THE FOLLOWING IS AN ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS RELEASE
Governor Pritzker recently signed emergency workers job protection legislation into law, sponsored by
State Representative Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville).
Illinois like many other states is battling a first responder recruitment and retention crisis where it is increasingly becoming difficult to attract the necessary number of firefighters, police officers, and EMTs to the careers in emergency services.
Schweizer says this is of increased difficulty for public safety agencies that have an all-volunteer force, where most of these volunteers have regular full-time careers/jobs elsewhere in the private sector.
He said that volunteers have less time and incentive to continue this level of public service and its training requirements, if their real employment is threatened.
That is why he sponsored House Bill 1353.
