Five House Republicans want to use money collected from the state’s fireworks tax to help the state’s struggling fire departments and EMTs.

Reps. Frank Farry, Lynda Culver, F. Todd Polinchock, Jim Rigby and Shelby Labs have proposed five bills using existing fireworks tax proceeds on a variety of EMS and fire department needs.

House Bill 2726 would provide scholarship grants for reimbursement of EMS training.

“Low reimbursements from private health insurers put many of Pennsylvania’s ambulance companies in a financial vice,” Farry wrote in his legislative description. “This bill will help EMS organizations who are assuming larger coverage areas because of the closings of nearby volunteer ambulance companies.”

House Bill 2728 would spend some of the fireworks tax money for the Office of State Fire Commissioner to disseminate public safety information on the dangers of fireworks. Culver said in 2021 there was a 50% increase in injuries and death resulting from use of fireworks.

“While fireworks are a great way to showcase our patriotism, especially on the Fourth of July, but when used incorrectly, they can lead to serious injury and death,” she wrote.

House Bill 2729, sponsored by Polinchock, wants to give more money to fire departments to establish or modernize the state’s firehouses or to acquire or renovate firehouses. Fire departments would not be allowed to use the additional grants for operating expenses, refinancing renovated buildings, refinancing prior loans, purchasing equipment or reducing debt. House Bill 2730 would allow capital grants for emergency service training centers and would include both acquiring new facilities and renovating existing buildings.

“This legislation would provide for Municipal Fire Department Capital Grants,” Polinchock wrote. “As highlighted in the SR6 report, fire departments are facing continuous struggles which go beyond manpower and equipment. The funding will be utilized to both renovate existing structures as well as acquire new facilities that house equipment and emergency response vehicles. This will help to ensure that the equipment that firefighters rely on is housed properly.”

House Bill 2731 would set aside $250,000 of firework tax money for the Online Training Educator and Training Reimbursement Account to help train firefighters.