HF2158

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the bill is to allow volunteer emergency services workers to purchase tires for personal vehicles through municipal contracts. This aims to provide a benefit to those volunteers who perform essential services for the community.

Main Provisions

• Authorization for Tire Purchases: Volunteer emergency services providers, such as firefighters, ambulance attendants, and paramedics, who have served at least three years, are allowed to purchase up to four tires for one personal vehicle every three years under the same contracts that municipalities or fire departments use for purchasing vehicle tires.
• Financial Responsibility: While they can purchase the tires through these contracts, volunteers must cover all costs, taxes, and fees associated with the tire purchase themselves.

Significant Changes

• New Municipal Support Mechanism: Introduces a new section in the Minnesota Statutes (chapter 471) that establishes a benefit for long-serving volunteer emergency services personnel, indirectly aiding their personal transportation needs.

Authorization Requirements

• Written Approval: Municipalities or fire departments must provide written authorization on official letterhead, detailing the volunteer's name, years of service, personal vehicle license plate, and the specific contract used for tire purchases.
• Record Keeping: Municipalities must keep records of the tire purchases made by each volunteer to ensure compliance with the stipulations regarding frequency and quantity.

Relevant Terms

• Volunteer emergency services providers
• Tire purchases
• Municipal contracts
• Volunteer firefighters
• Ambulance attendants
• Municipal support