Bill Pending to Protect Jobs of Volunteer Responders

A bill to protect the jobs of volunteers who respond to assist at a national disaster is just one of several legislative matters now pending before Congress.

If passed, a volunteer EMS provider or firefighter would be allowed to miss their regular job up to 14 days without being penalized. The protection would only apply for Presidentially-declared disasters.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) said it is confident that the measure will be passed, adding that volunteers are a vital part of response teams. Officials believe the protection will encourage more to answer the call to help.

This also is another incentive in the nationwide effort to attract and retain EMS and fire personnel, said Philip C. Stittleburg, NVFC chairman, adding that the number of volunteers has gone from 880,000 in 1983 to about 800,000 today.

"The volunteer fire service is a positive force in communities all across the country. Volunteer firefighters dedicate their time and risk their lives... As a nation, we should honor their efforts by helping... the service meet and overcome the numerous challenges that it faces,"he said in a prepared statement.

Other pending initiatives that may help retain people who provide free service to their communities include a $1,000 annual tax credit for active members as well a measure to prevent the IRS from taxing compensations received by volunteers.

A study conducted at St. Joseph's University showed that it would cost American taxpayers $37.2 billion more annually if all volunteers were replaced with career staffing, Stittleburg said.

In an effort to keep costs down and encourage donations between departments, Congress also is considering a bill addressing liability. Annually, millions of dollars' worth of equipment including apparatus is destroyed because of fear of lawsuits, according to the NVFC.

The bill states that a company that donates qualified fire or rescue equipment will not be held liable for personal injuries or property damages caused by a defect. It does not protect people who act with gross negligence or the manufacturer of the items.

Stittleburg also said the description of the volunteer fire and EMS service on Long Island in recent Newsday articles "does not reflect the state of the volunteer fire service nationally." Very few companies receive adequate government funding.

For that reason, the NVFC said it is keeping a close eye on federal grant programs. They are concerned that the budget cut in the FIRE Act signals a shift in focus.