A bill has been signed to protect first responders from employer discrimination or discipline arising from their volunteer work.
Gov. Jack Markell signed House bills 21 and 22 at the Brandywine Hundred Fire Co.
HB 21 prevents an employer from firing or taking disciplinary action against an employee in cases of states of emergency or if he or she is injured. A second measure, HB 22, prohibits employers from discriminating in the hiring or discharging of any person because of that person’s membership in a volunteer emergency responder organization – volunteer firefighters, volunteer EMTs and volunteer fire police, as well as ladies’ auxiliary members.
The legislation stemmed from an incident in which a Delaware firefighter was fired by a private employer after sustaining burns to his hands while fighting a house fire. The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Debra Heffernan (D-Brandywine Hundred South). Sen. Harris McDowell (D- Wilmington North) was the lead Senate sponsor. Also a supporter of the bill was north Wilmington Republican State Sen. Cathy Cloutier.
