Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) and Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) worked together to introduce bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3685/S. 1798) to exempt fire departments from a requirement to offer health insurance to their volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel. 

The Protect Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act will amend the definition of an employee€ under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to create a clear exemption for nominally compensated volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

The PPACA (P.L. 111-148) was passed in 2010 and contained many reforms to the American healthcare system. One of these reforms requires certain large employers to offer health insurance to their full-time employees. In September 2013, the IAFC sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to express concern that the IRS classification of volunteer firefighters as employees could potentially require certain fire departments to offer their volunteers health insurance under the PPACA...

The other day at an incident, I watch a veteran member of our department back up a vehicle without a backer even though there was a person in the passenger seat (two other members stood next to me when it happened). I walked over to the vehicle and had the driver stop and the passenger got out and finished backing the vehicle.  I asked the passenger, a member with less than 5 years on, why he didn’t get out and serve as a backer?  He looked at me and said “I wasn’t asked to”.  My next question was, “Did you ask the diver if a backer was needed?” The answer was “no”. I asked why and the passenger could not give me an answer.   After discussing with the two about the necessity of a backer, along with quoting the policy, I was approached by one of the people who, was standing next to me when this whole situation started to unfold.  That person very proudly said to me “I watch him do that all the time”.  I looked at that person and asked, wait for it, “Why haven’t you said anything?” I did not get a response and the person just shrugged and walked away.

Saying goodbye is difficult! Starting a new chapter in your life is exciting!

I will be saying goodbye to all of you as the Executive Director of the Washington Fire Chiefs on December 31, 2013. It was 9 years ago that I started this adventure to help your elected officers Serve, Educate and Lead this great association. I am also excited to pass the responsibility to Chief Wayne Senter who will begin on January 1, 2014 for a seamless transition. The WFC deserves your support and participation and when we are united the fire service is an incredible force. Do not miss an opportunity to be part of building the future of the fire service. The most difficult goodbye will be to Kathleen and Lori who bring joy to me on a daily basis. They love you and the WFC and work tirelessly to ensure goals are achieved. They are the best and they aren't going anywhere!

 

The WFC would like to update you on the situation with Chief Dave Lafave.  Join the WFC and keep him in your prayers as we hope for his speedy recovery.

Subject: Update Chief LaFave 12/9/13

Chief had a good day. He walked 11 laps around the unit which was 1 lap over the goal the doctors set. He talks a lot about the good conversations he has had with the folks he normally would not have had the opportunity to have long conversations with, he is very grateful to everyone for their concerns and various forms of assistance. Still shooting for release on Wednesday as long as everything keeps moving in the right direction.

Feel free to shoot him an email, he is probably up to getting a few now that things have calmed down an bit.