A bill that aims to strengthen the rights of professional firefighters was advanced Monday by the Indiana House of Representatives. House Bill 1015 would extend to full-time firefighters the same protections that the General Assembly put in place for police officers last year, according to the bill’s author, Representative Jim Pressel.
“I think this is just a simple thing that we can do for them,” Pressel says. “They do a lot for us, day in, day out, when they’re on-call for 72 hours and they’re living at the fire station, and they’re willing to risk everything for the health, safety, and welfare for the people that they serve. And I think this is just a small thing that we can do to help protect their jobs and protect their careers. It’s just good policy, at the end of the day. It’s just good policy to have this in statute.”
Specifically, the bill would provide rules concerning the rights of firefighters who are under internal investigation, including the right to have an attorney present. Pressel says it would also protect firefighters’ right to take part in political activity or not do so, noting that fire chiefs are often appointed by mayors or other municipal executives.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
