[cifnmedia] Volunteer Firefighter Job Protection Act
- From: Sean & Kimberly Aaron <cifn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: CIFN LIST <cifnmedia@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 16:50:12 -0700 (PDT)
Fellow Illinois firefighters,
As you may have heard House Bill 4851, Volunteer Firefighter Job Protection
Act, has passed both houses and is sitting on the Governor’s desk. If he
does not veto the bill within the next couple of weeks, it will become law.
This Bill is something that the state of Illinois has needed for years to
protect our volunteer firefighters. However, in looking over the bill several
local firefighters and myself noticed some important things missing.
First, there was no inclusion for volunteer EMTs. I have searched all weekend
on the website and cannot find any sister bill that would protect volunteer
EMTs. Secondly, we thought it was more important to get time off from work to
maintain training! It would be great to be allowed time off to attend Fire
College or some other training class.
Attached is a letter that I am sending out today to the sponsors and members of
the General Assembly trying to get amendments for EMT protection and time off
for training added to the Volunteer Firefighter Job Protection Act. The
attached names in bold print were sponsors of the bill, while the others are
Senators and Representatives for our local area.
Please, if you feel the same as I do, that training is just as or even more
important, take the time to write a letter to your Senator, Representative, and
the sponsors of HB4851 to have them add these amendments.
Sincerely,
Rod Stewart
Firefighter/EMT
Taylor Springs Fire Department
Taylor Springs, IL
http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4851&GAID=3&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=9506&SessionID=3
9-11-01: Never forget our fallen brother firefighters
__----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodney A. Stewart
1201 East Tremont
Hillsboro, IL 62049
217-532-6102
E-mail: hollywoodfire822@xxxxxxxx
Monday, August 02, 2004
Representative Jim Watson
200-4N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Honorable Representative Watson,
As a proud member of the Illinois Fire and Emergency Medical Services community
for eighteen years, I would like to applaud you and the members of the Illinois
General Assembly for passing HB-4851 – The Volunteer Firefighters Job
Protection Act. I believe that this Bill speaks very highly for the Illinois
General Assembly’s support for the fire service community.
There are, however, two issues that should be added to the Act that require
your support. The addition of these two issues would greatly improve the
Volunteer Firefighters Job Protection Act and would benefit all members of the
Fire and Emergency Medical Services within the State of Illinois.
First, there is no provision under the Act for the protection of volunteer
Emergency Medical Technicians. Communities that rely on volunteer firefighters
also rely on separate volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians. While in these
communities the primary EMS crews may be “on call” (persons that have made
themselves available for that specific day), it is the need for additional
units that more than likely requires Emergency Medical Technicians to be late
for work or miss work completely. I believe, either through this Act or
another similar Act, volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians should be afforded
the same job protection as volunteer firefighters.
Secondly, especially in the case of very small communities, it is often not an
issue of having enough firefighters on the scene of an incident as it is
allowing volunteer firefighter’s time for training. Training issues have
plagued the Illinois fire service for years. Often it is difficult for
volunteer firefighters to maintain up to date training, including basic
firefighter training because of work commitments. And now, in the post 9/11
world, firefighters, especially volunteers, are being required to spend more
time training on advanced and specialized skills such as hazardous materials.
Due to recent mandates, many of these classes have specific teaching time
periods they must be taught in and specific locations that the classes must be
taught at. The governing bodies (Office of the State Fire Marshall, Illinois
Emergency Management, and the Illinois Fire Service Institute) are either
unwilling or unable to make special provisions for each volunteer department.
An amendment to the Volunteer Firefighter Job Protection Act, whereas volunteer
firefighters would be allowed time off for training with prior notification in
writing by the fire department supervisor, is imperative to the safety of the
citizens of the state of Illinois. This amendment would be similar to the
state of Illinois requirements for employers when dealing with members of the
National Guard and military reserves. The inclusion of this amendment would
put Illinois in the national forefront in the protection of volunteer
firefighter’s jobs. It would allow for volunteer firefighters to receive
training that they would otherwise be unable to get. It would increase revenue
to the state and communities by allowing more firefighters to attend local and
statewide training that would involve traveling, meals, and lodging. And
again, the bottom line would be safer communities and a safer Illinois.
It is my hope that you would take these amendments into consideration and
introduce legislation providing for these amendments. Passage of these
amendments would solidify the General Assembly’s support to the Illinois fire
and emergency medical service community and the volunteer firefighters and
emergency medical technicians that protect this great state.
Sincerely,
Rodney A. Stewart
Firefighter-EMT
Taylor Springs Volunteer Fire Department
Taylor Springs, Illinois
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative Mike Boland
243-E Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Careen Gordon
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Larry McKeon
279-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Patrick Verschoore
250-W Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative John E. Bradley
275-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Gary Forby
M115 Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Patrick Welch
121A Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Denny Jacobs
123 Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Carol Ronen
M113 Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Frank Watson
309A Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Larry Bomke
105D Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Deanna Demuzio
323 Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Gary Hanning
300 Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Ron Stephens
220 Capital Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Robert F. Flider
282-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Rich Brauer
E-1 Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Raymond Poe
E-1 Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Representative Jim Watson
200-4N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Sean A. Aaron (CIFN*1)
Central Illinois Fire Network
cifn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.geocities.com/central_illinois_firenet
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