Oct. 07, 2020
HARRISBURG – Seeking to increase the number of adoptions and foster care placements in Pennsylvania, Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) is the prime sponsor of legislation that would create a tax credit for families that provide permanency to children in the care of the Department of Human Services.
House Bill 296 was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday and sent to the full Senate for consideration.
“The Commonwealth’s child welfare agencies are doing heroic work, but they simply cannot find enough foster families to meet the growing demand, created in large part by the opioid epidemic,” said Toohil. “My proposal provides a financial incentive to encourage more adoptions and foster care placements.”
House Bill 296 would establish a one-time $1,000 adoption tax credit and a $500 foster care tax credit that a parent can claim on his or her federal tax return. The Department of Human Services would make available $10 million in tax credits each fiscal year to support the program.
“Our hope is to get this bill to the governor’s desk before the current legislative session ends in next month,” Toohil added.
The legislation passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in June 2019.
To view or download a broadcast-quality video of Toohil remarks at the committee meeting, visit here.
Representative Tarah Toohil
116th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Rep. Toohil’s Office
717-260-6136
RepToohil.com /
Facebook.com/RepToohil