This month, the IAFC is launching a new member benefit, state and provincial legislative discussion forums on the association’s website.
The new forums allow members to share information on state and provincial legislative issues and serve as an interactive community for our members to communicate on fire and EMS topics being discussed in their state and provincial legislatures. Members can also discuss select interstate issues, such as fire-safe cigarette legislation, and share information about what is happening in the different states.
The State/Provincial Legislative Discussion Forums can be accessed at www.iafc.org/statelegislativeforum. By clicking on their state or province on an interactive map or on one of six cross-state issues, IAFC members can go to a webpage that provides specific information about their state or provincial political leaders, upcoming legislation and other relevant information. Members can then access the state discussion board to research topics, ask questions about upcoming issues and learn more about fire and EMS service-related legislation in their state.
In addition, through the legislative forums, members can:
- Alert others of pressing state or provincial legislative issues affecting the fire service
- Post questions about legislative issues to other IAFC members in their state or province
- Review legislative discussion from other states working on similar issues
- Access state resources, including hot fire-service legislative issues and legislator contact information
IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes encourages IAFC members to participate in the discussion forums. “This is an invaluable benefit for our members; it is also a member-driven resource that depends on member participation. The more our members use these discussion forums, the more timely and relevant information will be available for them to use.”
The state and provincial legislative discussion forums were derived from the annual States Legislative Forum held at FRI.
Ken LaSala is the IAFC’s director of government relations.