Erie Times-News
ERIE, Pa. — State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro voiced his support today for legislation that would exempt emergency responders, including volunteer firefighters, from paying more than $47 in fees for state and federal background clearances.
Joined by volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service providers at West Lake Fire Department, Bizzarro, of Millcreek Township, D-3rd Dist., discussed the bill that would excuse volunteer and paid firefighters and EMS providers from paying the fees. They still would have to obtain the clearances.
The waived fees would be: $10 for a state Department of Human Services child abuse clearance fee; $10 for a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background clearance fee; and nearly $30 in FBI clearance fees, provided the emergency responders have lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 years and have clean records.
Bizzarro, a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement that the state should “ease the burden of these fees so our courageous men and women can continue to help improve our state.”
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