Senate Bill 186 aims to enhance the existing service award program for volunteer firefighters in Wisconsin by introducing training completion awards. The bill allows the Department of Administration to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and companies for these awards, specifically a one-time payment of $500 for firefighters who complete 60 hours of training. To qualify for these grants, municipalities must enact an ordinance that ensures a 100% match for the awards. Additionally, any funds received by the departments or companies that exceed their expenditures on awards must be returned to the Department of Administration for deposit in the general fund. The bill also mandates that the Department of Administration report to the legislature on the program's effectiveness after six years.

The bill includes several amendments to existing statutes, notably the creation of new sections that define "completion service award" and outline the conditions under which grants will be awarded. It modifies existing language to clarify eligibility and contribution requirements for municipalities, ensuring that they can participate in the program for both length-of-service and completion awards. The amendments also specify the vesting requirements and conditions under which accounts for volunteers may be closed. Overall, the bill seeks to incentivize training among volunteer firefighters while ensuring accountability and proper management of funds.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 16.25(2), 16.25, 16.25(3)(a), 16.25(3)(b), 16.25(3)(c), 16.25(3)(d), 16.25(3)(e), 16.25(3)(f), 16.25(3)(j), 16.25(3)(k), 16.25(4)(b)