Commission subcommittee to rewrite EIP rules after commissioners cite confusion and low volunteer participation

Commissioners and staff at the April 20 meeting discussed a series of proposed changes to the Education Incentive Program (EIP) rules intended to increase volunteer fire department participation and reduce administrative denials.

Subcommittee members and training coordinators described confusion among volunteers about the October 1 submission deadline, the process to claim hours and which course types — online, medical and hazmat — can be counted toward EIP credit. They proposed moving from an October 1 pre‑submission model to a post‑year submission that lists classes actually delivered during the calendar year, which staff said could remove a barrier for volunteer departments that lack dedicated training officers or reliable internet access.

Why it matters: the EIP ties training and certification to state funds and incentives. Commissioners noted participation has dropped from earlier levels; the transcript referenced a peak participation near 900 volunteers in an earlier year and a current volunteer count around 337, with combo counts bringing a rough statewide total near 600. That decline, commissioners said, undermines the program’s goal to raise statewide firefighter competency.

Details of the discussion - Deadline and submission model: subcommittee members proposed eliminating the October 1 pre‑submission deadline and instead allow departments to submit a calendar‑year report of classes delivered, which would be used for EIP credit and payment calculations. Staff reported that internal audits focus on classes taught and personnel eligibility, not strictly the October 1 form submission. - Allowable hours and content: commissioners said the rules should explicitly state how many online hours count, how many medical‑training hours are creditable (transcript references a 16‑hour medical allowance), and clarified treatment of hazmat operation hours so volunteers can claim those hours when appropriate. - Volunteer accessibility: speakers noted many volunteer stations lack internet or a staff person to prepare advance submissions; proposed changes are intended to make compliance feasible for small departments. - Participation and funding context: staff cited state budget items discussed in the legislative session: roughly $20 million in grants, $10 million for rescue squads and $5 million for EMS agencies (amounts reported verbally). Commissioners emphasized that small per‑person payments scale into significant program costs when aggregated across hundreds of participants.

Next steps and timeline The commission voted to convene the rule subcommittee monthly (second Thursday of each month, alternating Teams and in‑person) to draft clearer Chapter 7 language. Staff and the subcommittee will produce draft rule text clarifying eligibility, allowable hours and waiver processes for the commission to review. Commissioners suggested aiming for final rule changes to be effective mid‑year, though exact dates are to be set during subcommittee work.

Ending: the commission instructed staff to prioritize rule clarity and to report back with draft language; the subcommittee schedule was approved to accelerate that work.