Assembly Bill 187 aims to enhance the existing service award program administered by the Department of Administration for volunteer firefighters and emergency responders in Wisconsin. The bill introduces a new provision for "completion service awards," which will provide a one-time payment of $500 to volunteer firefighters who complete 60 hours of training. To qualify for these grants, the municipality must have an ordinance that mandates a 100 percent match for the awards. Additionally, any excess funds received by volunteer fire departments or companies beyond what is used for awards must be returned to the Department of Administration for deposit in the general fund. The bill also requires the Department to report to the legislature on the number of individuals receiving grants and their continued service as firefighters in the state.

The bill includes several amendments to existing statutes, specifically in section 16.25, to incorporate the new completion service awards and clarify the eligibility and funding mechanisms for both length-of-service awards and completion awards. Notably, it replaces the term "fire fighters" with "firefighters" throughout the text for consistency. The Department is tasked with administering the program and ensuring that the awards are treated as tax-deferred benefits under federal law, while also establishing a framework for municipalities to participate in the program effectively.

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)