COMMITTEE ON RULES I Mina'Trenta na Liheslaturan Guahan

COMMITTEE ON RULES I Mina'Trenta na Liheslaturan Guahan • 30th Guam Legislature 155 Hesler Place, Hagatna, Guam 96910 • tel: (67 1)472-7679 • fax: (671)472-3547 • [email protected]

SENATOR RORYJ.

RESPICIO CHAIRPERSON

SENATOR

Judith P. Guthertz VICE

CHAIRPERSON

MAJORITY MEMBERS:

Judith T. Won Pat SPEAJCER

Benjamin J. F. Cruz VICE SPEAKER

Tma Rose Mufia Barnes LEGISLATIVE SECRETARY

Thomas C. Ada SENATOR

Frank B. Aguon, Jr. SENATOR

Adolpho B. Palacios, Sr. SENATOR

Vicente C. Pangelinan SENATOR

MINORITY MEMBERS:

Frank F. Bias, Jr. SENATOR

James V. Espaldon SENATOR

--------- ----

March 15,2010

MEMORANDUM

To:

From:

Patricia C. Santos Clerk of the Legislature

Rory J. Respido /'~ Chairperson, Confmittee on Rules

... )

'

Subject: Supplement to Committee Report on SBill No. 93(COR)

Hafa Adai!

Transmitted herewith is a revised Committee Report Digest for Bill No. 93 (COR) As Substituted by the Committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing and Recreation.

Please attach this revised Digest as a "Supplement" to the Committee Report on Bill No. 218-30 (lS). Please make the appropriate indication in your records; and forward to MIS for posting on our website.

Si Yu'os ma'iise'!

cc: Senator Tina Rose Mufia Barnes

COMMITTEE ON RULES I Mina'Trenta na Liheslaturan Guahan • 30th Guam Legislature !55 Hesler Place, Hagatfia, Guam 96910 • tel: (671)472-7679 • fax: (671)472-3547 • [email protected]

SENATOR RORYJ.

RESPICIO CHAIRPERSON

SENATOR

Judith P. Guthertz VICE

CHAIRPERSON

MAJORITY MEMBERS:

Judith T. Won Pat SPEAKER

Benjamin J. E Cruz VICE SPEAKER

Ttna Rose Mufia Barnes LEGISlATIVE SECRETARY

Thomas C. Ada SENATOR

Frank B. Aguon, Jr. SENATOR

Adolpho B. Palacios, Sr. SENATOR

Vicente C. Pangelinan SENATOR

MINORITY MEMBERS:

Frank E Blas, Jr. SENATOR

James V. Espaldon SENATOR

Supplement to Committee Report on

Bill No. 93(COR) As Substituted by the Committee on Municipal Mfairs,

Aviation, Housing & Recreation

*NOTE: Original Committee Report on Bill No. 93 (COR) As Substituted

was filed on July 7, 2009.

~enator m;tna ll\ose JJ[ufia Jhlarnes !

March 15,2010

;ifmemoranbum

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

Senator Rosry J. Respicio Chairperson, Committee on Rules

Senator Tina Rose Muna Barne~ Supplement to Committee Report on Bill 93 (COR) As Substituted

Attached you will fmd a copy of the Committee Digest on Bill No. 93 (COR) as substituted by the Committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing and Recreation.

I respectfully request that this be attached as a supplement to the Committee Report on Bill No. 93 (COR)-as substituted, which was filed with the Clerk's Office on July 07,2009.

Si Yu'os Ma'ase!

I Mina'Trenta Na Uheslaturan Guahan Office of The Legislative Secretary

Tina Rose Muna Barnes Chairperson, Committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing and Recreation

155 Hesler Place Hagatna, Guam 96910 [Tel: 671-472-3455/6 Fax: 671-472-3400)

Bill 93 (COR): As substituted by the committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing and Recreation. -"An act to authorize the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam to issue differential pay to EMT-B certified firefighters of the aircraft rescue and fire fighting unit."

PUBLIC HEARING:

I. OVERVIEW

The Committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing, and Recreation convened for a public hearing on Friday, April 24, 2009. Proceedings began shortly after 9:00 a.m. to receive testimony on the nomination of Dr. Marilyn C. Salas to the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board and Bill 93 (COR). Notice of the hearing was disseminated to all local media outlets via electronic media and published in the Pacific Daily News.

Senators Present:

Senator B.J. Cruz, acting Chairperson Senator Rory Respicio Senator Telo Taitague Senator Matt Rector

Testimony submitted by:

David Q. Peredo Cindy Toves-Corpuz Daniel C. Stone Carlos H. Salas

Fire Chief (Written) Firefighter with ARFF Division (Written) (Written) GIAA Executive. Manager (Oral)

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I Mina'Trenta Na Uheslaturan Guahan Office of The Legislative Secretary


155 Hesler Place Hagatna, Guam 96910 [Tel: 671-472-3455/6 Fax: 671-472-3400]

II. SUMMARY OF TESTIMONIES:

Carlos Salas said he is pleased with the re-introduction of this bill. He mentioned that the issue has always been that the GFD laws do not recognize the EMT personnel at the airport for payment. This presents challenges for the airport firefighters. This bill will allow the appropriate compensation to take place if they respond as an EMT at the airport. He stated that they support the bill and asked the committee to endorse it and put it out as a proposed law to the Governor.

Senator Respicio brought attention to the testimony submitted by the Guam Fire Department. He said that GFD supports the intent of the bill, however, asked if Mr. Salas had any comments about their concerns.

