summary
Introduced
11/26/2025
11/26/2025
In Committee
11/26/2025
11/26/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
The service award program, administered by the Department of Administration, provides length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. Under current law, vesting occurs once a volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency medical responder, or volunteer emergency medical services practitioner attains 15 years of service for a municipality and reaches the age of 60. This bill changes the program so a volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency medical responder, or volunteer emergency medical services practitioner is fully vested to receive a service award once he or she attains 20 years of service for a municipality and reaches the age of 53. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the service award program for volunteer firefighters, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners by changing the vesting requirements. Currently, participants become fully vested after 15 years of service and reaching age 60, but the bill updates this to require 20 years of service and reaching age 53. Additionally, the bill creates a partial award option for volunteers who have at least 10 but less than 20 years of service and have reached age 53, with the payment amount to be determined by the Department of Administration. The length of service award can be paid as a lump sum or in another manner specified by department rules, and will include all municipal and state contributions made on behalf of the volunteer, along with earnings on those contributions, minus investment expenses. This change aims to adjust the service recognition and financial benefits for these critical volunteer emergency service workers.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (7)
Elijah Behnke (R)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R)*,
Anthony Kurtz (R)*,
Jeff Mursau (R)*,
Todd Novak (R)*,
Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D)*,
Howard Marklein (R),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety (on 11/26/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab691 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB691.pdf |
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