​House Passes Rep. Meredith’s Bill to Secure Permanent Pay Raise Law Enforcement, Qualified Volunteer Fire Depts.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (February 24, 2017) – Today, the House passed a measure to secure permanent pay raises for law enforcement and firefighters and increase annual allotments to qualified volunteer fire departments. House Bill 60, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Brownsville, makes raises that were implemented in the 2016 Regular Session permanent.
 
“Our first responders are dedicated to ensuring the safety of our communities,” said Rep. Meredith. “Public safety workers face unprecedented threats these days and I firmly believe they should be compensated to the best of our state’s ability. I commend the House for swiftly passing this measure, and I look forward to its consideration in the Senate.”

House Bill 60 seeks to solve the pay disparity that exists for law enforcement and firefighters, and help retain and attract dedicated servants. The measure also increases annual allotments to volunteer fire departments from $8,250 to $11,000 to help with the purchase of needed equipment.  As the country sees a rise in on-the-job fatalities, particularly in law enforcement, pay raises for those who put themselves in the line of danger while on the job are becoming more and more necessary.
 
The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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