House File 302 HOUSE FILE BY HUSER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act providing for a length of service award program for 2 volunteer fire fighters. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2356HH 80 5 ec/pj/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 100B.2, Code 2003, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 9. Establish a length of service award 1 4 program for volunteer fire fighters pursuant to the 1 5 requirements of section 100B.12. 1 6 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 100B.12 LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD 1 7 PROGRAM. 1 8 The state fire service and emergency response council 1 9 shall, in consultation with the department of personnel, 1 10 establish a length of service award program for volunteer fire 1 11 fighters as defined in section 85.61. The program shall 1 12 provide length of service awards, as described in section 1 13 457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code, to volunteer fire 1 14 fighters of a fire department of a municipality, township, or 1 15 benefited fire district that elects to participate in the 1 16 program. The program shall be designed as a defined 1 17 contribution pension plan, consistent, to the extent possible, 1 18 with the requirements of section 509A.12, requiring mandatory 1 19 employer contributions from a participating municipality, 1 20 township, or benefited fire district. The program shall be 1 21 designed to treat awards from the program as a tax=deferred 1 22 benefit under the Internal Revenue Code. The council shall 1 23 adopt rules providing for minimum contribution requirements, 1 24 eligibility requirements for participation by volunteer fire 1 25 fighters, and such other rules as deemed necessary to operate 1 26 the program. 1 27 EXPLANATION 1 28 This bill requires the state fire service and emergency 1 29 response council, in consultation with the department of 1 30 personnel, to establish a length of service award program for 1 31 volunteer fire fighters. The program shall be designed as a 1 32 defined contribution pension plan consistent with the 1 33 requirements for a deferred compensation program for 1 34 governmental employees as provided by Code section 509A.12. 1 35 The program shall provide for a minimum contribution to the 2 1 plan from a participating municipality, township, or benefited 2 2 fire district but participation in the plan by such an entity 2 3 is optional. The council is also required to adopt rules 2 4 governing minimum contribution requirements, eligibility 2 5 requirements for participation by volunteer fire fighters, and 2 6 such other rules as deemed necessary to operate the program. 2 7 LSB 2356HH 80 2 8 ec/pj/5