GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2021
S 1
SENATE BILL 62
Short Title: Volunteer Fire Department Preservation Act. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senators Daniel, Britt, and McInnis (Primary Sponsors). |
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Referred to: |
Rules and Operations of the Senate |
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February 9, 2021
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to enact the volunteer fire Department Preservation act of 2021.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Part I. Title
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Volunteer Fire Department Preservation Act of 2021."
Part II. North Carolina firefighters Fellows Program
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 58‑78‑1 through G.S. 58‑78‑20 are recodified as Part 1 of Article 78 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes and entitled "General Provisions."
SECTION 2.(b) Article 78 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new Part to read:
"Part 2. North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Program.
"§ 58‑78‑25. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Part:
(1) NCSFA. The North Carolina State Firefighters' Association.
(2) Commission. The North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission established in Part 1 of this Article.
(3) Committee. The North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Committee.
(4) Community college. Defined in G.S. 115D‑2.
(5) State roster. Roster maintained by the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association and the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer as provided in G.S. 58‑86‑25.
(6) Eligible fire department. Defined in G.S. 58‑86‑2.
(7) Eligible firefighter professions. State Firefighters on the official State roster maintained by the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association.
(8) Program. The North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Program.
(9) Recipient. An individual selected by the Committee to receive a forgivable loan under the Program.
"§ 58‑78‑30. North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Committee established; membership.
(a) Committee Established. There is established the North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Committee. The Committee shall oversee Program components, including forgivable loan recipient selection criteria, selection procedures, and selection of recipients to receive forgivable loans.
(b) Membership. The Committee shall consist of 10 members who shall be appointed by the chair of the Commission as follows:
(1) Two members of the Commission.
(2) Two members representing the NCSFA.
(3) Two members representing the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs.
(4) Three at‑large members representing three different regions of the State as defined by the NCSFA.
(5) The President of the North Carolina Community College System or the President's designee, ex officio.
(c) Terms of Office. Appointments to the Committee shall be for two‑year terms, commencing July 1, 2021.
(d) Chair; Meetings. The chair of the Commission shall call the first meeting of the Committee. The Committee members shall elect a chair and a vice‑chair from the membership of the Committee pursuant to the Commission's bylaws to serve one‑year terms. The Committee shall meet regularly at times and places deemed necessary by the chair or, in the absence of the chair, by the vice‑chair.
(e) Expenses. Committee members shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 138‑5 or G.S. 138‑6, as appropriate.
(f) Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Committee, the chair of the Commission shall appoint another person meeting the same qualifications to serve for the balance of the unexpired term.
"§ 58‑78‑35. North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Program established; administration; criteria.
(a) Program. There is established the North Carolina Firefighters Fellows Program to be administered by the Committee with the assistance of the Office of State Fire Marshal. The purpose of the Program is to increase the number of fire service professionals by providing forgivable loans to exceptional individuals to obtain applied associate degrees in fire protection or other Committee‑approved related fields of study as preparation to enter a fire service profession or provide volunteer service to their community.
(b) Program Administrator. The Commissioner shall select a staff member from the Office of State Fire Marshal, with the consent of the Committee, to serve as the Program administrator. The Program administrator will be responsible for all administrative duties and oversight of the Program as established by the Committee. The Program administrator's duties shall include conduct of the following recruitment activities:
(1) Targeted visits to eligible departments.
(2) Identification of high school graduates who, due to economic or other circumstances, are displaced, unemployed, or underemployed.
(3) Identification of high school seniors who demonstrate an interest in becoming a fire service professional or providing volunteer service in their community.
(4) Engagement with fire service professionals and leaders in eligible departments for input regarding the Program and identification of potential loan recipients.
(5) Attendance of high school career days, job fairs, and other activities to recruit qualified individuals into the Program.
(c) Awards of Forgivable Loans. The Program shall provide forgivable loans of up to three thousand one hundred fifty‑two dollars ($3,152) per year for up to two years to selected individuals. The funds from the forgivable loans may be used for tuition, fees, and the cost of books. The Committee may determine the maximum amount of loan proceeds that may be applied to community college fees and course textbooks. The number of forgivable loans awarded annually shall not exceed 100, and the total number of recipients in the Program each year shall not exceed 200. The Committee shall select recipients no later than June 1 of each year.
(d) Eligibility Criteria. An applicant must be on the State roster of an eligible department at the time of application, a resident for tuition purposes as defined in G.S. 116‑143.1, a high school graduate or a high school senior who will graduate from high school by the end of the current academic year, and demonstrate the intent upon completion of the Program to be employed or volunteer for an eligible department. An applicant who has been convicted of any of the following is ineligible to receive a forgivable loan:
(1) A felony.
(2) A crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than two years.
