If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes to prohibit municipalities from reducing the annual operating budget of their fire departments below the previous year's budget. Specifically, it would require municipalities to notify the state treasurer if they do reduce the budget, triggering a withholding of state-shared funds equivalent to the budget reduction until the budget is restored. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these requirements do not apply if a municipality lacks the necessary funds to maintain the previous year's budget.

The bill also introduces a definition for "fire department" as a municipal fire department and makes technical adjustments to existing statutes regarding the withholding of state funds. It specifies that the state treasurer must continue withholding funds until notified that the budget has been restored, while ensuring that any amounts necessary for debt service on prior obligations are exempt from withholding. Overall, the bill aims to protect fire department funding by enforcing stricter budgetary constraints on municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-500.52, 42-5029, 43-206, 35-146, 35-147, 42-1116, 42-5014, 42-5070, 42-5010, 42-5155, 42-5010.01, 42-5061, 42-5164, 42-5205, 42-1118, 42-1254, 42-5030, 42-5030.01, 42-5031, 42-5032, 42-5032.01, 42-5032.02, 49-282, 17-273, 15-2084, 15-1648, 15-1472, 42-5031.01, 15-971, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 15-154, 15-154.01, 15-241, 43-1072.01, 15-977, 41-2257, 41-2258, 42-5033, 42-5033.01, 42-6010, 9-626, 41-194.01, 15-1402, 15-1403, 15-1409
House Engrossed Version: 9-500.52, 42-5029, 43-206, 35-146, 35-147, 42-1116, 42-5014, 42-5070, 42-5010, 42-5155, 42-5010.01, 42-5061, 42-5164, 42-5205, 42-1118, 42-1254, 42-5030, 42-5030.01, 42-5031, 42-5032, 42-5032.01, 42-5032.02, 49-282, 17-273, 15-2084, 15-1648, 15-1472, 42-5031.01, 15-971, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 15-154, 15-154.01, 15-241, 43-1072.01, 15-977, 41-2257, 41-2258, 42-5033, 42-5033.01, 42-6010, 9-626, 41-194.01, 15-1402, 15-1403, 15-1409