Earlier this afternoon, Governor Bentley signed the legislation that grants independence to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission, increases the accountability of the organization, and saves administrative costs. It is noteworthy that every vote taken on this bill was unanimous. Thanks once again to all of you who supported this effort, and please thank your senators and representatives.

Allan Rice
Executive Director
Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission

We are in the final stages of approval for the Fire College bill. The last step in this long process is to get approval by the full House of Representatives, which we hope to achieve next week. We need your help!

Please call your state representative this weekend or on Monday and tell them that you, along with all Alabama fire service organizations, support the “Fire College bill” that Rep. John Merrill is bringing forward, and you would like for them to vote for it when it comes up.

If you do not know who your representative is, please visit this page:

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/zipsearch.html

You can enter your zip code on the first screen, and then your full address on the second screen and it will tell you exactly who represents you.

Please share with them your support of this legislation, which will increase accountability and save costs so that better service can be provided to Alabama’s firefighters.

Thanks for all you do to protect Alabama,

Allan

Allan Rice
Executive Director
Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission
2501 Phoenix Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405

This is a call to action on HB275 (Legislation that will provide a revenue stream for the Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund).  This vital piece of legislation is on the Special Order Calendar for Thursday.  We need everyone to contact their representatives and encourage them to vote yes.

On Wednesday February 22nd, 2012, The House of Representatives Ways and Means-General Fund Committee passed HB275 out of committee with a favorable report. This Bill would call for a Constitutional Amendment to add 5mills ($5 on $100,000) to the State

ad valorem property tax. The Alabama Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund and The Alabama Peace Officers Annuity Fund would split 20% of the funds generated from this tax and the rest would go to the General Fund, which is desperately underfunded at this time. I urge you to contact your member of the Alabama House of Representatives to ask for their support of this legislation.

Talking points:

• Bill received a Favorable report from Committee
• Provides a benefit to dedicated career and volunteer firefighters for their service to their communities.
• Provide incentive for citizens to join and actively participate in their Local Volunteer FD’s- active participation required for volunteers to maintain membership in Fund.
• Let’s the citizens of Alabama vote on the issue- Legislators are not raising taxes the people would have to.
• Provides needed revenue for the State General Fund budget

Please contact as many Representatives as you can, especially yours. Let me know if we get support from them or not. Please contact any of the Alabama Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund Commissioners www.alabamafirefightersabf.org

Most Respectfully,

C. R. Vaughan

Vice Chairman

205-499-6905

chief@cubafiredept.org

HB 188 may come up next week before the House Insurance Committee.  Please contact your legislators and ask them to support a favorable report from the insurance committee. There is some opposition from insurance companies with ALFA in the lead.

The Insurance Committee Members are:

Representative Mike Hill (Chair) – 334-242-7715 or mhillcolum@aol.com

Representative Greg Wren (Vice Chair) 334-242-7764 or repgregwren@yahoo.com

Representative Lawrence McAdory – 334-242-7702

Representative K. L. Brown – 334-242-1778 or klbrown@cableone.net

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/houseroster_alpha.html