(e) Application Process. The Committee may specify required application materials, including a certified State and local background check for applicants who are at least 18 years of age. Application materials and Committee deliberations are confidential and are not a public record as defined in G.S. 132‑1. The Committee shall publish application, award, and notification deadlines and provide written notification to applicants regarding the outcome of the Committee's deliberations.
(f) Award of Forgivable Loan. The Committee shall adopt standards for awarding forgivable loans based on measures the Committee deems appropriate, including the following, and the selection of recipients by the Committee shall be final:
(1) Scholastic Profile as determined by SAT or ACT scores, grade point average, and class rank when available.
(2) Potential for excellence in a firefighting profession.
(3) School and community service.
(4) At least two references.
(5) Demonstrated writing ability.
(g) Administration of Forgivable Loan Awards. Upon the naming of recipients by the Committee, the Office of State Fire Marshal shall perform all administrative functions necessary to implement this Article, which functions shall include dissemination of information, disbursement, receipt, liaison with participating community colleges, determination of the acceptability of service repayment agreements, and all other functions necessary for the execution, payment, and enforcement of promissory notes required under this Article.
(h) Recipient Obligations. A recipient must become and remain a student at a North Carolina community college in an applied associate degree in fire protection or in a Committee‑approved related field of study at all times during each of the recipient's two academic years of community college study and continuously pursue studies that will qualify the recipient to be employed or volunteer in an eligible fire service department upon graduation. The recipient must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA throughout the course of study and also maintain appropriate credit hours for each semester to obtain an applied associate degree in fire protection or Committee‑approved field of study within three years. The recipient must also remain on the State roster in an eligible department as a fire service volunteer or professional for at least four out of five years following graduation. The Committee may adopt additional recipient obligations it deems appropriate.
(i) Annual Report. The Program administrator, in coordination with the Committee, shall report no later than January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, to the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission:
(1) The number of forgivable loans awarded for each academic year disaggregated by geographic area and other demographic information.
(2) Aggregated student performance, retention, and graduation rates.
(3) Forgiveness, termination, default, and repayment rates.
(4) Retention rates of recipients within eligible departments disaggregated by department, county, and region.
"§ 58‑78‑40. Terms of forgiveable loans; repayment; default.
(a) Forgivable Loans. All forgivable loans shall be evidenced by notes made payable to the Program that bear interest at a rate not to exceed ten percent (10%) per year as set by the Committee and beginning on the first day of September after the completion of the Program or 60 days after termination of the forgivable loan, whichever is earlier. The forgivable loan may be terminated upon the recipient's withdrawal from school, by the recipient's failure to meet the standards set by the Committee, or by the recipient's default based on conditions set by the Committee. The Committee may only disburse funds to the community college where the recipient is enrolled and may not disburse funds directly to a recipient.
(b) Forgiveness. The Committee shall forgive the loan and any interest accrued on the loan if, within five years after obtaining an applied associate degree in fire protection or Committee‑approved field of study, the recipient is a volunteer or employed on a full‑time basis for a period of at least four years in an eligible department. The recipient shall provide the Committee within 60 days of completion of the Program verification of the recipient's intent to maintain or seek membership or employment as a firefighter in an eligible department. The recipient's verification of employment or volunteer status shall be maintained on the official annual State roster each year until the obligation is satisfied. The Committee shall also forgive the loan if it finds that it is impossible for the recipient to meet the terms of the loan due to death or permanent disability of the recipient.
(c) Extension. The Committee may extend repayment of the loan for up to two years on a year‑to‑year basis for each year if (i) the recipient is on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or (ii) the Committee determines that circumstances warrant an extension.
(d) Repayment. If the recipient notifies the Committee that the recipient intends to forego forgiveness of the loan after completion of the Program, the Committee shall provide the recipient with the conditions of repayment, and the recipient will have 60 days to begin repayment of all funds distributed, including interest. The recipient will have up to 60 months to repay all funds distributed, including interest.
(e) Default. The Committee shall determine the events that constitute a default during the Program, including, but not limited to, failure by the recipient to comply with the obligations set out in this Part. In the event of default during the Program, the Committee may declare the entire unpaid amount of indebtedness evidenced by the note, including interest, immediately due and payable. A default shall preclude further participation by the recipient in the Program. Upon default, the Committee shall notify the recipient, in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the recipient at the last address on file with the Committee. Refusal or nondelivery at that address will be deemed delivered after seven days. The Committee may allow a recipient who is in default to repay all funds distributed, including interest. If the Committee approves repayment, the recipient will receive the conditions of repayment and will have 60 days to begin repayment of all funds distributed, including interest. The recipient will have up to 60 months to repay all funds distributed, including interest."
