NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)
Date: March 30, 2009
Heather Baber, 859-256-3216, heather.baber@kctcs.edu
Kentucky Fire Commission Unites with State Groups to Secure Legislation
VERSAILLES, Ky. (March 30, 2009) - The Kentucky Fire Commission, along with The Kentucky Professional Firefighters, The Kentucky League of Cities, The Kentucky Association of Counties, The Kentucky Firefighters Association and The Kentucky Fire Chiefs Association united together to support the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 46. This legislation will save local governments more than $9 million a year, while continuing to educate and train Kentucky firefighters.
"This historic legislation is truly a victory for all Kentucky fire service and local governments," said Michael Kurtsinger, Legislative Director for the Kentucky Fire Commission. "It will save communities across the state thousands of dollars and give citizens peace of mind knowing their local firefighters are prepared to respond to any emergency situation."
SB 46 clarifies the state supplement firefighters receive for overtime pay. It becomes law April 1, 2009. In years past, paid Kentucky firefighters were eligible to receive a $3,100 per year state supplement from the Kentucky Firefighters Foundation Program Fund as incentive for meeting basic and annual training requirements. Additionally, the Kentucky Court of Appeals recently issued a ruling requiring local governments to pay an additional $1,860 per firefighter per year, on top of the $3,100 state supplement, in overtime costs. This in turn, placed an unexpected and unintended financial burden on local governments.
With SB 46, city and county governments will no longer have to find ways to pay firefighters scheduled overtime pay. The total will be included in funds paid to each firefighter through the Kentucky Firefighters Foundation Program.
SB 46 will provide the following:
Restore the General Assembly's original intent in providing the supplement;
Provide fairness to local governments and professional firefighters;
Exempt the supplement from the state's overtime laws for regularly scheduled work; and
Maintain the retirement benefits that firefighters receive from the supplement and requires that firefighters are paid the time and a half rate on the supplement for any unscheduled overtime.
The Kentucky Fire Commission works to strengthen, upgrade and improve fire service for citizens and industries throughout the Commonwealth. Through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), the Fire Commission offers an associate in applied science degree in fire/rescue science technology with a curriculum that is based on federal and international standards and regulations.
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For most Kentuckians, higher education begins at KCTCS. Our statewide system of 16 colleges located on 67 campuses provides citizens throughout the Commonwealth with a quality education that is both accessible and affordable. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu
For most Kentuckians, higher education begins at KCTCS. Our statewide system of 16 colleges and 65 campuses provides citizens throughout the Commonwealth with a quality education that is both accessible and affordable.