Firefighters may collect for charity

Firefighters may collect for charity

Since 2000 in Minnesota, and since 1955 in other states and Canada, firefighters have raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association by collecting spare change from motorists stopped at red lights. A new law gives them the green light to continue to use the “Fill the Boot” strategy to raise funds for charity.

A new law, effective Aug. 1, 2010, will allow a municipality to permit firefighters to use this technique for up to three days a year to benefit one registered nonprofit organization qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is sponsored by Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope).

Minneapolis and Duluth had expressed concerns about liability and requested statutory permission to permit them to allow such charitable solicitation, said Atkins, though they have no reservations about the cause. According to the law, the charitable organization must have general liability insurance against certain kinds of claims, with a limit of no less than $1.5 million per occurrence.

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