Editors Note:  May 1st had lots of activity that pertains to Volunteer Firefighter Pensions

The Senate Journal for May 1, 2008 is now available on the Senate Web site at the following URL:

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/journals/2007-2008/20080501110.PDF  

Below is just a SMALL part of the changes.


STATE OF MINNESOTA
Journal of the Senate
EIGHTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE
ONE HUNDRED TENTH DAY
St. Paul, Minnesota, Thursday, May 1, 2008
The Senate met at 11:00 a.m. and was called to order by the President.

ARTICLE 15 - VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RELIEF ASSOCIATION CHANGES


Sec. 12. VOLUNTARY STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT
PLAN ADVISORY BOARD.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this article, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise, the terms or phrases in this subdivision have the meanings given them.
(b) "Board" means the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan
advisory board established under subdivision 2.
(c) "Executive director" means the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association.
(d) "Fire department" means the agency or department of a municipality or an independent
nonprofit firefighting corporation that is charged with the prevention and suppression of fire and other related emergency activities.
(e) "Firetown" means the area serviced by any municipality having a qualified fire department or
a qualified incorporated fire department having a subsidiary volunteer firefighters relief association.

Subd. 2. Establishment. The voluntary statewide lump-sumvolunteer firefighter retirement plan
advisory board is established.

Subd. 3. Membership. (a) The voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement
plan advisory board consists of six persons. Themembers of the boardmust be appointed as follows:
(1) board seat A: a volunteer firefighter from a firetown with a population under 5,000 appointed by the president of the Minnesota State Fire Departments Association;
(2) board seat B: a volunteer firefighter from a firetown with a population greater than 5,000 and less than 9,001 appointed by the president of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association;
(3) board seat C: a volunteer firefighter from a firetown with a population greater than 9,000 and less than 20,000 appointed by the president of the Minnesota State Fire Departments Association;
(4) board seat D: a volunteer firefighter from a firetown with a population greater than 19,999
appointed by the president of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association;
(5) board seat E: a person appointed by the president of the League of Minnesota Cities; and
(6) board seat F: a person appointed by the president of the Minnesota Association of Townships.
(b) The members of the board shall serve until August 1, 2009.
(c) Service as a member of the board is uncompensated and does not qualify for the
reimbursement of expenses or for any per diem allowance by the state or the Public Employees
Retirement Association.
(d) A vacancy on the board must be filled by appointment by the governor in accordance with
the requirements specified in paragraph (a).

Subd. 4. Board duties. (a) The board shall:
(1) elect a chair; and
(2) with the advice and administrative support of the executive director, draft legislative
recommendations for establishment, organization, and administration of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan consistent with this section, Minnesota Statutes, chapters 356 and 356A, and any other limitation or requirement of law.

Subd. 5. Information from municipalities and fire departments. Municipalities and fire
departments with volunteer firefighters who would be covered by the plan shall provide all relevant information and records that the board or the executive director requires to perform their duties.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 13. REPEALER OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT SPECIAL VOLUNTEER FIRE
RELIEF ASSOCIATION ANCILLARY BENEFIT LEGISLATION.

Subdivision 1. Anoka. Laws 1969, chapter 352, section 1, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, are repealed.

Subd. 2. Butterfield. Laws 1975, chapter 185, section 1, is repealed.

Subd. 3. Coon Rapids. Laws 1973, chapter 304, section 1, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, are
repealed.

Subd. 4. Edina. Laws 1965, chapter 592, sections 3 as amended by Laws 1969, chapter 644,
section 2, Laws 1975, chapter 229, section 2; 4 as amended by Laws 1969, chapter 644, section 2, Laws 1975, chapter 229, section 3, Laws 1985, chapter 261, section 37, Laws 1991, chapter 125, section 1; Laws 1985, chapter 261, section 37 as amended by Laws 1991, chapter 125, section 1; Laws 1991, chapter 125, section 1, are repealed.

Subd. 5. Fairmont. Laws 1967, chapter 575, sections 2 as amended by Laws 1979, chapter 201,
section 23; 3; 4, are repealed.

Subd. 6. Falcon Heights. Laws 1969, chapter 526, sections 3; 4; 5 as amended by Laws 1974,
chapter 208, section 2; 7 as amended by Laws 1974, chapter 208, section 3, are repealed.

Subd. 7. Golden Valley. Laws 1971, chapter 140, sections 2 as amended by Laws 1973, chapter
30, section 2; 3 as amended by Laws 1973, chapter 30, section 3; 4 as amended by Laws 1973,
chapter 30, section 4; 5 as amended by Laws 1973, chapter 30, section 5, Laws 1993, chapter 244, article 4, section 1, are repealed.

Subd. 8. Wayzata. Laws 1973, chapter 472, section 1 as amended by Laws 1976, chapter 272,
section 1, Laws 1979, chapter 201, section 33, is repealed.

Subd. 9. White Bear Lake. Laws 1971, chapter 214, section 1, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, are
repealed.

EFFECTIVE DATE; LOCAL APPROVAL. (a) Subdivision 1 is effective the day after the
governing body of Anoka and its chief clerical officer timely complete their compliance with
Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(b) Subdivision 2 is effective the day after the governing body of Butterfield and its chief clerical
officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(c) Subdivision 3 is effective the day after the governing body of Coon Rapids and its chief
clerical officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021,
subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(d) Subdivision 4 is effective the day after the governing body of Edina and its chief clerical
officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(e) Subdivision 5 is effective the day after the governing body of Fairmont and its chief clerical
officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(f) Subdivision 6 is effective the day after the governing body of Falcon Heights and its
chief clerical officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(g) Subdivision 7 is effective the day after the governing body of Golden Valley and its
chief clerical officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(h) Subdivision 8 is effective the day after the governing body of Wayzata and its chief clerical
officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
(i) Subdivision 9 is effective the day after the governing body of White Bear Lake and its
chief clerical officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.