SECTION 2.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2021, and applies to the award of forgivable loans beginning with the 2022‑2023 academic year.
Part III. Tax incentive
SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 105‑275 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105‑275. Property classified and excluded from the tax base.
The following classes of property are designated special classes under Article V, Sec. 2(2), of the North Carolina Constitution and are excluded from tax:
(50) Twenty‑five percent (25%) of the assessed value of housing together with the necessary land therefor, owned and used as a primary residence by an unpaid member of a volunteer fire department who (i) is on the certified roster, (ii) attended at least 36 hours of fire department drills and meetings during the taxable year, and (iii) has more than five years of volunteer fire service, as verified from the certified roster. For purposes of this subdivision, "certified roster" means the listing of firefighters meeting the eligibility criteria for the North Carolina Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund maintained by the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association and the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer as provided in G.S. 58‑86‑25."
SECTION 3.(b) This section is effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.
part Iv. Increase pension fund member payments
SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 58‑86‑35 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58‑86‑35. Firefighters' application for membership in fund; monthly payments by members; payments credited to separate accounts of members; termination of membership.
Those firefighters who are eligible
pursuant to G.S. 58‑86‑25 may apply to the board for
membership. Each firefighter upon becoming a member of the fund shall pay the
director of the fund the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars
($20.00) per month; each payment shall be made no later than March 31
subsequent to the end of the calendar year in which the month occurred. The
Pension Fund shall not award fully credited service based on payments received
later than March 31 subsequent to the end of the calendar year in which the
month occurred unless the payment is applied as provided in G.S. 58‑86‑45(a1).
The monthly payments shall be credited to the separate account of the member
and shall be kept by the custodian so it is available for payment on withdrawal
from membership or retirement.
A member may elect to terminate membership in the fund at any time and request the refund of payments previously made to the fund. However, a member's delinquency in making the monthly payments required by this section does not result in the termination of membership without such an election by the member."
SECTION 4.(b) G.S. 58‑86‑40 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58‑86‑40. Rescue squad worker's application for membership in funds; monthly payments by members; payments credited to separate accounts of members; termination of membership.
Those rescue squad workers eligible
pursuant to G.S. 58‑86‑30 may apply to the board for
membership. Each eligible rescue squad worker upon becoming a member shall pay
the director of the fund the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty
dollars ($20.00) per month; each payment shall be made no later than March
31 subsequent to the end of the calendar year in which the month occurred. The
Pension Fund shall not award fully credited service based on payments received
later than March 31 subsequent to the end of the calendar year in which the
month occurred unless the payment is applied as provided in G.S. 58‑86‑45(a1).
The monthly payments shall be credited to the separate account of the member
and shall be kept by the custodian so it is available for payment on withdrawal
from membership or retirement.
A member may elect to terminate membership in the fund at any time and request the refund of payments previously made to the fund. However, a member's delinquency in making the monthly payments required by this section does not result in the termination of membership without such an election by the member."
SECTION 4.(c) G.S. 58‑86‑45 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58‑86‑45. Additional retroactive membership.
(b) An eligible firefighter
or rescue squad worker who is not yet 35 years old may apply to the board of
trustees for membership in the fund at any time. Upon becoming a member, the
worker may make a lump sum payment of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty
dollars ($20.00) per month retroactively to the time the worker first
became eligible to become a member, plus interest at an annual rate to be set
by the board upon advice from actuary for each year of retroactive payments.
Upon making this lump sum payment, the worker shall be given credit for all
prior service in the same manner as if the worker had applied for membership
upon first becoming eligible.
(c) A member of the Pension
Fund who is not yet 35 years old may receive credit for the prior service upon
making a lump sum payment of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars
($20.00) for each month since the worker first became eligible, plus
interest at an annual rate to be set by the board for each year of retroactive
payments. Upon making this lump sum payment, the date of membership shall be
the same as if the worker had applied for membership upon first becoming
eligible. This provision for the payment of a lump sum for service "not
otherwise creditable" shall apply, inter alia, to all purchases of service
credits for months as to which timely payments were not previously made
pursuant to G.S. 58‑86‑35 or G.S. 58‑86‑40,
whichever is applicable, for any firefighter or rescue squad worker who is not
yet 35 years of age or older and who is a current or former member of a fire
department or rescue squad chartered by the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 4.(d) G.S. 58‑86‑55 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58‑86‑55. Monthly pensions upon attaining the age of 55 years.
(a) Any member who has served
20 years as an "eligible firefighter" or "eligible rescue squad
worker" in the State of North Carolina, as provided in G.S. 58‑86‑25
and G.S. 58‑86‑30, and who has attained the age of 55 years is
entitled to be paid a monthly pension from this fund. The monthly pension shall
be in the amount of one hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) one hundred
eighty dollars ($180.00) per month. Any retired firefighter receiving a
pension shall, effective July 1, 2008, July 1, 2021, receive a
pension of one hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) one hundred eighty
dollars ($180.00) per month.
