator Mike Waugh, the primary co-sponsor.

Currently, volunteer emergency service organizations have limited sources of grants and loans, such as the Community Revitalization Program, the Emergency Responders Resources and Training Program, the Volunteer Fire Grant, the 2% Loan Program, and Relief Association distributions.

"This legislation would create a new program that would provide grants to private, non-profit volunteer fire companies/departments or EMS organizations and local governments applying on behalf of the fire companies as long as they meet certain set criteria," Senator White said.

The maximum grants in the legislation would include the following:

Up to $100,000 for each finalized merger, consolidation or regional entity created.
Up to $50,000 for each company involved in a merged, consolidated or regionalized entity.
Up to $20,000 for creation of each new association of emergency service organizations.
Up to $50,000 for each new company absorbed into or added to an existing merged, consolidated or regional entity.
Up to $20,000 for design, creation and delivery of communication or education programs designed to recruit and retain members. Funds awarded under this activity are restricted to this activity and may not be used for other purposes.

Speakers scheduled to give testimony during the hearing include (subject to change):

Dean Fernsler, Local Government Policy Manager, Department of Community and Economic Development.
Edward Mann, Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner
Skip Rupert, President of the York County Firefighters Association.
Charles Cressley, Director of Operations for the Jefferson County EMS.
Daniel Sacco, Director of Safety and Security, Indiana Regional Medical Center.
Chief Joseph Manerchia, Past Chief of the Marcus Hook Fire Department, Delaware County.