The Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs has endorsed the proposed bill to make Palau Aircraft Rescue Firefighters eligible for the same hazardous pay differential as police officers.
The bill passed the Senate on its third and final reading and has been transmitted to the House of Delegates for action.
House Bill No. 11-119-12S, HD1 is seeking to expand hazardous pay to national employees who have hazardous duties, including aircraft rescue firefighters.
“Firefighters employed by the Division of Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters (ARFF) face hazardous conditions similar to those of Bureau of Public Safety Firefighters but are currently ineligible for special hazardous duty differential pay. This bill aims to rectify this, ensuring ARFF firefighters are eligible for such pay under specific circumstances, “the bill said.
The committee said it endorses the bill. Under the hazardous pay terms, the rescue firefighters will be eligible for up to 25 percent of their adjusted base salary. (By: Bernadette Carreon)