Establishes the volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program

1 Co-sponsor

• Marc Panepinto

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation would help to address the continuing difficulty local volunteer fire and emergency medical service (EMS) departments have had recruiting and retaining volunteers. This difficulty is particularly true for young people who are hard pressed to pursue their careers and their education while volunteering for these critically important services.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill allows counties to establish a local tuition grants program for active volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel at state operated institutions. The grant can be for up to fifty percent of tuition required at state operated institutions or community colleges. This legislation also provides that, where a county has created a tuition grants program, the state would reimburse the county at one-half the actual tuition grant established by the county for each eligible volunteer.

Justification

During the last several years it has become increasingly difficult for local volunteer fire and EMS departments to recruit and retain new members. The demands on young people to meet various responsibilities in their family and personal lives continue to grow. Family life, career development and other demands limit people's ability to volunteer their time. This is particularly true for volunteer firemen and EMS personnel, who need special training in light of the life-threatening situations they are exposed to and confronted at any given time.

Over the last decade, the legislature has taken a variety of steps to protect volunteers and their families. This includes special insurance protection and retirement benefits for these volunteers. However, these incentives lend themselves to long tenured members and provide little, if any, incentive for young people to become involved.

This legislation attempts to provide some direct help by focusing on education. This should help local fire and EMS departments recruit young people who are attending college but are willing to volunteer their time to become part of a local firefighter or emergency medical services organization.

Prior legislative history

2008: S.7094/A.1194 2009: S.2697/A.6029 2011-12: S.4724/A.5147 Referred to Higher Education 2013-2014: S.534 Higher Ed

Fiscal implications

At county option.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to academic semesters, quarters and classroom hours beginning on or after January 1, 2017.