Carlos Salas said that GFD is making a differentiation between EMT-A and B. The EMT-A firefighters are assigned to the ambulance and they are clocked in under EMT pay. The EMT-B, which we are supporting, is if they respond to EMT service at the airport. He continues that the reasons why they are supporting EMT-B services for the airport is because they do not have the ambulatory services but there is an occasional need to respond to passengers at the airport. Also, there are occasions when there are medical referral patients to the airport when the firefighters are occupied with community emergencies, it becomes an issue for them to spend more time at the airport transferring a patient from curbside to the airplane. This requires EMT certification. He said this bill will provided an added value to the airport services.

Senator Respicio said that GFD specific concerns are that there may be a disparity created because Bill 93 will set a minimum of 3 hours. The Fire Chief is saying that the bill be changed to read for every hour that actual EMT duties are performed rather then having a 3 hour minimum. He asked if Mr. Salas would have any objections to that.

Carlos Salas said he would leave that up to the committee.

Senator Respicio said he had the understanding that this bill was at the request of the Guam Airport Authority.

Carlos Salas explained that the reason why they picked a minimum of three hours. It could be a 30 minute response time or a 3 hour response time. It makes sense for our

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I Mina'Trenta Na Liheslaturan Guahan Office of The Legislative Secretary



firefighters to seek that certification as an EMT and keep that certification. Looking at the historical response data, it is very minimal. Within a 24 hour period, if they respond for 30 minutes, in the proposed bill will say three hours, then after that it would be based on actual time.

Senator Respicio asked Mr. Salas if he could see the disparity.

Carlos Salas replied yes. He continued that at the same time the GFD firefighters are also EMT-A and get clocked in as a full time EMT-A. He said our firefighters are only EMT-B and only be paid if they respond at the terminal or within the airport premise.

Senator Respicio asked if their salary is comparable to the Guam Fire Department personnel or if it is a little higher.

Carlos Salas replied that he believed they were comparable. He said they follow what the schedules for salaries are and that they flow along with what the GFD personnel are getting paid.

Senator Respicio stated that this is an issue that has to be reconciled between your agency, the Fire Department, and this committee.

Senator Rector said that this issue does not seem to make a lot of sense. If someone goes to school and is trained to get a certain certification they should be constantly rewarded for that certification. An EMT-B is an EMT-B and are always on stand-by ready to respond to an emergency. It is important that we have these trained certified personnel on stand-by. I know you have a minimum of three hours, be every fire fighter should get the EMT certification pay the whole time they are working. They have earned that certification. He asked Mr. Salas how he would feel about that.

Carlos Salas replied he would agree as long as they are working for the Guam Fire Department and are actually assigned to the ambulances. In the case of the airport we are not required to be EMTs. There is medical training and sessions required, but not EMT certified. At the minimum, EMT certifications are not a requirement. What they are proposing is an added value of the airport as a service to our people. Then they could compensate for the firefighters for that. This bill does not make the certification a requirement. The airport is willing to make comparable payments for EMT firefighters that actually respond to emergencies at the airport. And maybe it will make more sense

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for them to set a minimum of three hours. He said they have previously discussed this with the Fire Chief and our fire fighters; of course there is always a better deal.

Senator Rector gave the example of teaching certifications, citing the fact that as teachers continue with their education they receive higher pay. He thinks the same thing should happen for fire fighters. They should be rewarded for their certifications all of the time. He asked if the airport be adverse to making this a permanent certification bonus.

Carlos Salas said that in terms of progressions in their career there are steps to progress and get compensated for it. These are not all in the EMT area EMT is not really a part of their core requirements and certifications.

Senator Rector asked if it is an additional certification that would add to their job.

Carlos Salas replied that it would be. While it is not a requirement, if this bill becomes a law, then at least they will be able to appropriately compensate them for that kind of certification.

Senator Cruz asked for clarification by saying that there is one EMT-B certified personnel on every shift. If he or she responds to an EMT situation, he or she gets the additional 15 % for a minimum of three hours. He thinks what Senator Rector is suggesting is that if a firefighter receives an EMT-B certification that their actual salary is increased 15 % in recognition of the work they have done to get this certification. He asked that maybe Mr. Salas could provide the committee with an impact statement of what it would cost that would compare the 3 hour minimum and the suggestion that Senator Rector suggested.

Carlos Salas said they have started that already. He said the issue we take is clocking them in when they are actually not responding to a required medical service. That is how we evolved to proposing a 3 hour minimum.

Senator Cruz responded that he thinks Senator Rector's suggestion is that a certified EMT has completely designation then his or her colleagues and should be recognized for that difference.

Senator Respicio said he appreciated the Fire Chiefs testimony because it reminds us to be mindful of disparities. The disparity is if we are going to give the airport firefighters

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and outright 15 % for working on the ambulatory service side then we better be prepared to give the fire fighters at the fire department this increase as well.

III. Findings and Recommendations:

The Airport authority does not have ambulatory services. Occasionally there is a need to respond to medical emergencies of passengers. There are also occasions where the transfer of medical referral patients from the terminal to the airplane requires EMT certified personnel. This legislation would provide compensation for firefighters responding to airport medical emergencies and would also give incentive for firefighters to acquire and maintain their EMT certification.

The committee also discussed the possibility of a permanent salary increase if the EMT certification is acquired by the firefighter. This would have to be consistent with both the Guam airport firefighters and fire department firefighters. The committee requested a financial impact statement for the costs of enacting a permanent certification bonus compared to the 3 hour minimum compensation that this bill proposes.

The Committee hereby reports out Bill 93 (COR) As substituted by the Committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing and Recreation: "An act to authorize the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam to issue differential pay to EMT -B certified rrrefighters of the aircraft rescue and fire fighting unit" with its recommendation, TO PASS.

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COMMITTEE ON RULES I Mina'Trenta na Liheslaturan Guahan