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Senate Approves Tomlinson Legislation
to Restore Volunteer Firefighter/EMS Funding
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate passed legislation today that would restore $25 million in state funding
to support volunteer firefighters and ambulance services, according to the
bill's sponsor Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks).
In June, the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court removed a provision in the gaming law that provided $25 million
annually to the Commonwealth's first responders. Senate Bill 867 would restore
this funding to ensure that volunteer firefighters and ambulance services would
have access to necessary equipment and facilities.
"We owe our first responders
a great deal of appreciation for their service to their community, and we need
to continue to provide them with the resources they need to protect us,"
Tomlinson said. "This grant program is the largest single source of state
support available to our volunteer firefighters and ambulance services, and I am
proud that we have taken the first step to restore this funding."
Tomlinson said that the
funding would be used for the construction or renovation of facilities, for the
purchase or repair of equipment, for training personnel, or for debts associated
with capital projects.
Tomlinson thanked Sens. Don
White (R-Indiana) and Sean Logan (D-Allegheny) for their leadership on the
issue. Senate Bill 867 now goes to the House of Representatives for
consideration.
 
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