Some clarity is coming from the IRS and the Treasury Department when it comes to whether volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel have to be counted as full-time employees under the Affordable Care Act.  5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty says not having the volunteer hours count will help towns recruit and retain firefighters.

She heard from a number of fire chiefs in the district looking for clarification on the employer shared responsibility requirement.

Esty says most of the volunteers had no expectation that their departments would be providing health care coverage even though they receive nominal compensation for their volunteer hours.  She says most work full or part time elsewhere are already quality for health care coverage.

Congressman Joe Courtney said working together, the Delegation was able to solve a simple issue that came from the implementation of the Affordable Care Act to ensure the law works as intended.