(b) Members shall pay ten
dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) per month as required by
G.S. 58‑86‑35 and G.S. 58‑86‑40 for a period
of no longer than 20 years. No "eligible rescue squad member" shall
receive a pension prior to July 1, 1983.
(c) A member who is totally
and permanently disabled while in the discharge of the member's official duties
as a result of bodily injuries sustained or as a result of extreme exercise or
extreme activity experienced in the course and scope of those official duties
and who leaves the fire or rescue squad service because of this disability
shall be entitled to be paid from the fund a monthly benefit in an amount of one
hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) one hundred eighty dollars ($180.00) per
month beginning the first month after the member's fifty‑fifth birthday.
All applications for disability are subject to the approval of the board who
may appoint physicians to examine and evaluate the disabled member prior to
approval of the application, and annually thereafter. Any disabled member shall
not be required to make the monthly payment of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty
dollars ($20.00) as required by G.S. 58‑86‑35 and
G.S. 58‑86‑40.
(d) A member who is totally
and permanently disabled for any cause, other than line of duty, who leaves the
fire or rescue squad service because of this disability and who has at least 10
years of service with the pension fund, may be permitted to continue making a
monthly contribution of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) to
the fund until the member has made contributions for a total of 240 months. The
member shall upon attaining the age of 55 years be entitled to receive a
pension as provided by this section. All applications for disability are
subject to the approval of the board who may appoint physicians to examine and
evaluate the disabled member prior to approval of the application and annually
thereafter.
(d1) Benefits shall be paid in the following manner when a member is killed in the line of duty and the requirements of Article 12A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes are met:
(1) If the member had been
receiving a monthly pension fund benefit prior to being killed in the line of
duty, there shall be paid to the member's principal beneficiary, if only one
principal beneficiary is eligible and has not accepted a return of
contributions, an amount of one hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) one
hundred eighty dollars ($180.00) per month beginning the month following
the member's month of death, payable until the beneficiary's death.
(2) If the member had been receiving a monthly pension fund benefit prior to being killed in the line of duty and the beneficiary is not payable as described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, a lump sum payment equal to the difference between the amount paid into the member's separate account by or on behalf of the member and the amount received by the member as a pensioner will be paid to the eligible beneficiaries, or if there are no eligible beneficiaries, shall be paid to the member's estate.
(3) If the member had not yet
begun receiving a monthly benefit prior to being killed in the line of duty,
there shall be paid to the member's principal beneficiary, if only one
principal beneficiary is eligible and has not accepted a return of
contributions, an amount of one hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) one
hundred eighty dollars ($180.00) per month beginning the month following
the month the member would have attained age 55, or if the member had already
attained age 55, beginning the month following the member's month of death,
payable until the beneficiary's death.
(4) If the member had not begun receiving a monthly benefit prior to being killed in the line of duty and the beneficiary is not payable as described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, a lump sum payment equal to the member's contributions will be paid to the eligible beneficiaries, or if there are no eligible beneficiaries, a return of the contributions shall be paid to the member's estate.
A beneficiary under this subsection
shall not be required to make the monthly payment of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty
dollars ($20.00) as required by G.S. 58‑86‑35 and
G.S. 58‑86‑40 after the member has been killed in the line of
duty.
(d2) Repealed by Session Laws 2016‑108, s. 1(f), effective July 1, 2018.
(e) A member who, because the
member's residence is annexed by a city under Part 2 or Part 3 of Article 4A of
Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, or whose department is closed because of
an annexation by a city under Part 2 or Part 3 of Article 4A of Chapter 160A of
the General Statutes, or whose volunteer department is taken over by a city or
county, and because of such annexation or takeover is unable to perform as a
firefighter or rescue squad worker of any status, and if the member has at
least 10 years of service with the pension fund, may be permitted to continue
making a monthly contribution of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars
($20.00) to the fund until the member has made contributions for a total of
240 months. The member upon attaining the age of 55 years and completion of
such contributions shall be entitled to receive a pension as provided by this
section. Any application to make monthly contributions under this section shall
be subject to a finding of eligibility by the Board of Trustees upon
application of the member.
."
SECTION 4.(e) Subsections (a) through (d) of this section become effective January 1, 2022, and apply to monthly payments into the Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund for months of service on or after that date.
Part v. severability clause and effective date
SECTION 5.1. If any section or provision of this act is declared unconstitutional or invalid by the courts, it does not affect the validity of this act as a whole or any part other than the part declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
SECTION 5.2. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.