Posted: | April 24, 2020 10:09 AM |
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From: | Senator Timothy P. Kearney and Sen. Pam Iovino |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Allowing VFRA Funds to Cover COVID-19 Cleaning Expenses |
We are introducing legislation to provide clarity and protection to our volunteer firefighters working to keep our communities safe during this public health crisis. During this pandemic, our brave firefighters are incurring the costs of disinfecting and sanitizing their equipment and property to protect the health and safety of their members and the public. With limited ability to fundraise, our firefighters need more fiscal tools with which to keep their members safe during the crisis, including the use of Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association funds. While Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association funds may be used in many ways to support association members, expenses for keeping them safe in this emergency are not explicitly allowed. There is enough ambiguity and different interpretations of allowable expenses to warrant clarifying legislation. This legislation will clarify that Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association funds may be used for expenses related to COVID-19, including sanitizing and disinfecting equipment and property. No volunteer association should have to worry about an audit during the middle of a pandemic when their members’ lives are on the line. Please join us in providing clarity to our volunteer firefighters. |
Introduced as SB1142