A bill is working through the Iowa Senate local government committee regarding additional funding for volunteer first responders.

District 24 Senator Jesse Green is the chair of the local government committee and says Senate File 272 would allow municipalities to establish a length of service award and part of that would give those recipients a bonus or a benefit for being a volunteer first responder such as a firefighter or an emergency medical technician (EMT). He sees this as a possible recruitment tool as well.

“We struggle getting volunteer firefighters in some of the small towns across the state. This is just one way to say, ‘Thank you’ and another way to maybe help attract new volunteer firefighters into that realm.”

Green points out the Iowa Lottery has agreed to donate $1 million that can be used by the state as a dollar-for-dollar match for volunteer departments that raise funds for this specific purpose. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio what cities will also be allowed to do under this bill.

“The cities will be able to set the rules and regulations regarding this program and who can qualify for the program. Maybe they’ll only give an award to somebody that has served for ten years, or 15 years, or maybe they’ll use it as a tool to recruit some volunteer people.”   

Green believes it will take more than $1 million to make this program successful, but he’s hopeful to get this bill out of committee and onto the Senate floor for consideration.