The Uniform Family Charter has been adopted. Volunteer fire brigade firefighters only with some reliefs and rights

On Friday, 431 MPs voted for the adoption of the law on the Uniformed Family Card, 9 were against and 3 abstained.

Earlier, the MPs adopted 13 clarification and clarification amendments submitted in the second reading by the KO.

The project was prepared jointly by the Civic Coalition, PSL and Left clubs.

What are the benefits of the Uniformed Family Card?

"The act aims to support soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and officers of services subordinated to the minister responsible for internal affairs and their family members, as well as veterans and injured veterans and their families, pensioners and their families, and families of soldiers and officers who died or went missing. The regulation also aims to promote service to state security and strengthen the positive image of the Armed Forces and uniformed services in society," we read in the justification for the bill.

Pursuant to the Act, the Uniformed Family Card is to enable, among others:

queue-free access to health services in military and departmental facilities,

priority for admitting children of Card beneficiaries to kindergartens when changing their place of residence,

discounts on train travel based on single and monthly tickets (37% for single tickets and 49% for long-term tickets)

discounts on passport fees (50% discount for adults, 75% for children).

Dispute over volunteer firefighters

Initially, the rights resulting from the Uniformed Family Charter were to cover: soldiers (professional, WOT, reserves, retirees/pensioners), police officers, border guards, State Fire Service, veterans' State Protection Service and their spouses and children.

In October, during work on the project in the parliamentary committee, some of the rights were extended to volunteer firefighters of the Volunteer Fire Department participating in rescue operations and their spouses and children (RMF FM reported on the conflict in the government that delayed the introduction of the Uniformed Family Card in June).

However, firefighters of the Volunteer Fire Department and their families will not receive discounts on long-term train tickets or queue-free access to medical services in facilities subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the Ministry of National Defense.

The fire service Remiza.pl commented on this fact bitterly:

"Despite the reported comments, volunteer firefighters remained the worse part of the Uniformed Family."

"The bride and groom are only given what generates the least costs for the budget or does not generate any costs, i.e. a 37% discount on single tickets, discounts in selected stores and passport discounts - 75% for children and 50% for volunteers and spouses," Remiza.pl sums up.

The project also envisages establishing May 15 as Uniformed Family Day.

The Law on the Uniformed Family Card will now go to the Senate.