The bill H. 3188 proposes to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 40-80-65, which establishes a reimbursement process for fire departments that incur training costs for firefighters who are subsequently hired by other departments. If a firefighter completes mandatory training and is hired by a new employer within two years, the new employer is required to reimburse the original employer for the training costs. Specifically, if the firefighter is hired within one year of completing the training, the reimbursement is set at 100% of the training costs, including salary and expenses. If hired after one year but before the end of the two-year period, the reimbursement is 50%.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a firefighter works for multiple employers within the two-year period, the original employer can seek reimbursement from each subsequent employer under the same terms. However, the total reimbursement received by the original employer cannot exceed 100% of the training costs. The bill also clarifies that firefighters cannot be held responsible for repaying these costs, and any pre-existing agreements regarding repayment must comply with the new provisions. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 40-80-65
Latest Version: 40-80-65
12/06/2024: 40-80-65