The first and primary function of this Association is to have a legislative program that is beneficial to, and serves the interests of Florida's Professional Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services Personnel. The following are some of the more important issues that the FPF is involved with:    

• Preserve, reform and otherwise improve Chapter 447, F.S. ‑ Public Employees Collective Bargaining Law ‑ including Binding Arbitration for Resolution of Impasses, Abolishment of all existing Mini‑PERCs and seek revision language which will set "proper cause" as an employee right and which will further subject all matters of discipline and discharge to the grievance and arbitration procedure outlined in Chapter 447, F.S.  The FPF shall obtain House and Senate Bill Sponsors to accomplish the abolishment of Mini-PERCS.  Upon introduction, the FPF will lobby and work to successfully pass Legislation that eliminates the seven (7) Mini-PERCs currently operating under Chapter 447, F.S.  
• Sponsor legislation for a Presumptive Cancer Law. 
• (FRS)  Support Legislation that will:
  • Revises the average final compensation time frame from five (5) years to three (3) years.
  • Has non‑contributory 20 year retirement. 
  • Removes $12,000/year minimum for buy back time.
  • Increases Health Insurance Subsidy from $5.00 to $7.00 and introduce an annual cost of living increase. 
    • Work to introduce legislation to raise the rate of the Insurance Subsidy with the Florida Retirement System $1.00 per year of service per month every year for the next five years to help offset the cost increases being absorbed by our retired members.  Also support any other viable attempts to increase the Health Insurance Subsidy for active and retired members that may arise in the future and to help our retirees keep up with the escalating costs of retirement insurance.
  • Increases disability retirement to 66 2/3% and changes definition of disability similar to language in Chapter 175, F.S.
  • Establishes buyback parity issues:
    • increases all buyback time percentage from 1.6% to 3% (Chapter 175, F.S. parity)
    • increases all buyback time amounts to 5 years.
  • Removes age limitations that apply only to Special Risk
  • Includes Public Employees in 401 (A) plans at the employee's option, as listed for the Florida Retirement System.
  • Seek the elimination of any dual service penalty for EMTs and Paramedics in the Florida Retirement System. 
  • Seek to revise the FRS rules for EMS employees with "dual retirements" such that they may retire under the guidelines for Special Risk retirement without penalty to the Regular Risk benefits they have earned. 
  • Seek an actuarial quote from the Florida Retirement System as to what amount of one‑time lump sum contribution would be necessary to fund the additional yearly percentage credit for EMS employees in the State who had previous Regular Risk time with the FRS. 
  • Seek sponsors for legislation beginning in 2003 and each year thereafter until the provision authorizing part time retired FRS exempt Firefighters is stricken from the statutes of the State of Florida.
  • Pursue legislation, or an administrative determination, that will place Fire Protection Specialist, Fire/Safety Inspectors, public emergency 911 dispatchers, etc., who are certified pursuant to Chapter 633, F.S., and/or applicable Chapters of Florida Statutes – Fire Prevention and Control in the Special Risk Class within the Florida Retirement System. 
  • Explore the feasibility of using a "rule of" formula with multi‑ year phase‑in from a rule of 70 to a rule of 64 in addition to the current 25‑year pension option as an alternative way to achieve our 20‑year goal and commission the actuarial studies, and should this prove to be a viable alternative, then the FPF shall lobby for this as a less expensive way, and therefore more effective way of achieving our long‑term goal of a 20‑year retirement option.
  • Explore the options and viability to create a backDROP system for Firefighters in the Florida Retirement System and report the results at the 2004 Convention.  Should a viable option be found, the FPF shall work to introduce alternative backDROP legislation. 
  • Seek changes to appropriate Florida Statute Sections and/or Florida Administrative Codes and/or Florida Retirement System rules that will change the purchase formula for employees buying upgrade EMT or Paramedic, or other effected employees, service credit to omit the 6.5% compound interest, thereby allowing these employees, or employers, to purchase this service upgrade at the true "raw" regular risk to special risk contribution difference for the individual years being purchased.
  • Seek a sponsor to introduce legislation to change the irrevocable retirement option requirement to allow members, and their families, the option if necessary to change the first elected choice to an option that would never eliminate retirement benefits.
  • Seek to change the retirement classification for EMS emergency response helicopter pilots from FRS regular risk to FRS high risk.  We ask the FPF legislative office to assist us in lobbying this issue, after Local 1826 attains both a house and senate sponsor.
• Protect and improve the Firefighters Heart and Lung Law.
• Maintain and enhance Florida's Workers Compensation Law.  
• Preserve and improve the Firefighter Educational Incentive Program, i.e. Chapter 633, F.S.
• Maintain the Firefighters Bill of Rights ‑ Chapter 112, F.S.
• Lobby for an EMT and Paramedic Bill of Rights.
• (Chapter 175) Support Legislation that will:
  • Seek changes in the language in Chapter 175, regarding Line of Duty Death for non-vested members, to match FRS Line of Duty Death benefit language.
  • Support the lifting or raising of the 6% limit of payroll currently in the 175 law.
  • Support the mechanism for funding Chapter 175, F.S. plans to include a like percentage of vehicle, windstorm, and hurricane insurance fees, and that the current 6% of payroll cap on Chapter 175, F.S. money rebated to chapter pension plans not apply to this new funding.
• Seek legislation or administrative rules that would prohibit the privatization of Fire and Emergency Medical Services of governmental (publicly controlled) systems in Florida.
• Lobby for legislation and/or rules which would: (1) place restrictions and conditions upon those who wish to become certified as Firefighters and EMS Personnel; and (2) prevent further abuse of using non‑certified persons in place of paid full‑time firefighters. 
• Endorse a local bill for Volusia and Brevard Counties only and support legislation allowing cities with a population over 40,000 to issue their own COPCN's for municipal based publicly employed ambulance transport service.
• Support legislation to mandate a minimum level of Fire/Rescue protection for Sea Ports throughout the State of Florida.
• Seek a sponsor to introduce legislation raising the minimum standards requirements for certified Professional Firefighters in the State of Florida by amending Chapter 633, F.S., in order to be hired by a public employer as a professional firefighters this legislation shall include passing a rigorous physical fitness exam incorporating many of the job tasks used by Firefighters and EMS personnel in the field; passing a medical exam; criminal background check investigation; being a U.S. citizen; and having a minimum of 30 college credits or two years of satisfactory military service or be a Florida certified paramedic.  The FPF will also introduce either separately or in conjunction with this legislation a provision that in order to enroll in Firefighter minimum standards training, a candidate must be sponsored by a publicly funded Fire Department in the State of Florida similar to the language currently pertaining to police officers.  Should any of these goals prove to be in conflict with any applicable state and federal laws, then the FPF should continue to lobby for the rest of the goals. 
• Expand the current coverage of an employer provided, life time Health Care to all full time, professional firefighters, EMS personnel, and their immediate family members that are forced to retire under a workers' compensation claim.