HCS SCS SB 666 -- FIRE PROTECTION

SPONSOR:  Engler (Bruns)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute specifies that an employer cannot terminate an
employee for joining a fire department or fire protection
district or for being absent or late from work while performing
duties as a volunteer firefighter or charge against the
employee's regular pay for any time the employee loses while
performing duties as a volunteer firefighter.  The employer can
request the employee to provide him or her with a written
statement from the supervisor of the volunteer fire department
stating that the employee responded to an emergency and the time
and date of the emergency.  The employee must make reasonable
efforts to notify his or her employer if he or she will be late
or absent from work in order to respond to an emergency.  An
employee who is terminated in violation of the provisions of the
substitute will have a civil cause of action against his or her
former employer.

All fire protection districts, volunteer fire protection
associations, and fire departments must complete and file a fire
department registration with the State Fire Marshal by March 1,
2007, and annually thereafter.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will correct problems
that employees who serve as volunteer firefighters are facing.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Engler.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Kristina Jenkins, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:46 am