§ 14-284-405 - Payment to rural volunteer fire departments. - Arkansas Statutes

14-284-405. Payment to rural volunteer fire departments.

(a) No rural volunteer fire department or district shall receive payments or disbursements from the Fire Protection Premium Tax Fund unless the county quorum court and the board of commissioners of the fire protection district designate the current county fire service coordinator or designate a county fire service coordinator who shall be responsible for seeing that standard guidelines established by the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board pursuant to 20-22-801 et seq., are followed.

(b) No funds shall be paid to any certified rural volunteer fire department or fire protection district until a written proposal stating the following information has been approved by the quorum court and the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board:

(1) Amount of funds requested;

(2) Purpose for which funds will be expended;

(3) Plans for training of fire fighters; and

(4) Anticipated time of completion of project.

(c) (1) Rural volunteer fire departments and fire protection districts shall supply such statistical and operational information to the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board and quorum court as required.

(2) The quorum court of each county shall file reports on January 15 annually with the State Auditor and Department of Finance and Administration stating how such funds were expended during the preceding twelve (12) months.

(3) Each rural volunteer fire department and fire protection district which receives such funds shall file reports on December 1 annually with the quorum court stating how such funds were expended during the preceding twelve (12) months.

(4) If any quorum court, rural volunteer fire department, or fire protection district fails to make such reports, the fire department or district shall not be eligible for new or additional funds until the reports are filed.

(5) Any rural fire department or district which fails to expend funds in due compliance with the provisions of this subchapter shall not be eligible for new or additional funds from the Fire Protection Premium Tax Fund until the department or district reimburses the fund in the exact amount of those moneys improperly retained or expended.