Bill
HB 606
Establishes a one-year statewide pilot to reimburse volunteer firefighters for certain mileage and personal equipment costs incurred responding to emergencies.
Status & context
- Title: Volunteer Firefighter Reimbursement Program (HB 606)
- Introduced: (filed in 2023 session text provided; related legislative activity listed through 2024–2025)
- Classification/Subjects: appropriations, emergency services, public safety, volunteers, pilot program, per diem/mileage, reports, salaries & benefits.
Purpose
- Establish a statewide pilot program to reimburse volunteer firefighters for certain out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred while responding to emergencies, with the goal of reducing financial burden on volunteers and assessing whether the program should be continued or expanded.
Key provisions
- Program established: Reimbursement for Volunteer Firefighters Pilot Program (the Program), operated statewide by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management (Division).
- Eligible participants: Firefighters who are volunteers or members of volunteer firefighting organizations in the State responding to emergencies within their service area.
- Eligible reimbursements:
- Mileage — reimbursed at the current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standard business mileage rate.
- Personal equipment — reimbursement for personal equipment used at an incident scene to secure the scene or to treat individuals (e.g., first‑aid supplies), where use is for an eligible response.
- Claims process and administration:
- The Division oversees the Program.
- Commanding officer or highest‑ranking officer at each volunteer organization is responsible for collecting reimbursement requests from members.
- Individual reimbursement requests must be submitted within 60 days of the reimbursable event.
- Appropriation and funding:
- One‑time (nonrecurring) appropriation of $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management for the 2023–2024 fiscal year to operate the pilot.
- Reporting and sunset:
- The Division must report to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee by June 30, 2024. The report must include at minimum: number and amounts of requests, which organizations submitted requests and trends, and whether the Division recommends expansion/permanence or modifications.
- The pilot program (as drafted) terminates on June 30, 2024 (i.e., it is time‑limited).
Who is affected
- Direct beneficiaries: volunteer firefighters (reduced personal cost for mileage and personal equipment used in response).
- Administrative: Department of Public Safety / Division of Emergency Management (oversight and reporting duties); volunteer fire organizations (collecting/filing claims).
- Fiscal impact: one‑time state cost of $1,000,000 (per appropriation language) for the pilot year; future fiscal impacts would depend on any expansion or permanency decisions based on the pilot report.
Practical considerations / potential impacts
- Positive: may improve volunteer retention and reduce personal financial barriers to responding; provides data for policymakers on demand and costs.
- Administrative burden: organization commanders and the Division will need procedures for verifying, processing, and auditing claims; appropriated funds could be exhausted if demand exceeds estimates.
- Policy follow‑up: the required report gives the legislature information to decide whether to continue, expand, modify eligibility, or fund the program long‑term.
Procedural/timeline highlights (from drafted text)
- Implementation target (in 2023 draft): Division to seek implementation by Jan 1, 2024 and advertise the program publicly.
- Claim submission window: 60 days after each reimbursable event.
- Report due: June 30, 2024.
- Pilot termination: June 30, 2024 (as written — subject to change if amended).
Note: The packet of documents provided includes multiple unrelated HB 606 drafts from other jurisdictions and sessions. This summary focuses on the text labeled “Volunteer Firefighter Reimbursement Program” (pilot program language, appropriation, and reporting requirements) in the provided materials.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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