An Act Concerning A Credit Against The Personal Income Tax For Municipal Volunteer Firefighters And Municipal Volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians.
Impact
If enacted, this bill would impact state tax law by creating a new tax credit for individuals serving as volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians. By offering this credit, the state would effectively reduce the taxable income of eligible taxpayers, incentivizing participation in local emergency service roles. The introduction of such a tax credit may lead to an increase in the number of volunteer responders, potentially improving community safety and emergency response times while strengthening local volunteer programs.
Summary
House Bill 5017 aims to establish a financial incentive for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians by introducing a $500 credit against the personal income tax for taxpayers serving in these roles. This proposal is designed to recognize the efforts and contributions of these individuals, who often operate without financial compensation and provide essential services to their communities. Additionally, the bill intends to enhance recruitment and retention of volunteers in these crucial emergency services, addressing the growing need for reliable and accessible first responders in municipalities.
Contention
There may be points of contention surrounding HB 5017, particularly in terms of fiscal implications. Opponents may raise concerns about the cost of implementing the tax credit and how this could affect state revenues. Critics may question whether the financial incentive is sufficient to address the broader issues of volunteer recruitment and retention or if it might disproportionately benefit wealthier individuals who may already be engaging in volunteer work for personal reasons. Furthermore, debates about the equity of tax credits and their effectiveness in achieving the intended goals may arise during legislative discussions.
An Act Concerning A Municipal Tax Abatement For Surviving Domestic Partners Of Police Officers, Firefighters And Emergency Medical Technicians And Allowing A Personal Income Tax Deduction For Stipends Paid To Volunteer Firefighters, Volunteer Fire Police Officers And Volunteer Ambulance Members.
An Act to Include Certain Volunteer Firefighters in the Tax Credit for Employers of Individuals Who Are Volunteer Firefighters or Volunteer Municipal Emergency Medical Services Persons