The fire danger is again a concern, here is a link for the Rangeland Fire Danger Index.

2008 Joint State Conference Family Program, NGAKS, ESGR

Please review the attached agandas. NGAKS

Conference Program agenda for April 11,12, 2008

 

Update on Implementation of Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act

The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) was signed into law in December 2007, prohibiting taxation of certain benefits provided by state and local units of government to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. Specifically, the first $360 that an individual receives per year in compensation for his or her service as a volunteer emergency responder is not considered taxable income. Additionally, any benefit in the form of a tax reduction as compensation for service as a volunteer first responder is no longer considered taxable income by the federal government.
Since passage of VRIPA, the NVFC has received a number of questions about the impact of the new law. Below are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.
What about volunteer firefighters who receive more than $360 per year from their departments for their volunteer service?
VRIPA only affects the first $360 a volunteer emergency responder receives as compensation for their service. Any amount that a volunteer emergency responder receives in excess of $360 in a given year would be taxed in the same manner that is has been in the past.
What about income that volunteer firefighters receive from other sources?
VRIPA only applies to income received as compensation for service as a volunteer emergency responder.
How can I take advantage of VRIPA?
VRIPA is in effect for the 2008 tax year. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is still in the process of developing regulations for implementing VRIPA. In January, Congressman John Larson (D-CT) sent a letter to the IRS requesting that they develop and release the implementing regulations as soon as possible. The NVFC is in regular contact with Congressman Larson’s office and will make additional information regarding implementation of VRIPA available as it comes to us.
For questions regarding VRIPA, please contact Dave Finger, NVFC Director of Government Relations, at 202-887-5700, ext. 12 or dfinger@nvfc.org.

Kansas House of Representatives and Senate listing

***Propane Applications & Regulations***

***ALL EXPLOSIVE APPLICATIONS ONLINE***

***Homeland Security Regionalization***

The State of Kansas has received more than $84 million dollars since 1999 through the Homeland Security Grant Program. These monies are intended to bolster the capability to detect, prevent, and respond to an incident of terrorism in the state of Kansas. It was recently announced that the new focus of these monies will be toward the development of regional responses to terrorism. For more information on this regionalization, click here to read an open letter from the Governor's Council on Homeland Security.