Updates on SB's 1072, 1085 & 1086

The Senate Reforms and Restructuring Committee held a hearing and took testimony from employee groups on SB 1072, SB 1085, and SB 1086 on Wednesday, Feb 3rd. SB 1072 proposes changes to PA 312 and SB's 1085-1086 propose changes to existing laws that deal with fire districts and other intergovernmental transfers of functions and responsibilities. MPFFU President Paul Hufnagel and Secretary-Treasurer Terrence Chesney testified on behalf of union firefighters on all three of these bills. The official position of the MPFFU is that PA 312 has worked well for more than 40 years just the way it is written now. The MPFFU remains willing to explore opportunities for the creation of fire districts or authorities but maintains that employee rights need to be protected in the process. More than 40 members of the MPFFU were in attendance at the hearing. Due to limited time contraints, very few individuals were permitted to testify after the MPFFU and the major police organizations testified. The members of the committee indicated that they would take the testimony into consideration and would work on a substitute bill to address the concerns of employee organizations. The committee may be voting on the bills next week. Check back for updates.