Recap of the 2022 Legislative Day

March 10, 2022

Firefighters from around the state met yesterday at the State House to speak to their legislators and unify the fire service voice with concentration on several legislative actions that effect the fire service as part of the annual South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association Legislative Day. Despite uncertain weather conditions and operating between sessions, roughly 1,000 people attended.

The South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association President, Jamie Caggiano, welcomed firefighters, legislators and staff to a focused event to draw attention to safety and protection needs of fire service personnel, both volunteer and career, during the annual meeting. Firefighters met with both House and Senate members and offered directed thoughts on several bills and their thanks for supporting the fire service back home and throughout South Carolina.

Topics included several pieces of legislation that are being followed by South Carolina firefighters. They include: Return to Work, Optional Payment of Employee Contribution by Employer, V-SAFE Program Expansion, Reimbursement of Training Cost, Workers Compensation as it relates to PTSD, and Earnings Limitation associated with Return to Work.

Additionally, SC State Fire, a division of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) is requesting over $25 million in funding through Governor McMaster’s Executive Budget. These funds are both recurring and non-recurring for USAR, Emergency Response Task Force, to provide improvements at the Fire Academy to add another recruit school, and to maintain/purchase equipment. The Association supports State Fire's requests.

During the luncheon, Representative Dennis C. Moss (Cherokee, Chester & York Counties) and Representative William E. “Bill” Sandifer, III (Oconee & Pickens Counties) were inducted into the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association’s Society of the Maltese. The Society of the Maltese Cross honors General Assembly members that have, throughout their legislative career, contributed and participated with firefighters in pursuit of public safety.

“Chairmen Dennis Moss' and Bill Sandifer's service to their districts and to South Carolina shows a long-standing tradition and their commitment to helping the state’s fire service in Columbia is proven each year,” offered Chief Caggiano.

The Association's Executive Committee and staff want to extend an enormous thank you the legislators and their staffs who took the time out of their schedules to eat and fellowship. In addition, Legislative Day would be impossible without firefighters from all over the state making the trip to Columbia to participate. Your steadfastness in creating and maintaining relationships with your legislators is admirable and we commend you for your efforts.

"Legislative Day is always a day that we look forward to," said Charlie King, Association Executive Director. "The conversations that were started yesterday are just the beginning. I encourage our members to continue to those conversations and to build relationships with their legislators."