HB 1773 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency management services, providing for tuition assistance for active volunteers; and establishing the Active Volunteer Tuition Assistance Program and Active Volunteer Tuition Assistance Fund.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2364 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

27631773 THE2019 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFSTRUZZI, PENNSYLVANIAFARRY, HOUSEBARRAR, BILLBOBACK, SessionCALTAGIRONE, CIRESI, ECKER, FREEMAN, HEFFLEY, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, KULIK, MALAGARI, MURT, OWLETT, PYLE, READSHAW, SAINATO, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHMITT, STAATS, ULLMAN, ZABEL, ZIMMERMAN AND SCHWEYER, AUGUST 30, 2019 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 30, 2019 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of No.the Pennsylvania providing for tuition assistance for active volunteers;

1773 2019 INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, FARRY, BARRAR, BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, CIRESI, ECKER, FREEMAN, HEFFLEY, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, KULIK, MALAGARI, MURT, OWLETT, PYLE, READSHAW, SAINATO, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHMITT, STAATS, ULLMAN, ZABEL, ZIMMERMAN, SCHWEYER, POLINCHOCK, O'MARA, RIGBY, DEASY, DeLUCA, GAYDOS, HELM, DUSH, BURNS, THOMAS, QUINN, GILLEN, KORTZ AND RYAN, AUGUST 30, 2019 AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OCTOBER 22, 2019 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency management services, providing for tuition assistance for active volunteers;

"Eligible student." An active volunteer who is enrolled in 20190HB1773PN2763 - 2 - an approved institution of higher learning.

20190HB1773PN2364 - 2 - "Emergency medical services agency." As defined in section 8103 (relating to definitions).

SUBCHAPTER B ACTIVE VOLUNTEER TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 20190HB1773PN2763 - 3 - Sec.

20190HB1773PN2364 - 3 - 79B11.

(3) Has participated in not less than 30% OR, IF THE <-- INDIVIDUAL WAS ENROLLED AS A STUDENT IN A HIGH SCHOOL OR IN AN APPROVED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION AT AN APPROVED INSTITUTION 20190HB1773PN2763 - 4 - OF HIGHER LEARNING WITHIN THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE AGENCY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE, NOT LESS THAN 15% of a volunteer organization's activities within the one-year period before the individual submitted an application to the agency for tuition assistance.

The activities may include, but not be 20190HB1773PN2364 - 4 - limited to, training, drills, emergency response calls, administrative and operational support, fundraising or other events and projects that aid the financial viability of the volunteer organization.

From funds appropriated for the program, tuition assistance shall be provided to eligible students to pursue approved programs of education on or after the effective date of this 20190HB1773PN2763 - 5 - section.

Before participating in the program, an individual must sign a promissory note obligating the individual to repay the full amount of the tuition assistance received by the individual if the individual fails to satisfy the requirements under the 20190HB1773PN2364 - 5 - program as specified under section 79B17 (relating to recoupment of tuition assistance payments).

(2) The annual tuition rate charged by an institution within the State System of Higher Education for the number of credit hours per semester or its equivalent in which the part-time student is enrolled for the same academic year or 20190HB1773PN2763 - 6 - period.

An eligible student shall not receive tuition assistance for 20190HB1773PN2364 - 6 - a total of more than five academic years or an equivalent amount of time as determined by the agency.

(a) Logs.--For the purpose of ensuring compliance with the requirements under the program, the chief of a volunteer fire company or the supervisor or chief of an emergency medical services agency or their designees shall establish and maintain a service log that documents the services provided by an active volunteer participating in the program, including a calculation of the amount of time the active volunteer conducts activities 20190HB1773PN2763 - 7 - with the volunteer organization.

20190HB1773PN2364 - 7 - (a) Self-certification.--An individual shall sign and submit an application to the chief of a volunteer fire company or the supervisor or chief of the emergency medical services agency to attest that the individual is an active volunteer.

20190HB1773PN2763 - 8 - § 79B21.

(b) Appropriation.--Money deposited or transferred into the fund, including any accrued interest, is appropriated to the 20190HB1773PN2364 - 8 - agency on a continuing basis to implement the program.

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