By Lauren Jessop
Centre Daily Times
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A bill easing restrictions on youth emergency services volunteers was among 58 measures recently signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
House Bill 2014, introduced by Rep. Greg Scott, D- Norristown, unanimously passed the lower chamber in June and the Senate earlier this month. The legislation extends the hours during which young volunteers can participate in training and authorized activities.
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The changes aim to remove barriers to youth participation and help replenish Pennsylvania’s shrinking ranks of volunteer emergency responders.
Under the state’s Child Labor Act, 14- and 15-year-old volunteers could participate in permitted activities until 10 p.m. before a school day, but only 9 p.m. on weekends, holidays, and during summer breaks.
It also permits volunteers ages 14 and older to ride in official emergency vehicles to fire and other emergency scenes, provided they engage in only activities authorized for their age and their transportation complies with federal regulations.
“The number of Pennsylvania residents volunteering for their local fire companies has been in steady decline since the 1970s,” Scott said. “We’re in crisis. Many of our emergency response organizations are chronically understaffed and unable to respond efficiently to calls. This bill helps position us to grow our volunteer base, starting with our youngest volunteers.”
Scott said the previous restrictions made it difficult for some fire companies to schedule training and prepare young volunteers for future service.
“Making the curfew 10 p.m. year-round is a small change that can make scheduling and holding trainings easier on many volunteer-run outfits,” he said. “That can make a huge difference in whether minors get the training they need, and continue to serve their communities as they grow older.”
Under state law, youth may join a volunteer fire company as young as 14 with written consent from a parent or guardian.
Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighting ranks have declined sharply since the 1970s. In a memorandum seeking support for the legislation, Scott cited estimates that the state has roughly one-tenth as many volunteer firefighters as it did five decades ago.
Harmonville Fire Company No. 1 Chief John Hoffman also voiced support for the legislation.
“Our junior firefighters are the future of the volunteer fire service, and we must provide them with every opportunity to train, learn and develop their skills,” Hoffman said. “Extending the curfew to 10 p.m. year-round is a commonsense change that removes unnecessary barriers while helping fire companies recruit, train and retain the next generation of firefighters. I applaud Representative Greg Scott for recognizing the importance of investing in our youth and the future of Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire service.”
As departments increasingly lean on teenage volunteers to fill the gap, are we asking too much of young people too soon, or is this the right way to secure the future of volunteer EMS and fire service?
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