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<br />--. - 1l.T';;T;;J-:JT~- -FRCWI:CJTY OF BKLYN PARK T-33'3 P.03
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<br />. a e 0 mneso a lEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT
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<br />JntroductiQJl
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<br />Members of the Volunteer Fire Subconunitlee
<br />Lawrence A. Martin, ExecUtive Director ~/11J
<br />Issues Identified Concerrung Volunteer Fire P~nslons
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<br />December 11, 1991
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<br />. On November 18, 1991, lhe Volunteer Fire SubeomrnlUee began its eomideralion of Ihe topic
<br />of volunteer fire benefit coverage, plan Cundlng, and plan administralion. The Subcommillee
<br />reviewed the current laws goverrung volunteer fire benefits and volunteer firefighter relief
<br />assoclaliolls, the funding condilions of Ihe various volunteer firefighter relief assoclalions, and
<br />allocaUolls of flre state ald. The Subcoll1!Dluee also heard leslimony from various interested
<br />parties on issues connected with volunteer fire benefits and volunteer firefighter relief
<br />associations. The SubcommiUee was establiShed to conUnue the conslderalion of volunteer fire
<br />Issues begun by the LegiSlative Commission on Penslom and Retir~me..t on July 1-2, 1991.
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<br />IdenlJ~d Volunteer Fire Pension Issue~
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<br />For purposes of groupjng Ole various issues identified by or on behalf of the Subcommittee
<br />regarding volunteer Cire pensions, the Comm.ission staIl has orgaruzed lhe issues into seven
<br />calegories. The categories and IdenUCied Issues. including some addIUu...llssues lIuted by the
<br />CommissIon staer Cor potential Subcommittee attention, are as follows:
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<br />b. Fundraisini for the Benefit of the General Fund. The non-pension fund of a .........
<br />volunteer Clrefighter relief association, the general fund, is apparently the
<br />potenlial recipient of the pr.Qceec..ls of lawCut gambling acdvltJes, but regulation of
<br />the general fund is largely nonexistent.
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<br />Relief Association Membei'~hfR. . .
<br />a. f.~~aLlndusfon ~;'&c'usion of Emeriehcy First Response and AllJbllJanc~
<br />Per~onn~~gency first response personnel and ambulance personnel are 1101
<br />required by law 10 be vol WI leer Orefighler I.elief llS5uclalioll members. but /IIay .
<br />be &0 by local decision. either ~th or without being required to have specific
<br />(lrefighting tralrung and duties, and this practice has been questioned by Some
<br />. Interested par~i~s. . .,,' '; ... :," .' " "
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<br />Pptentla' E,~llJsJon of Non-Flre Suppression ~Ir~ Qepnrtment Personnel.
<br />Volunteer firefighter relief associations apparenUy Jnclude certain fire
<br />department personnel who ~ay not be directly eng8.ge~.ln fire suppression .../
<br />activities, like Clre prevention personnel, fire persOlUlel trainlng persolUleJ, and
<br />(ire equipment maintenance persormeJ, and this Inclusion also has been
<br />questioned by Some interested parties. .t-~W7LV~ I'V fYldld
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<br />Defjnition of Volunteer fir~Qehter. "Ole speciflcaUon 0 W 0 J a volunteer <,,:.____....__
<br />firefighter and what level of ongoing flrefightfng activities are needed to remain
<br />so classified 1s done locally, without any statutory direction, apparently differs
<br />considerably statewide, and may bene{Jt Crom legh:lative reconsideration.
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<br />b.
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<br />LegQI StrQcl4rc ~o.d Governance
<br />a.. Non-aUentlini Municip~J Representative~. The board oC trustees oC each
<br />volullteer firefighter relicf association Includes three munlcipal officials, who
<br />possess full powers as trustees, but who, in tbe case oC a number of relief
<br />associations, reportedly do nol Bttend trustee meeting! or do not give their
<br />trustee duties their full attention. '
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<br />3. Benefit Coy~ra2~
<br />a. Dispa(ity In Volunteer Fire Service Pension Amopnts. nlere 1s a considerable
<br />disparity In the level oC volunteer firefighter relief association service pensions,
<br />Crom less than $50 per year or service credit lump Sum (or less than $ ),000 with
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