S.F. No. 2473 Summary

• Fire chiefs must certify volunteer firefighter service credit annually by March 31, with firefighters receiving 60-day advance notice and opportunity to challenge determinations before final certification.

• Prohibits firefighters from receiving concurrent service credit in volunteer relief associations for hours already covered by chapter 353 funds, effective January 1, 2017.

• Volunteer emergency medical personnel become eligible for relief association membership and service pensions on the same basis as firefighters, subject to bylaws authorization and municipal or joint powers board approval.

• Allows firefighters with service in multiple volunteer relief associations to receive prorated service pensions if they have combined service credit of at least 10 years (or less if all associations specify lower requirement) and one year in each association.

• Clarifies asset distribution procedures for dissolved relief associations associated with joint powers fire departments, including pro rata distribution of remaining assets and liability for unfunded actuarial liabilities based on each municipality's operating contributions.