Illinois Rep. Charles Meier, in an interview with ASPPA Connect, has outlined how the rules concerning the participation of members of volunteer fire departments (VFDs) in Illinois Secure Choice would change if a bill he introduced is enacted. 
Meier (R-Highland), who serves as Assistant Republican Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, introduced HB 1147, a bill that would amend the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act to provide that the definition of “employer” does not include a volunteer fire department.
On its face, the bill raises questions regarding the effect it would have on the retirement readiness of VFD members in the Land of Lincoln. But Meier explains that is not the case.
Volunteer firemen, he explained to ASPPA Connect, do receive monthly checks, but the amount of those payments is unpredictable. They receive $8 for each emergency call they run. In addition, the number of those emergency calls they will run in a month cannot be predicted, and could be low in a rural area as well. Further, VFD members are not full-time and do not all run on every call. Thus, the amount a VFD member receives in a month is not only unpredictable, it also is likely to be small, perhaps very small.
Meier said that he seeks to make the lives of VFD members a little easier.“It is very burdensome to run pensions of such small amounts of income,” he said. Not only that, he said, some of them and some of the volunteer fire departments through which they serve have to incur the cost of professionals to help them with the paperwork required for participation in Illinois Secure Choice.
Meier thinks that the situation “should be cleared up a little bit more.” He indicated that the state Treasurer’s office may get involved in addressing the matter and wants to reach out about it.
Status
On Feb. 29, 2024, the bill was referred to the House Personnel & Pensions Committee. The committee is set to hold a hearing on the bill on March 7.
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