Bill Text: PA HB634 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishing the Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program; and providing for the powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, the State Fire Commissioner and the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Office in the Department of Health.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 32-14)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-26 - Referred to EDUCATION [HB634 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB634-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 693
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 634 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY WATSON, MELIO, PETRI, O'NEILL, DeLUCA, BARRAR, BEAR, BEYER, BOYD, BRENNAN, CARROLL, CAUSER, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DALLY, J. EVANS, FLECK, GEIST, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GROVE, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, LONGIETTI, MICCARELLI, MILNE, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, ROAE, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, VULAKOVICH AND WANSACZ, FEBRUARY 26, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 26, 2009
AN ACT
Establishing the Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness
Program; and providing for the powers and duties of the
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, the State
Fire Commissioner and the Director of the Emergency Medical
Services Office in the Department of Health.
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
First Responder Loan Forgiveness 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:
"Active volunteer first responder" or "active volunteer." A
volunteer for a volunteer ambulance service, volunteer fire
company or volunteer rescue company certified as meeting the
criteria of this act as set forth under section 7.
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
"Commissioner." The 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.
"Director." The director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical
Services in the Department of Health.
"Program." The Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness
Program.
"Qualified active volunteer first responder applicant." A
person who, in that person's first year of active volunteer
service following completion of a postsecondary degree or
certification program and, in each subsequent year, meets all of
the following criteria:
(1) Has graduated from a postsecondary institution in
this Commonwealth.
(2) Is certified by the Office of the State Fire
Commissioner.
(3) Executes a sworn affidavit, under penalty of
perjury, that the person does not have a delinquent payment
owing to any Commonwealth agency.
(4) Is currently an active volunteer or becomes an
active volunteer subsequent to the effective date of this
section.
"Volunteer organization." A volunteer ambulance service,
volunteer fire company and volunteer rescue company as defined
under section 102 of the act of July 31, 2003 (P.L.73, No.17),
known as the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance
Service Grant Act.
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Section 3. Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Volunteer First Responder Loan
Forgiveness Program is established.
(b) Active volunteer first responder loans.--Qualified
active volunteer first responder applicants who are selected for
the loan forgiveness awards under the program in accordance with
this act shall be eligible for payment by the agency of a
portion of a loan under the agency administered Federal Family
Education Loan Program, including a Stafford or Consolidation
loan, provided that the loan is for the education of the
volunteer first responder and is owned, serviced or guaranteed
by the agency.
Section 4. Loan forgiveness awards.
(a) Qualifications.--A recipient of a loan forgiveness award
must be an active volunteer first responder who is certified by
the commissioner or director. The active volunteer must submit
such documentation of continued eligibility as the agency may
require.
(b) Amount of awards.--
(1) If the applicant is a current active volunteer and
certified as such by the commissioner or director for four
consecutive years, the agency may forgive the active
volunteer applicant's loan of up to $16,000.
(2) Payment of the award shall be made in accordance
with the procedures established by the agency.
(3) A qualified applicant may receive loan forgiveness
awards as follows:
(i) First year of active volunteer status following
graduation in an amount up to $4,000, but not exceeding
25% of the original qualifying loans.
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(ii) Second year of volunteer status following
graduation in an amount up to $4,000, but not exceeding
25% of the original qualifying loans.
(iii) Third year of volunteer status following
graduation in an amount up to $8,000, but not exceeding
50% of the original qualifying loans.
(c) Preference.--The agency may give preference in approving
loan forgiveness awards under the program to renewal
applications.
Section 5. Funding.
The agency may approve loan forgiveness awards only to the
extent that funds are appropriated by the General Assembly and
are sufficient to cover administration of the program. In the
event that funding is insufficient to fully fund administration
and awards to all qualified applicants, the agency shall prorate
loan forgiveness awards.
Section 6. Administration.
The agency shall administer the program and shall adopt such
regulations, policies, procedures and forms as are necessary and
not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.
Section 7. Point system.
(a) General rule.--The commissioner and the director shall
jointly develop and implement a point system establishing the
annual requirements for certification of active volunteers.
(b) Factors.--To determine whether to certify an individual
as an active volunteer, the point system shall consider the
following factors:
(1) The number of emergency calls to which the
individual responded.
(2) The individual's level of training and participation
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in formal training and drills.
(3) Time spent by the individual on administration and
support activities, including fundraising and maintenance of
facilities and equipment.
(4) Involvement by the individual in other projects that
directly benefit the organization's financial viability,
emergency response or operational readiness.
Section 8. Certification.
(a) Self-certification.--The active volunteer must sign and
submit the application to the chief of the volunteer fire
company or the president of the volunteer ambulance service or
volunteer rescue company that the active volunteer serves.
(b) Local sign-off.--The chief and another officer of the
volunteer fire company, the president and another officer of the
volunteer ambulance service or rescue company shall:
(1) Sign the application attesting to the individual's
status as an active volunteer.
(2) Forward the application to the department for final
review and processing.
Section 9. Guidelines.
The agency shall adopt guidelines, including forms, necessary
to administer this act.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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