RURAL FIREFIGHTERS BILL

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Many small fire department across rural areas of Illinois such as Lawrence and surrounding counties in southeastern Illinois are having trouble finding qualified applicants to serve as firefighters. 55th District State Senator Darren Bailey has filed legislation to help ease part of the situation. Under current state law, applicants 35 years of age and older are not eligible to take the firefighting exam unless they have had 5 years of prior experience. Bailey’s bill removes that five year requirement and allows those who apply to take the exam with any prior experience. The bill expands personel numbers in rural areas. It now goes to the Illinois House for consideration.