The state Senate should put a priority stamp on House-passed legislation that would give employers tax credits when they allow volunteer firefighters and other first responders to leave their jobs to rush to emergency calls.

Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill and Carbon, the bill had unusual bipartisan support and passed 202-0 in the 203-member lower house.

These volunteers would not be docked pay because of their absence from work, nor would they be required to use sick or vacation time.

In return, employers would receive tax credits in their payments of the state income, sales or business taxes, up to $10,000 a year or 20% of their tax liability, whichever is lower. While this employer benefit would not be retroactive, it could be carried over for one year if not used, Knowles said.

Knowles acknowledged that the way it is now, employers’ handling of these calls runs the gamut from those who encourage volunteer participation to those who force employees to use vacation or sick time if they are called away from the job.

Knowles cited the late John “Sonny” Kovatch, founder of KME, the fire equipment maker in Nesquehoning, as an inspiration for the legislation. He said Kovatch, along with small-business owners in Tamaqua whom he knows, were among those who encouraged, supported and compensated volunteers in allowing them to leave work to handle emergency calls.

It’s important to remember, however, that this legislation, even if it passes, does not compel employers to give time off, but it will encourage them because of the financial reimbursement for lost productivity. Pretty much of a no-brainer.

Once a volunteer himself, Knowles cited the critical need for volunteer firefighters whose numbers have dwindled by about 88% since 1976. When he first joined a fire company, he said young men his age were much more receptive to this kind of community service.

“It was the thing to do back then,” Knowles said. “Today, people are much busier in two-earner households, and they have other interests.”

Knowles has enlisted the help of fellow legislator, Sen. David Argall, R-Schuylkill, to try to secure traction for Bill 1189 in the upper chamber of the General Assembly. According to Knowles, Argall said he would seek the help of the majority Republican Senate leadership to try to get the bill an early floor vote.

Knowles is confident that if it does get Senate approval that Gov. Tom Wolf will sign it. Knowles acknowledged, however, that with the intense focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to get through to Wolf’s staff to lobby for the bill.

“But this is a bill everyone can agree on,” Knowles believes. Local co-sponsors are: Reps. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon; Neal Goodman, D-Schuylkill; Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh; Justin Simmons, R-Lehigh and Northampton; and Bob Freeman, D-Northampton.

There were several other provisions of the bill unrelated to the main theme, and I asked Knowles why. He said they were strongly recommended by the House leadership through its majority caucus chair, Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-Montgomery.

One would extend the benefits offered by the Heart and Lung Act for police and other first responders who require quarantine because of COVID-19 by providing up to 60 days of paid leave and not requiring use of sick leave or vacation.

Another would require the state Health Department to make public COVID-19 cases with demographic information broken down by ZIP codes.

This week, however, the department beat this legislation to the punch by beginning to publish publicly the number of people tested and the number who tested positive by ZIP code. The department’s decision goes even further than the recommendation of Carbon’s Heffley, who had lobbied to have ZIP code information provided to first responders but not necessarily made public.

Knowles said he will be conferring with Argall on what to do about that paragraph. Knowles said the simplest way might be for the Senate to remove the paragraph, which, if done, would mean that the bill would have to go back to the House of Representatives for agreement, then back to the Senate to have concurrence on the amended bill. “It’s complicated,” Knowles acknowledged.

A third provision would extend by 60 days after the crisis designation is lifted the deadline for vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses and handicapped placards.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com