Post by MAYTAG on Mar 21, 2008 13:54:06 GMT -5
PA LEGISLATIVE ALERT: A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PA FIRE AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES INSTITUTE AND THE FIREMEN'S LEGISLATIVE FEDERATION OF
PENNSYLVANIA
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Governor Ed Rendell has signed House Bill 1131, House Bill 1133, and House Bill 1134, known
as the Local Government Bills, which require that townships and boroughs be responsible for
ensuring that fire and emergency medical services are provided within their borders.
The new laws also confirms the townships and boroughs authority to determine the appropriate
financial and administrative assistance required to provide the services; and mandates that Fire
and EMS responders be invited to the table to discuss and give input on the delivery of
Emergency Services to their local communities.
The bills also stipulate that fire and EMS organizations that receive funding from the local
governments must document the expenditures made with those funds prior to receiving additional
funding.
This legislation is in response to recommendation number 1 of the SR60 Commission Report and
was strongly supported by the PFESI Statewide Advisory Board and Fire and EMS organizations
across Pennsylvania. It clearly meets the intent of the Commission’s recommendation and opens
the door for local responders to expand and improve communications on issues and concerns
surrounding the delivery of Emergency Services at the local level.
SR60 Commission Chair Person, Chief William Jenaway said of the legislation "There no doubt
will be some elected officials and some fire service leaders who believe this is the wrong action to
take. The SR 60 Commission disagrees. Communication, negotiation and balance to provide the
level of service needed for the community should be the goal of all elected officials and fire/EMS
leaders, and these bills drive that process home - locally".
PFESI Executive Director, Tom Savage, said “the legislation opens the door for both Local
Governments and Emergency Service Providers to develop a partnership approach to the
delivery of Emergency Services in the local communities across Pennsylvania”
Tim Solobay, State Representative and Chief of the Cannonsburg Volunteer Fire Department
indicated that “although not as strong as I had hoped, these bills are a step in the right direction
for helping volunteer fire departments receive financial assistant from local governing bodies. It
also is one more of the issues from the SR 60 report that we all are hoping get 100% attention”.
Chief Jenaway summed it up by saying, "These pieces of legislation were considered
unanimously, by the SR 60 Commission, to be the most significant advancements that could be
made. They place responsibility for fire and emergency medical services appropriately in the
community and establish an expectation that elected officials and fire/EMS leadership annually
establish service delivery goals, budgets, and plans. This will eliminate the majority of conflicts
currently affecting Pennsylvania's fire and EMS system".
Copies of House Bills 1131, 1133, 1134 passed by the House and Senate, and approved by the
Governor, are attached to this release.
SERVICES INSTITUTE AND THE FIREMEN'S LEGISLATIVE FEDERATION OF
PENNSYLVANIA
=========================================================================
========================================
Governor Ed Rendell has signed House Bill 1131, House Bill 1133, and House Bill 1134, known
as the Local Government Bills, which require that townships and boroughs be responsible for
ensuring that fire and emergency medical services are provided within their borders.
The new laws also confirms the townships and boroughs authority to determine the appropriate
financial and administrative assistance required to provide the services; and mandates that Fire
and EMS responders be invited to the table to discuss and give input on the delivery of
Emergency Services to their local communities.
The bills also stipulate that fire and EMS organizations that receive funding from the local
governments must document the expenditures made with those funds prior to receiving additional
funding.
This legislation is in response to recommendation number 1 of the SR60 Commission Report and
was strongly supported by the PFESI Statewide Advisory Board and Fire and EMS organizations
across Pennsylvania. It clearly meets the intent of the Commission’s recommendation and opens
the door for local responders to expand and improve communications on issues and concerns
surrounding the delivery of Emergency Services at the local level.
SR60 Commission Chair Person, Chief William Jenaway said of the legislation "There no doubt
will be some elected officials and some fire service leaders who believe this is the wrong action to
take. The SR 60 Commission disagrees. Communication, negotiation and balance to provide the
level of service needed for the community should be the goal of all elected officials and fire/EMS
leaders, and these bills drive that process home - locally".
PFESI Executive Director, Tom Savage, said “the legislation opens the door for both Local
Governments and Emergency Service Providers to develop a partnership approach to the
delivery of Emergency Services in the local communities across Pennsylvania”
Tim Solobay, State Representative and Chief of the Cannonsburg Volunteer Fire Department
indicated that “although not as strong as I had hoped, these bills are a step in the right direction
for helping volunteer fire departments receive financial assistant from local governing bodies. It
also is one more of the issues from the SR 60 report that we all are hoping get 100% attention”.
Chief Jenaway summed it up by saying, "These pieces of legislation were considered
unanimously, by the SR 60 Commission, to be the most significant advancements that could be
made. They place responsibility for fire and emergency medical services appropriately in the
community and establish an expectation that elected officials and fire/EMS leadership annually
establish service delivery goals, budgets, and plans. This will eliminate the majority of conflicts
currently affecting Pennsylvania's fire and EMS system".
Copies of House Bills 1131, 1133, 1134 passed by the House and Senate, and approved by the
Governor, are attached to this release.