On January 18, 1998, the “Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Service Award Program" was signed into law. This program is more commonly known by the acronym “LOSAP.” 

The statute defines a LOSAP as “a system established to provide tax-deferred income benefits to active volunteer members of an emergency service organization.” An emergency service organization generally includes all forms of volunteer fire and first aid organizations. For the purposes of administering the law, this definition includes those volunteer first aid organizations that charge for their services. 

The tax-deferred income benefits for emergency services volunteers come from contributions made solely by the governing body of the municipality or fire district, on behalf of those volunteers who meet the criteria of a plan created by that governing body. The contributions are deposited into a plan similar to the deferred compensation plans permitted for county and municipal employees (N.J.S.A. 43:15B-1 et seq.). 

These plans permit the governing body or the volunteer to direct the investment of funds in the different investment vehicles that may be permitted under the plan adopted by the governing body. The investment options may include different types of mutual funds or annuities.

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Known as the Volunteer Tuition Credit Program, it covers members of a volunteer organization who are active and in good standing, their spouse, and their dependent children. The law defines a volunteer organization as a volunteer fire company, or a first aid, or rescue squad association. They are allowed to enroll in post-secondary courses on a tuition credit basis in specific learning institutions: county colleges, county vocational schools or county technical institutes. 

A dependent child shall be any student who does not meet any of the eligibility criteria listed in N.J.S.A. 9A: 9-2.6 (a) or (b) for independent student status. Each volunteer is eligible to receive tuition credit in the amount of $600 per year, not to exceed a maximum of $2400 over a four year service period, provided that classroom space is available and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course.

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There are many online retail sites that cater to Military, Public Servants and First Responders. Once you obtain state licensure, you become eligible for discounts on these sites including; 

• https://www.govx.com/

• https://www.id.me/individuals/group-discounts/first-responders

• https://www.badgediscounts.com/

• https://www.gmfirstresponderdiscount.com

• https://www.att.com/offers/firstresponders.html

• https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/first-responders-discounts-faqs/

• https://www.dish.com/offers/first-responder-offer/

• https://www.offers.com/blog/post/first-responder-discounts/ 

In addition to becoming an EMT, there are many other great training opportunities that add to you tool kit. We sponsor training through many avenues, including the Middlesex County Fire Academy. These training range from awareness level to technician level proficient in Vehicle Extrication, Water Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Firefighting, Rope & High Angle Rescue and many more.

With time and experience, you can also one day become an instructor in many of these disciplines and pass on what you know to the next generation.

Nothing is more rewarding than earning respect from your fellow responders, and members of your community. As a member you will gain an immense sense of pride and satisfaction from your accomplishments. These accomplishments are measured on both the knowledge and skills you acquire from your training as well as the gratitude from the people you will help on a daily basis.

Camaraderie and the feeling of family and satisfaction from doing an important job well while contributing to the security, safety and welfare of your community. You will be surrounded by a group of like-minded and just as dedicated individuals. These people will have your back on your best day and your worst day. This job can get tough, but you will get through it with the support of your fellow volunteers. 

Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) are one of the categories of volunteers covered by New Jersey Workers’ Compensation law. 

In order to qualify for New Jersey Workers’ Compensation benefits, the volunteer firefighter or EMT must sustain personal injuries while “in the line of duty” and “doing public duty” pursuant to New Jersey statutory law.  This broad language affords the volunteers workers’ compensation benefits for injuries sustained in many different contexts.  

So long as the volunteer is injured in furtherance of their volunteer duties, it is highly probable they are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits including medical treatment, temporary disability benefits along with a permanency award for any permanent function loss arising for the volunteer-related injury.

The law further provides that the injured volunteer is entitled to the maximum weekly statutory wage for the year the injury was sustained.  This is very important because it insures the injured volunteer will be protected in the event he or she loses time from their regular job due to an injury sustained while providing critical services for the communities they serve.