HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 39

ESTABLISHING A DATE FOR THE DELAWARE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' ASSOCIATION (DVFA) TO REPORT FINDINGS BACK TO THE 151ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WHEREAS, the General Assembly and the State of Delaware recognizes the tremendous contribution that the volunteer fire companies and departments of this State have contributed to the saving of life and property in the State; and

WHEREAS, it is recognized that there are great benefits of the volunteer system in fire and rescue operations up and down the state and that they save an enormous amount of taxpayer dollars if the system was to be an entirely paid operation; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the General Assembly to continue to support the State of Delaware volunteer Firefighters system and the various organizations that it represents such as the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association (DVFA); and

WHEREAS, this support is demonstrated just this year by the findings of the Joint Legislative Task Force and its findings and recommended legislation to help with recruitment and retention; and

WHEREAS, there has been a continued effort to further enhance the professionalism and accountability of the Delaware system by implementing oversight and transparency through regulatory authority of the Delaware Fire Prevention Commission; and

WHERAS, this recent process of determining how to put in place this oversight has been ongoing since late August of 2019 and recently discussed at a DVFA meeting of June 2021, an almost two (2) year process and it should even be noted that the original conversation of such oversight started as noted in recent Commissions minutes was talked about back in 2010, some 11 years ago; and

WHEREAS, renewed energy to accomplish this was when House Bill No. 193 with House Amendment No. 1 was introduced in the House of Representatives and then late in June at the mentioned DVFA meeting asked to be tabled until January 2022.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED By the House of Representatives of the 151 ^st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, it is agreed by the sponsors of House Bill No. 193 with House Amendment No. 1 to let the bill remain on the Ready List of the House to allow the various fire organizations additional time to review the bill and the amendment and offer their suggestions and ideas to implement the aforementioned oversight with involvement of the Delaware Fire Prevention Commission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that regarding the request for further time under this Concurrent Resolution that the DVFA and affiliated organizations submit their findings and recommendations to the 151 ^st General Assembly no later than December 15th, 2021.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution establishes a date for the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters' Association (DVFA) to report findings back to the 151st General Assembly.