Entities Affected by the Rule
Those applying for or holding a liquor wholesalers' permit under s.
125.54, Stats., and those liquor wholesalers applying for a warehouse permit under s.
125.19, Stats.
Comparison with Federal Regulations
The department is not aware of any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the rule.
Estimate of Time Needed to Develop the Rule
The department estimates it will take approximately 100 hours to develop this rule order.
Voluntary Fire Fighter—Emergency Medical Technician Service Award Board
Subject
The Wisconsin Department of Administration is amending Ch.
VFF-EMT 1 to incorporate statutory changes made in
2005 Wisconsin Act 142 relating to the Volunteer Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Technician Service Award Program.
Policy Analysis
The Service Award Board (SAB) was created by
1999 Wisconsin Act 105 and consists of an eight-member board appointed by the Governor. The Service Award Program assists qualified departments to recruit and retain volunteer fire fighters and emergency medical technicians. The state annually matches municipal contributions up to $2 million. Currently there are 203 volunteer departments participating in the program covering 5,773 fire fighters and emergency medical technicians.
2005 Wis. Act 142 made changes to various statutes governing the program. They consist of:
•
Renaming the Volunteer Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Technician Service Award Program to the Service Award Program;
•
Renaming the Volunteer Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Technician Service Award Board to the Service Award Board;
•
Extending the benefits of the program so first responders are eligible participants;
•
Adding that a county may participate under the definition of a municipality;
•
Eliminating the requirement that a volunteer have at least 5 years of experience before prior year service can be purchased;
•
A volunteer who has not met all of the vesting requirements shall have their account closed, not forfeited;
•
Include the provision that the beneficiary of a volunteer who is killed while actively engaged in the rendering of volunteer fire fighting, first responder, or emergency medical technical service be paid the service lump sum; and
•
Adds the provision that the volunteer must meet any other program requirements established by the municipality.
The purpose of the proposed rule promulgation is to reflect and implement these new statutory changes.
Statutory Authority
Entities Affected by the Rule
Local units of governments, counties and first responders are now eligible to participate under the changes of Wis. Act 142 to allow for additional volunteers to participate.
Comparison with Federal Regulations
This proposed rule changes are specific to the State of Wisconsin Service Award Program law and completely separate from and unaffected by federal regulations.
Estimate of Time Needed to Develop the Rule
Approximately 40 hours of staff time to develop and implement changes.
