This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to allow volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments to utilize funds from the Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund and the Fire Protection Fund to employ or contract certified firefighters. The bill stipulates that such expenditures must first receive approval from the county fire board or, in the absence of a fire board, the county commission. Additionally, the bill outlines specific conditions that must be met before funds can be used for this purpose, including a determination of understaffing and a written approval from the county commission.

The bill also makes several changes to the authorized expenditures of these funds. It adds a new provision allowing for the employment or contracting of certified firefighters, while deleting the previous provision that allowed for food and related items to be provided to fire companies during emergencies. Other existing authorized expenditures remain intact, including those for personal protective equipment, operational expenses, and insurance premiums. The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining separate bank accounts for state funds and requires record retention for financial transactions related to these funds.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-15-8b