Laserfiche WebLink
2008 Top Legislative -miti - ato <br />MnFAC Br eflng Paper foi • ives <br />Minnesota State Fire Clijefs Association (MSFCA) <br />Minnesota State, Fire Department Assoclation (Nt f <br />Minnesota A-rea Rielief Association Coa•itloii (MARAQ <br />Fire Marsbal's Association of Miruiesota (FMAM) <br />Mn. Chapter of Inteniational Association of Arson hivestigators (1AA1) <br />Based upon fee lac from re OF] onal. inectings, membership, and professional association <br />0 44:7 <br />rnembenr-_-, tbe followincr issues have been identified as priorities for the 2008 session. <br />b <br />Volunteer "Incentive Act: <br />Bacicgoiijid <br />The issue of recruitment has been one of great disctission for the past 10 years and <br />despite various efforts, niembership continues to decline to the point of being <br />characterized as a crisis in sonic (u-cas. <br />'The 200161 Mimiesota Leaislattire passed legislation directing Com-ni issi.oner of iftblic <br />,Safety to coordinate the formation of a task force. Partic1pants, inch.ided Mn State Fire <br />Chiefs, Association League of Mn Cities, Mn Association of Townships, Mn State Fire <br />Dept Association, Miimesota Profiessional Firefighters Associatioll, and the minnesota <br />Arnbulance Association The final report was issued to the Colmilissionei7 on Decenibey <br />15) 2006. <br />R n t i ort n I P, <br />The ability to recrult volunteer fire and EMS responders with the enticement of a pension <br />is difficult at best. , The pension system has proven to be an effective tool in retention aid <br />can becoine more effective with the proposed changes. However, the delay in receiving <br />thie benefit results in nunimal effectiveness in use as a recr­uitinent tool. <br />Additionally,, the pension benefit in the vast majority of the state is modest in comparison <br />to the sacrifices required. The addition of a front end is believed to have a more <br />immediate, and reaular benefit will have a reatier impact on recruitiiig efforts. <br />C:O 9 <br />Proposal <br />Provide a Milaniesota Income Tax credit, on an annual basis for those mernbers who <br />qualify by providing at least nine or more months of active service, $1,500. Senator <br />Tomassoni (DFL, Chisholm) and Representative Rukavina (D FL, Virginia) introduced <br />legislation in the 2,10,07 session with a heal-inor held in the House Tax Committee. The <br />Department olf Revenue Fiscal Note placed the annual cost of this program at $24 million <br />arid, cstimated 12,700 members would qualify onan annual basis. <br />