AN ACT to authorize fire departments to honor retiring OR DECEASED firefighters by awarding their fire helmets TO THEM OR TO A SURVIVING RELATIVE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A-236. Honoring deceased or retiring firefighters.
A fire department established by a county pursuant to this Article may, in the discretion of the board of commissioners, award to a retiring firefighter or a surviving relative of a deceased firefighter, upon request, the fire helmet of the deceased or retiring firefighter, at a price determined in a manner authorized by the board. The price may be less than the fair market value of the helmet."
SECTION 2.  Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A-294.1. Honoring deceased or retiring firefighters.
A fire department established by a municipality pursuant to this Article may, in the discretion of the governing body of the municipality, award to a retiring firefighter or a surviving relative of a deceased firefighter, upon request, the fire helmet of the deceased or retiring firefighter, at a price determined in a manner authorized by the governing body. The price may be less than the fair market value of the helmet."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 29th day of May, 2003.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 11:35 p.m. this 4th day of June, 2003