AUGUSTA –The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave unanimous approval Monday to a bill to provide state funding to Maine’s Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) that rewards firefighters and EMS personnel for service to their communities with contributions to a retirement program.

The vote on LD 1316 came immediately following the bill’s public hearing earlier the same day.

“I want to share my sincere thanks to the committee members for this bipartisan vote in support of our volunteer first responders,” said Rep. Stanley Paige Zeigler, D-Montville, the bill’s sponsor. “We are an aging state, and our pool of volunteer first responders is aging, too. Funding LOSAP is the right thing to do for the countless volunteers who have dedicated many years to responding to calls, but it would also be a strong incentive for younger Mainers to step forward and commit to service.”

“The program is established on a point system, so the more you actually participate with your fire department, the more you will actually earn,” said Bill Gillespie, fire chief for the town of Liberty and chair of LOSAP’s Board of Trustees, during the bill’s public hearing. “Once you’ve reached 60 years old, you are eligible at that point in time to start to take a contribution […] whatever you’ve earned based on your point structure you will receive that in the retirement program.”

The 127th Maine Legislature passed legislation creating the framework necessary to establish a Length of Service Award Program at the state level, but the framework legislation was passed without a funding source.

Zeigler’s bill would provide state funding necessary for the Maine Length of Service Award Program. The program could also accept contributions from municipalities and the federal government.

“Volunteer departments cost pennies on the dollar compared to professional departments, and their membership is usually comprised of the same people that run bake sales, coach little league teams, hold town council seats and volunteer in our schools,” said bill co-sponsor Rep. Scott Cuddy, D-Winterport. “These departments are the heart of our small, rural towns. We need to do everything we can to keep those departments strong to help rural Maine.”

Zeigler is serving his third term in the Maine House and represents the communities of Belmont, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, Palermo and Searsmont. He serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

Cuddy, a member of the Labor and Housing Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his second term in the Maine House. He represents the communities of Frankfort, Searsport, Swanville and Winterport.

The bill faces further votes in the House and Senate.