MSFCA Legislative Updates
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Legislative Update
December 7, 2011
Big Update
Pensions:
IRS 990 Issue Legal Work has been completed, meeting at the League on December 19th to finalize with all the stakeholders.
Four possible situations reliefs could be in, packet has been developed for each. Packet will be made available for $500 per relief and includes all the forms and instructions needed to file with the IRS to address your specific issue. ALL reliefs should consider sending in a correspondence with EXCEPTION of the very few (less than 5) that have a IRS Letterhead letter stating that they are a 501 c (3) or (4). To obtain that letter you would have had to submit a form and numerous documents. Many have a letter stating they do not have to file the 990; this is not the same. Please email me if you are interested in obtaining a packet.
Auditor Otto has reconvened the working group on volunteer fire, they held an organizational meeting and will get into more substance at their next meeting Tuesday December 14 from 11 to 1.
The State Wide Pension Plan continues to attract more and more interest with over 30 departments contacting them in the past few months. PERA has a number of folks trained to come out and give a presentation (ideally you will invite other local departments if you set something up). Contact Dave DeJonge to schedule at meeting. dave.dejonge@mnpera.org
2012 Legislative Session:
Legislative Committee has met, reviewed all the initiatives and the feedback to date and factored in a number of issues in determining what we will focus on; Fire Safety Account is clearly first and more on that; also will be working on the residential sprinkler issue (more on that), opposing expansion of fireworks (we are assured a bill is coming), expanding the community paramedic bill, and addressing an issue that has arisen from the memorial fundraising; mandatory notification of active duty firefighter deaths (all) to the Department of Public Safety so a proper evaluation of whether a Line of Duty Death has occurred.
Fire Service Day at the Capitol:
Tuesday February 21, 2012 - Save the Date
IRC Code Adoption-Sprinkler Issue:
The Department of Labor and Industry has formed their code adoption committees. St. Louis Park Fire Chief Luke Stemmer who is the chair of the Chiefs Code Committee has been appointed to the committee working on the Residential Code. They will be meeting next Wednesday, the 15th and spending specific time on the sprinkler issue. MSFCA Executive Director will be providing testimony on behalf of MSFCA.
Memorial Foundation Fundraising Effort:
To those who have donated (about 340 departments) a HUGE thank you, to those who have yet to - please give serious consideration as we now are confident this project will come to fruition based on the giving to date. In fact, we are so confident that we have set the dedication for Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 11:00 am. This will coincide with the national memorial ceremony held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg. Efforts are already underway specific to the planning of this event.
ACTION ITEMS:
- If you have not donated, please do. (deadline is December 31st of this year) Suggested donation is $30 per fire firefighter (collected by the FD and sent to Flagship Bank).
- Save the date and plan on attending.
Nyle Zikmund, Fire Chief; EFO, CFO, MiFireE
SBM Fire Department
1710 County Highway 10
Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
612-860-7442
nzikmund@sbmfire.com
"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." - Marlene vos Savan, 1946 -