OKLAHOMA CITY – The cause and effect tandem is creating new volunteer firefighters for the state’s rural areas.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The cause and effect tandem is creating new volunteer firefighters for the state’s rural areas.
Close to 500 new volunteer firefighters have joined rural fire departments after legislation eliminated the age limit for new volunteers.
House Bill 2051 which became effective this week, allows retired firefighters who are already part of the state’s pension program to return to service in volunteer fire departments without it affecting their current retirement benefit and without it counting as an accrued retirement benefit against the state’s pension plan.
The bill was authored by Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher)
House Bill 2005, authored by Sanders, took effect Nov. 1, 2015, and eliminated the 45-year-old age limit for new firefighters by giving them the ability to join a department without the requirement that they be added to the state’s pension plan.
“Saving lives and property is behind my commitment to continue to increase the number of firefighters who serve our state, especially our volunteers who help run our rural fire service programs,” Sanders said. “By allowing those who are willing to serve to do so without harming the state’s pension program gives us more resources to protect our citizens and our communities.”
State law, however, previously prohibited willing volunteers over the age of 45 from becoming firefighters because of the state’s pension and retirement plan simply could not afford them.
In addition to saving lives and property, Sanders said the laws also can help lower insurance rates.
Both bills were approved unanimously in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate before being signed into law by the governor.