Act 12 Implementation on Track, Barrar Says
HARRISBURG – Rep. Stephen E. Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), acting in his role as majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, today participated in the House Appropriations Committee budget hearing for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
During the hearing, Barrar requested an update on PEMA’s implementation of Act 12 of 2015, formally
House Bill 911, which increased funding for and enabled county 911 centers to provide critical emergency services to the community as quickly as possible and via a host of new communication methods including texting, calls from video, non-human (e.g. OnStar) calls and calls from non-specific devices, such as an iPad.
“I am pleased to learn that PEMA is on track with the implementation of Act 12, and based on first-quarter collections, is set to exceed revenue expectations this year due to the implementation of the updated surcharge,” Barrar said. “Ultimately, the updated revenue stream provided by Act 12 will allow for better, more efficient emergency response and preparedness.
The chairman also asked for information on the fire commissioner’s volunteer retention and recruitment efforts, and what, if any coordination was taking place with the current administration to ensure the continuation of the commission’s Volunteer Fire and EMS Department Grant Program, which is set to expire June 30. Barrar’s recently introduced legislation,
House Bill 1877, would extend the grant program for four additional years.
“Volunteer fire companies save local municipalities and taxpayers billions of dollars,” Bararr said. “It is important, not only from a fiscal perspective, but for the safety of all Pennsylvanians, that we provide adequate support for these organizations.”
Testifying at today’s budget hearing was PEMA Director Richard Flinn and state Fire Commissioner Tim Solobay. The hearing was one of several hearings conducted annually during the House Appropriations Committee’s detailed review of the governor’s budget proposal.
Representative Stephen E. Barrar
160th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
SteveBarrar.com /
Facebook.com/RepBarrar