We are sorry to report that RCRC’s sponsored bill, Assembly Bill 2727 by Assembly Member Heath Flora (R–Stanislaus), was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee last Friday, and thus considered dead.  AB 2727 proposed to provide a tax credit to qualified firefighters for 80 percent of qualified expenses incurred during the taxable year, up to $1,500. 

Volunteer firefighters often spend monies out of their own pocket for safety equipment and training they are required to have.  Due to the costs associated with required firefighter training and fire equipment needs, it is becoming more difficult for these volunteers to continue their service and to recruit new volunteer firefighters to provide an adequate level-of-service in rural fire departments.  AB 2727 was a recognition that those individuals that put their lives on the line to protect the lives and property within their communities deserve to have their self-paid expenses mitigated. 

RCRC thanks Supervisor Les Baugh of Shasta County for his admirable testimony in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, and all the counties that submitted letters of support.