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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 1, 2019 02:06 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Frank A. Farry |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Volunteer Firefighters Length of Service Award Program |
| In an effort to increase recruitment and retention efforts in volunteer fire companies throughout the Commonwealth, I am reintroducing legislation that will expand the types of programs that relief monies can fund as well as provide the Office of the State Fire Commissioner greater involvement in the relief fund process. One of the new programs will be known as the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) and is a system established to provide tax-deferred income benefits to active volunteer members of a fire service. One of the most practical benefits of a LOSAP is that it can be used as a tool to ensure retention of existing volunteer members and to provide incentives for recruiting new volunteer firefighters. In addition, my proposal provides that relief funds may be used for expenditures directly related to recruitment and retention programs. My bill will also amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) so that volunteer firefighters’ relief associations can ensure that funds are available for the assistance and protection of volunteer firefighters in order to provide necessary training and life-preserving safeguards. This proposal is one of the recommendations in the SR 6 Report from 2018. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1673