Mensch Bill Would Promote Efforts to Protect Children

Legislation would allow contributions through online tax returns

Legislation proposed by state Senator Bob Mensch (R-24) would allow tax payers to make contributions to support efforts by community groups to protect children from abuse.

Senator Mensch's bill would allow taxpayers to provide funding from their refunds to support the Children's Trust Fund (CTF), a board that supports organizations and agencies across the Commonwealth that protect young people from abuse and rescue those in abusive environments.

Currently, the CTF is funded through a $10 surcharge on applications for marriage licenses and divorce filings. The proposed income tax check-off box would supplement that money and enable the organization to provide greater assistance to agencies across the state that are working to rescue children in dangerous environments.

"As a member of the CTF Board, I know it needs more funding to better support programs aimed at protecting children across the state," Senator Mensch said. "My bill will enhance CTF's revenues by providing an opportunity for taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to CTF when electronically filing a state tax return. The contribution would be deducted from a taxpayer's refund and wouldn't reduce the income tax revenues due to the Commonwealth."

Senator Mensch said the deduction would only be available for those filing electronically.

"I have been told that adding another check-off line would require the addition of another page for the paper returns. Therefore in order to avoid the additional costs that would be required to print an additional page, I am limiting this check-off to electronic filings only."