Committee unanimously backs resolution urging state to prevent commercial insurance rates for volunteer drivers

MARATHON COUNTY, Wis. ' The Marathon County Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously on July 8 to forward to the County Board a resolution asking the governor and the state Legislature to act to protect volunteer drivers from being classified and charged as commercial drivers.

Lori Muskemons of Conservation Planning and Zoning introduced the resolution, which the Transportation Coordinating Committee approved in June and forwarded to the health committee for County Board consideration. The resolution urges state action similar to a provision in Minnesota that prevents volunteer drivers serving nonprofits from being assigned commercial insurance rates.

Jenny McKenzie, who runs transportation services at North Central Healthcare, told the committee that volunteer recruitment and retention have declined substantially. "When I started this job'we had anywhere from 35 to 40 drivers," McKenzie said. "As of right now, I have five drivers that drive on a regular basis" and three who drive monthly. She described turning away a Marathon County resident in Colby who needed dialysis in Medford because volunteer capacity was not available and using a paratransit vehicle for that one-way trip would not be financially feasible.

McKenzie said volunteer drivers have seen premium increases of hundreds of dollars a year after being classified under commercial rates. Muskemons said the resolution asks state leaders to consider statutory changes so volunteer drivers who transport residents for nonprofit or public human-service programs are not charged commercial premiums.

Supervisor Covelli moved approval and the motion was seconded; the committee approved the resolution by voice vote and will forward it to the County Board.