The Senate Education Committee passed on Tuesday Senate Bill 470, which proposes the establishment of a Firefighter Training Pilot Program for high school students.

The legislation would integrate firefighter training into high school curricula with the intent to foster interest in emergency services and boost the dwindling number of volunteer firefighters across Pennsylvania.

“If we want to ensure the future of our local fire departments, we need to start engaging the next generation now,” Senator Michele Brooks, who sponsored the bill, said in a statement. “This program will help give high school students a direct pathway into emergency services and prepare them to protect our communities.”

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness (VAEP) Committee on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 466, a measure aimed at addressing the volunteer firefighter shortage by allowing job training credits to count toward Firefighter I Certification.

VAEP also approved Senate Bill 90, which Brooks co-primed, to expand access to Firefighter I Certification training.

The Senate Finance Committee additionally passed Brooks’ Senate Bill 211 which proposes allowing Pennsylvania residents to donate to fire departments through the Office of State Fire Commissioner via their individual income tax returns. The collected funds would support the FCEMS Grant Program, providing essential financial resources to fire and emergency medical services.

“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day. This bill gives Pennsylvanians an easy way to voluntarily support them financially and help ensure they have the equipment and resources they need,” said Brooks.