In this issue:
- Department of Justice Requests Comment on Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Rulemaking
- NVFC-Endorsed Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act Passes Congress
- Take Control of Your Health During National Firefighter Health Week, August 18-22
- Nationwide Novelty Lighter Legislation Now Available on NVFC Web Site
- Focus on Recruitment and Retention: IRS Publishes Guidelines for Implementation of Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act
- Fire Corps Releases Educational Curriculum Webinars
- Visit the NVFC at Fire-Rescue International
- NVFC Featured on National Radio Show
- Attend the Inaugural Fire Service PPE Symposium
- Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
- Calendar of Events
Department of Justice Requests Comment on Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Rulemaking
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has published a rule in the Federal Register to amend the regulation that implements the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Act and associated or related statutes. PSOB is a one-time payment (currently $303,064) to the families of public safety officers who die as a result of injuries suffered in the line of duty, or to the officers themselves if they become permanently disabled as a result of a line-of-duty injury. The rule is open for public comments, which must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on September 8, 2008.
Read the rule and find instructions for submitting comments.
NVFC-Endorsed Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act Passes Congress
Language from the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act (H.R. 592/S. 354) was adopted as part of the conference report of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137) by the United States House of Representatives and Senate on July 31, and is expected to be signed into law by the President. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is a member of a coalition that worked to ensure enactment of the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act, which was originally introduced by Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in early 2007.
Read full article.
Take Control of Your Health During National Firefighter Health Week, August 18-22
Every day, you protect others. You handle situations and emergencies where you have to give your all. You face enough risks without adding heart disease and other preventable health concerns to the list. National Firefighter Health Week is August 18-22, and now is the time to begin or re-energize your healthy lifestyle. Protect yourself so that you can protect those who depend on you: your family, your department, and your community.
Read full article.
Nationwide Novelty Lighter Legislation Now Available on NVFC Web Site
Toylike or novelty lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the nation. Some local and state governments are taking action by banning their sale and limiting distribution. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has created a comprehensive list of current state novelty lighter legislation, available at www.nvfc.org/Novelty_Lighter_Legislation.
Read full article.
Focus on Recruitment and Retention: IRS Publishes Guidelines for Implementation of Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act
In December 2007, the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) was signed into law, prohibiting the federal government from taxing any property tax benefits and up to $360 per year of any other type of benefit provided to volunteers firefighters and EMS personnel by a state or local unit of government. Language was included in the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act, which was signed into law on June 17, clarifying that those benefits exempted from federal gross income are also exempt from social security and Medicare (FICA) tax. Since passage of the HEART Act, the Internal Revenue Service has posted instructions online explaining the new tax benefits and how volunteers can take advantage of them.
Read full article.
Fire Corps Releases Educational Curriculum Webinars
Fire Corps, a federally-funded program administered by the National Volunteer Fire Council, enables community members to make a difference in their local fire and EMS department by assisting in non-emergency roles and increasing the department’s capacity to provide critical services. The Fire Corps national office, in partnership with FireRescue1.com, has created a series of five webinar modules to help fire and EMS department personnel start, implement, and expand a local Fire Corps program.
Read full article.
Visit the NVFC at Fire-Rescue International
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) will exhibit at Fire-Rescue International on August 15-16 in Denver Colorado. Visit Booth #369 to learn about NVFC programs, receive free resources, and network with NVFC staff. Receive free health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and body composition from the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program and find out what you can do to improve your health during National Firefighter Health Week. Also learn more about the NVFC National Junior Firefighter Program and Fire Corps.
NVFC Featured on National Radio Show
National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg spoke with Peter Greenberg on his live travel radio show on July 5. Greenberg is the travel expert on NBC’s Today Show and a volunteer firefighter in New York. The segment focuses around the importance of volunteer firefighting and is now available on the NVFC web site.
Read full article.
Attend the Inaugural Fire Service PPE Symposium
Do you recommend, inspect, and/or wear firefighting gear? Are you often confused by sales pitches for personal protective equipment (PPE)? Then you should attend the inaugural Fire Service PPE Symposium on March 9-11, 2009, in Charlotte, NC. The event, which will take place at the Omni Charlotte Hotel, is sponsored by the Fire Industry Equipment Research Organization and co-sponsored the NFPA Fire Service Section. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is a supporter of the symposium.
Read full article.
Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
The NVFC relies on the assistance of its corporate and association partners to be able to provide a voice for the volunteer fire and emergency services in Washington. We encourage you to look at a list of our Corporate Members and support them with your business.
Calendar of Events
Below is a list of events that the NVFC will be attending, as well as nationally recognized dates which the NVFC would like to acknowledge.
Fire-Rescue International
August 14-16, 2008
Denver, CO
National Firefighter Health Week
August 18-22
National Preparedness Month
September 2008
NVFC Fall Meeting
September 24-27, 2008
Grand Rapids, MI
Fire Prevention Week
October 5-11
FDSOA Annual Safety Forum
October 27 – 31, 2008
Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, Florida
Contact: membership@fdsoa.org
Join the NVFC and support the voice of the volunteer. Find out more and join online at www.nvfc.org.
To be removed from the NVFC E-Update list click here.
