November Legislative Update

The following is a brief update on issues discussed and announced during the quarterly Wisconsin Fire & EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition meeting on October 14, 2010.

The new Fire Coordinator for the WI Vo-Tech Schools is Pete Silva. Pete will begin his new position on November 4th. The WSFCA looks forward to working with Pete on the fire service educational opportunities in Wisconsin.

An ad-hoc committee of coalition member organizations will look into funding issues and establishing a stable funding source for the State EMS Office. This issue has been discussed for at least a couple of years with no resolution. It is time to get the issue resolved and the section back to financial stability.

The LOSA state match from the State of Wisconsin has been decreased this year because of decreased funding by the State of Wisconsin. The funding level should return to the previous funding level of $2 million following this year’s state budget.

A few coalition legislative initiatives for the 2011/2012 legislative session were discussed.

  • Returning to the old license plate design for FF.
  • Impersonating a FF, EMT or First Responder.
  • Banning Novelty Lighters
  • Fireworks
  • MABAS division’s ability to cross state lines.
  • MABAS liability caps for non-profit services.

Tom Clark reported on the residential sprinkler presentation, which the inspectors committee made to the Uniform Dwelling Committee, and was well received.

The Department of Commerce has developed a sample floor plan available now for CO detector placement in multi-family units. The floor plan is available on the Department of Commerce Web site.

MABAS reported that there are currently 34 divisions in the State of Wisconsin, which now covers over 50% of the State of Wisconsin. The MABAS committee and Board have done a tremendous amount of work to get 34 divisions up and running in the State of Wisconsin in such a short time period.

By the time you receive this report the elections will be complete and the WSFCA will be working hard with legislators on the new state two-year budget, which will need to be completed by July 1, 2011. We will also be working on getting legislators to draft bills to support our members and their community’s issues over the next two years. I hope each of you will take some time to assist in legislative issues by contacting your legislators when important bills for the fire service are up for hearings and votes.  

If you have any questions please contact:
Dave Bloom, Legislative Liaison
WI State Fire Chiefs Assoc.
5387 Mariners Cove Dr. #314
Madison, WI 53704
608-444-3324 cell
bloomd@town.madison.wi.us