GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999

SENATE BILL 515
RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERS A FIRE DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE AND REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FUND AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PAID MEMBERS A RESCUE OR RESCUE/EMS UNIT MAY HAVE AND REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THE VOLUNTEER RESCUE/EMS FUND.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 58-87-1(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	A fire department is eligible for a grant under this section if it meets all of the following conditions:
(1)	It serves a response area of 6,000 or less in population.
(2)	It consists entirely of volunteer members, with the exception that the unit may have paid members to fill the equivalent of three full-time paid positions.
(3)	It has been certified by the Department of Insurance.
In making the population determination under subdivision (1), the Department shall use the most recent annual population estimates certified by the State Planning Officer."
Section 2.  G.S. 58-87-5(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	A rescue or rescue/EMS unit is eligible for a grant under this section if it meets all of the following conditions:
(1)	Repealed by Session Laws 1989 (Regular Session, 1990), c. 1066, s. 33(a).
(2)	It consists entirely of volunteer members, with the exception that the unit may have paid members to fill the equivalent of three full-time paid positions.
(3)	It has been recognized by the Department as an organization that provides rescue or rescue and emergency medical services.
(4)	It satisfies the eligibility criteria established by the Department under subsection (a) of this section."
Section 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1999.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 12th day of July, 1999.

	─────────────────── 
	Dennis A. Wicker
	President of the Senate

	─────────────────── 
	James B. Black
	Speaker of the House of Representatives

	─────────────────── 
	James B. Hunt, Jr.
	Governor

Approved 	.m. this 	 day of 	, 19