Governor Signs Bryant Bill to Assist Volunteer Firefighters

Press Release from the office of State Represenative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) 

State Rep. Terri Bryant and Sen. Paul Schimpf were recently named “Honorary Fire Chiefs” and were each presented with a white chief helmet engraved with their names by the Illinois Firefighters Association at a meeting of the Coal Belt Fire Protection Association.  The legislators are surrounded by members of the DeSoto Fire Department and officials from the Illinois Firefighters Association. (Rep. Bryant photo)

Murphysboro, IL State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has announced that Governor Rauner has signed HB 771, a bill she sponsored that will provide assistance to volunteer firefighters with purchasing tires for their vehicles.

Bryant says that in the face of budget cuts, and a shortage of volunteers to join fire departments across the state, the signing of HB 771 will provide another incentive and much needed financial assistance.

“In Illinois, 70 percent of all firefighters are volunteers,” Bryant said. “This law will allow a volunteer firefighter to purchase one set of tires for their vehicle every three years at a reduced price per the fire district’s joint purchasing agreement. The goal is to provide a little bit of help to the folks that volunteer to fight fires and keep us safe. I’m particularly thankful to Senator Paul Schimpf for his advocacy and for sponsoring this bill in the Senate.”

Earlier this year, Representative Bryant and Senator Schimpf were named ‘Honorary Fire Chiefs’ by the Illinois Firefighters Association in recognition of their advocacy on issues of importance to firefighters across the State of Illinois. Margaret Vaughn is the Illinois Firefighters Association’s Director of Government Affairs. She offered her thanks to Representative Bryant and Senator Schimpf.

“Volunteer firefighters save our state millions of dollars annually which otherwise would have to be made up with tax revenue,” Vaughn said. “These volunteers are on call on their own time and often use their own vehicles to respond to an emergency. The Illinois Firefighters Association greatly appreciates all the hard work Rep. Bryant and Sen Schimpf put into getting this important legislation passed and thanks Governor Rauner for signing the measure into law.”