H.R.5342

            

116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5342

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain expenses of first responders as an
			 above-the-line deduction.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 6, 2019
Mr.  Pascrell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain expenses of first responders as an
			 above-the-line deduction.
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
		United States of America in Congress assembled, 
 SECTION 1.  Short title.
This Act may be cited as the “Supporting America’s First Responders Act of 2019”.
 SEC. 2.  Above-the-line deduction allowed for certain expenses of first responders.
 
(a) In general.—Section 62(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
 
“(F) CERTAIN EXPENSES OF FIRST RESPONDERS.—The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, not in excess of $500, paid or incurred by a first responder— 
“(i) as tuition or fees for the participation of the first responder in professional development courses related to service as a first responder, or
 
“(ii) for uniforms used by the first responder in service as a first responder.”.
 
(b) First responder defined.—Section 62(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
 
“(4) FIRST RESPONDER.—For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(F), the term ‘first responder’ means, with respect to any taxable year, any individual who is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, or emergency medical technician for at least 1000 hours during the taxable year.”.
 
(c) Inflation adjustment.—Section 62(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by inserting “(2019 in the case of the $500 amount in subsection (a)(2)(F))” after “2015”; and
 
(B) by striking “shall be” and inserting “and the $500 amount in subsection (a)(2)(F) shall each be”; and
 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by striking “determined by substituting” and inserting “determined— 
“(i) in the case of the $250 amount in subsection (a)(2)(D), by substituting”; and
 
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting “, and” and by adding at the end the following new clause:
 
“(ii) in the case of the $500 amount in subsection (a)(2)(F), by substituting ‘calendar year 2018’ for ‘calendar year 2016’ in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.”.
 
(d) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.