ACCOMPLISHMENTS
of the
LOUISIANA STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION

1. In 1914, the Legislature passed a bill giving 1% refund on fire insurance premiums. The
   L.S.F.A. sponsored this bill.

2. In 1936, published the first manual of instructions for fire departments in Louisiana.

3. In 1944, the refund on fire insurance premiums was doubled to 2%. The L.S.F.A. sponsored
   this increase.

4. In April, 1931, created and conducted Louisiana State Fire College at Baton Rouge.

5. Assured a Civil Service Program for firemen.

6. In 1963, succeeded with support for the L.S.U. Firemen’s Training Program to be transferred
   from the Department of Public Safety to L.S.U.

7. Assisted in the Supplemental Pay Program for Louisiana Firemen.

8. Supports training on a national level by sponsoring staff members of the L.S.U. Firemen
   Training Program to attend the Validation Conference of the International Fire Service
   Training Association at Stillwater, Oklahoma (Oklahoma State University) each year and
   revising training materials (Red Books).

9. In 1970, sponsored a bill for additional funding for L.S.U. Firemen Training Program.

10. In 1972, assisted in forming a State Fire Commission.

11. In 1972, sponsored a bill also exempting Volunteer Firemen from jury duty.

12. In 1973, instrumental in establishing the Life Safety Code in Louisiana.

13. Increased Death Benefits (In Line of Duty Deaths) from $500 to $1,000 in 1975; to $1,500 in
    1978; to $2,000 in 1980; to $2,500 in 1982; to $3,000 in 1986; to $5,000 in 1988; to $7,500
    in 1994 and to $15,000 in 2003.

14. Interdicted legislation that resulted in the Act 32 funding for the L.S.U. Firemen training
    Program.

15. July 29, 1979, Instrumental in making L.S.U. Firemen Training Program the coordinating
    agency of all Louisiana fire training. House Bill No. 104, Act No. 528.

16. August 8, 1981, Revised Death Benefit Fund eligibility.

17. August 10, 1984, Created new L.S.F.A. Membership Districts.

18. In 1986, Commenced Annual Joint Meeting with Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association.

19. In 1986 & 1987, Continued support to keep Supplemental Pay Program in effect.

20. In 1988, Supported legislation for all high-rise buildings to have automatic sprinkler
    systems.

21. In 1992, Membership exceeded 12,000 for the first time.

22. In 1993, Created $250 scholarships at LSU-E and Delgado Universities for Fire Science
    Majors.

23. In January 1995, the first edition of the new L.S.F.A. news magazine, “THE BLAZE” was
    published.

24. In June, 1995 - Sponsored legislative bill to increase Volunteer Fire Fighters of Louisiana
    “Insurance Premium Funds” from $200,000 to $500,000, it became Act #641.

25. In 1996, Established Firefighter of Year Award & Roy Robichaux, Sr. Legislative Awards.

26. In 1996, Initiated “21st Century Fund” of $100 stipend for LSFA members who attend the
    VIP program at the National Fire Academy. Increased the amount of stipend to $125 in

27. Increased scholarship to $500 in 1996

28. In 1997, Instrumental in having Supplemental Pay increased to $300.

29. In 1998, LSFA Informational Pamphlet published.

30. In August 1999, Video tape for promotional and recruitment purposes completed.

31. In 1999, Established WEB page on internet for LSFA.

32. In 2001, Collected the donations for “Bucks for Fire Trucks” at the request of Governor Mike
    Foster. Close to $1,000,000 was collected to purchase 3 trucks and 6 chiefs’ cars for the City
    of New York Fire Dept.

33. In 2007, Helped with distribution of Katrina Fund checks, from the NVFD, to departments in
    dire need.

34. In 2007, Helped pass Legislation that grants a State income tax credit to volunteer
    firefighters in Louisiana.

35. In 2007, Instrumental in getting Legislation passed for the Cigarette Safety and Firefighter
    Protection Act.

36. In 2007, Instrumental in getting Legislation passed increasing Supplemental Pay to $425.00

37. In 2007, Up-Dated Promotional and Recruitment video and transferred to DVD.

38. In 2008, Instrumental in getting Legislation passed for the Volunteer Firefighter Tax
    Incentive.

39. In 2008, Instrumental in getting Act 900 passed - Creates an advisory board of directors to
    the PIAL and adds one member designated by the LSFA.

