Indianapolis, In. — The Indiana House of Representatives recently voted in favor of State Rep. Randy Frye’s (R-Greensburg) legislation that would expand recruitment opportunities for Indiana fire departments.
Currently, fire departments can only employ firefighters from the county their district is located in and the counties neighboring it.
According to Frye, this legislation would allow fire departments to hire qualified firefighters who reside within a 50-mile radius of the town, city or township they serve.
“For fire departments with a staffing shortage, this legislation would provide more opportunities to recruit across state lines and bolster their ranks with highly qualified firefighters,” said Frye, a former firefighter. “Having larger teams would help to protect current firefighters from working excessive and strenuous ours.”
Frye said his legislation would also include emergency management workers and division fire investigations under the public safety officer definition in state law. This would ensure their family members would qualify for the public safety officers’ special death benefits in the event the officers are fatally wounded in the line of duty.
House Bill 1258 can now be considered by the Senate. For more information about the 2019 Indiana General Assembly click here. .
