State Sen. John C. Rafferty Jr., R-44th Dist., is introducing legislation that will further help local firefighters and EMTs.

From a release issued by Rafferty's office:

Each year $5 million is allocated from gaming revenue for local government grants to enforce gambling laws, but the money is not being fully used and currently $11.5 million is sitting in the account.

Sen. John C. Rafferty Jr. wants to change that and plans to introduce a bill that will amend the Pennsylvania Gaming Act, allowing for the transfer from the State Gaming Fund for Local Enforcement Grants for our volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

The legislation would transfer $1.5 million annually to the Pennsylvania State Police for enforcement and prevention of illegal video poker, Rafferty said.

All remaining unused money would be allocated to the Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Retention Program Fund, which will allow for the continuation of the income tax credit for fire and emergency services volunteers that was adopted last.

The information on the unused funds was discovered this week during Senate budget hearings in Harrisburg.

"It is unfortunate that this money is sitting in an account in Harrisburg, and could be utilized by the state police and our local fire and emergency service volunteers," said Rafferty, who heads the Senate Law and Justice Committee.