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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 14, 2023 04:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Clint Owlett and Rep. Tina Pickett, Rep. Martin T. Causer, Rep. Joe Hamm, Rep. Jonathan Fritz, Rep. Alec J. Ryncavage |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Compensation to Volunteer Fire Departments due to Motor Vehicle Accidents |
| Our volunteer firefighters give so much of their time to serve our communities, and we need to look for ways to get them back home as soon as possible after they respond to a motor vehicle accident. However, I learned at a PUC hearing last week we have telecommunication companies that are not doing their part to get out and remove their downed lines in a timely manner, which means our volunteers can’t go home. The story that was presented had our volunteers out for over 12 hours directing traffic while waiting for Frontier Communications to come remove their lines from traffic. That stacked up over 30 big rigs on a rural road all night. Soon I’ll be introducing legislation that specifically will require our telecommunication companies to respond within 90 minutes of being notified of their downed lines. If they do not have someone actively on the scene within 90 minutes, they will be required to reimburse the volunteer fire company $1,000 per hour they wait for the telephone company to show up. Please join me in holding our telecommunications companies accountable for their actions, ensuring public safety, and supporting our volunteer community of firefighters so they can get back to their families as soon as possible. |
Introduced as HB1620