Lawmakers consider bill to enhance firefighter training

Lawmakers in Indiana are considering a bill that would require the board of firefighting personnel standards and education to establish best practices to improve safety and health for firefighters.

S.B. 258, slated for a Friday introduction in the state Senate, would also allow the workers compensation rating bureau of Indiana to provide a premium or rate discount toward workers compensation insurance to municipalities and volunteer fire departments that implement the best practices, according to an early draft of the bill.

The bill would also permit the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system to provide a discount to a payment required for police officers’ and firefighters’ pension and disability funds to those that implement the best practices.