A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that any destitute firefighter serving honorably with a certified fire department may receive financial assistance from a local firefighters' relief fund.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 58‑84‑35(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 58‑84‑35.  Disbursement of funds by trustees.
(a)	The board of trustees shall have entire control of the funds derived from the provisions of this Article, and shall disburse the funds only for the following purposes:
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(2a)	To provide assistance, upon approval by the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association, to a destitute member firefighter who has served or is serving honorably with a certified fire department. The determination of destitute shall be based on the inability of the firefighters, through no fault of their own, to provide basic provisions to themselves or their families. Such basic provisions include, but are not limited to, assistance with housing, vehicle or commuting expenses, food, clothing, utilities, medical care, and funeral expenses.
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SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017, and applies to distributions to local firefighters' relief funds on or after that date.