PA Senate OKs bill to train young firefighters
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - The Pennsylvania Senate has unanimously approved legislation to provide firefighter training to high school students.
Senate Bill 955 would create a three-year pilot program to provide $150,000 per year to three community colleges. The colleges would establish partnerships with high schools to provide firefighter training classes.
Co-sponsors Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) and Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said their bill would help fire companies facing severe shortages of volunteers.
“We have found that if students do not join a volunteer fire company by the time they graduate from high school, it is unlikely that they will join the firefighting ranks,” Vulakovich said in a statement.
The bill is awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives.
