2023 Legislative Update (continued)

insurance policy requirement, this bill has been in the works for several years and this year was introduced as another Insurance policy similar to the firefighter’s cancer policy.

Every year public safety loses officers to mental health crisis and PTSD. It is our goal to support good legislation to assist public safety officers in crisis.

During 2023 session House bill 451 made it to committees and received a favorable recommendation but didn’t make it out in time to be voted on before crossover day. This bill will be seen again in 2024. It is our goal to support this needed legislation to aid our officers in crisis.

Again, I encourage you to contact your state Representatives and Senators to support this legislation.

This next bill, House bill 124, as introduced by Bruce Rogers of the 61st House district and other signers.

This piece of legislation would allow fire departments that have no EMS license to transport patients in emergency situations where EMS is not immediately available and receive the authority to bill for cost recovery.

This Bill didn’t make it out of the House before crossover day. Georgia State Firefighters Association supports these efforts.

The final piece of legislation followed and supported by Georgia State firefighters Association is House bill 168 “Moe Baxter” bill Introduced by Jason Ridley of the 6th House district and other signers.

This legislation would eliminate state tax on the firefighter cancer benefit. This got overlooked when the original cancer legislation was passed in 2018.

Georgia State firefighters Association is working diligently to correct this injustice on the state and federal level. This Legislation received a favorable reading in the house but was held up in the Ways and Means committee. Unfortunately, it did not make it through on crossover day.

Once again, I want to encourage each of you to reach out to your state representative and senators and also your congressman and discuss this with them to change in the law to allow beneficiaries to receive the full amount of the benefit without taxation.

The Georgia State Firefighters Association executive board is working hard for you each passing day building better and stronger relationships with state agencies and officials.

We are representing the fire service in a positive manner; we can only be as strong as our membership.

We need YOU, we need every firefighter in the state to join our mission: To serve, promote, advocate, and represent the interest of the fire and emergency service of Georgia.

In closing a brief reminder, please make plans to attend the 2023 Georgia Fire Service GSFA/GAFC joint conference August 21st - 25th ,2023. Come join us for training, fellowship, competition and make some lifelong memories in Augusta GA.

Gary J. Clark President GSFA

(770) 420-9888

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In the fire service, the phrase “pay it forward” has many connotations.

It may be young firefighters wanting to pay forward how they were treated as new recruits or probationary firefighters.

All too many times, this payit-forward thought process falls under the misguided ideals of “rites of passage.”

Sadly, it is usually more likely a form of hazing than it is what the true meaning of paying it forward is.

However, to truly pay it forward ideally means to pass on the knowledge that was given to you in your career.

A very wise, seasoned instructor once said that he is loaning his knowledge to his recruits with the expectation they will repay their debt by paying it forward one day to a new set of recruits.

We have a responsibility as fire service professionals to prepare those who come after us for the challenges they will face.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs states that succession planning starts the first day a new firefighter arrives on the