Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

The PA Governor has signed into law a bill that provides a $100 tax CREDIT
against your state income tax bill for members of recognized emergency
response organizations.  By statute this includes fire, EMS, and rescue.
The chief officer will have to certify a list of active members and each
member will then claim the credit when they file their PA state income tax.
Any before tax deductions for donated time, mileage or expenses are still
allowed. This credit may be claimed on the 2008 tax year return.

Pending in the State Senate are several other bills: 
1. A 50% per credit hour discount for active volunteer emergency response
personnel at all state related (Temple, Pitt, etc)universities, the 14 state
universities, and Penn State after 1 year of active volunteering.
2. A $1000 per employee, maximum $5000 per tax year, tax credit for
employers who let their employees respond to emergencies on company time.   
3. A credit on the township personal earned income tax for responders (This
is a 1% tax on gross earnings, no deductions).

These are the most significant at this time.

Irv Lichtenstein 
SE PA SAR