40. In 2008, Aided in getting Supplemental Pay increased from $425.00 to $500.00 per month.

41. In 2009, Instrumental in getting legislation passed to ban novelty cigarette lighters, and also
    to establish the Fire Safe Cigarette Act.

42. In 2009, Received a Grant from FEMA under the SAFER Act, of $1,000,000 to provide
    scholarships, for any degree, with the stipulation that the recipients would serve at least two
    (2) years in the volunteer fire service.

43. In 2009, Instrumental in securing legislation for Workers’ Comp. for Volunteers.

44. In 2010, Named the Competitive Drills – “Jason Simon Memorial Competitive Drills.”

45. In 2010, Established the “LSFSA Safer Grant Reimbursement Program”.

46. In 2012, Established the use of Bar-Codes for tracking attendees at education classes at
    Annual Conferences

47. Throughout the years, supported legislation in favor of the fire service state-wide, and
    opposed legislation not in favor of the fire service state-wide, and will continue to do
    so in the future

48. In 2017, First year for on line conference registration.

49. In 2017, Established a PayPal account to allow on line donations for Hurricane Relief.

50. In 2017, Instrumental in getting Legislation passed for presumptive cancer policy for
    Louisiana Firefighters.

51. In 2018, LSFA was instrumental in passing H.B. No. 64 which created Emergency Medical
    Services Professional Working Group.

52. In 2018, in conjunction with Concerns of Police Survivors the LSFA provide a financial dairy
    for all of its membership.

53. In 2018, launched a completed revised and state of the art web page with the
    assistance of AMBA.

54. In 2019, Established the Lynda Vince CISM Memorial Scholarship Fund dedicated to
    PTSD and CISM Training.

55. In 2019, Instrumental in getting Legislation passed for PTSD as a covered illness to
    firefighters personal compensated coverages.

56. In 2019, Instrumental in getting Legislation passed for Volunteer Firefighter Tuition
    Reimbursement Program which will provided $250,000 to the program for college
    tuition funding for active volunteer firefighters.

57. In 2019, Instrumental in getting Legislation that defines a fire service employee.

58. In April 2020, for the first time in 115 years, President Joe Thompson cancelled the LSFA
    Conference in Marksville due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and preceded to set
    presidents by having the first ZOOM Conference in the history of the LSFA.

59. In 2020, the LSFA sets up ZOOM, a video conferencing tool for all member departments
    use to hold business meeting at no cost to the department.

60. On July 22, 2020, the LSFA President Joe Thompson holds the first virtual conference
    via ZOOM with 68 participants.

61. July 22, 2020 the Louisiana State Firemen’s Association voted to allow electronic voting
    for all elections.

62. July 22, 2020 the 1
    st African American female was elected to the Executive Board.

63. July 24, 2021, the LSFA raises dues for the second time in its 116th years as an
    organization. Dues were raised to $50.00 per department and $10.00 per members. The
    $50.00 department dues also allowed each department 1 designee to become a
    member of NVFC.

64. In the 2022 Legislative session the LSFA played a vital role in passing H.B. 757 which
    provided for the transfer of fire training from LSU to OSFM.

65. In the 2022 Legislative session the LSFA played a vital role in passing S.B. 80 to
    increase Supplemental Pay from $500.00 to $600.00 per month.

66. In the 2022 Legislative session the LSFA Played a vital role in passing H.B. 18 which
    provides for hazardous duty retirement for state fire training instructors.

67. In the 2023 Legislative session the LSFA was instrumental in Supplemental Pay
    continuing to stay at $600.00.

68. In the 2023 Legislative session the LSFA was instrumental in passing legislation to give
    retirees a one-time $2500.00 cost of living increase.

69. In 2024 the 1st Joint Legislative Day was held at the Capital in Baton Rouge, LA. in
    conjunction with PFFLA and Fire Chief Association’s
    
    

    This Association is constantly working to promote the best interest of all firemen in the
    State of Louisiana, both career and volunteer, as to new legislative measures concerning firemen,
    promoting better training, acquiring of new members in the Association, exchanging ideas,
    keeping abreast with new training techniques, bringing in new programs and trying to establish
    harmony in the fire service.