A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to enact the volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention act of 2019.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Part I. Title
SECTION 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Act of 2019."

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, 2019.
(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.
(3)	A crime or unlawful act defined as a Class B misdemeanor within the five‑year period prior to the date of application.
(4)	Four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class A misdemeanors, except the trainee may be enrolled if the last conviction date occurred more than two years prior to the date of application.
(5)	A combination of four or more Class A misdemeanors or Class B misdemeanors regardless of the date of conviction.
(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 pursue continuously 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, 2021, 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, 2019, and applies to the award of forgivable loans beginning with the 2020‑2021 academic year.

Part III. Hunting and fishing license fee waivers
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 113‑276 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(o)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules to provide for waiver of fees for hunting, fishing, trapping, and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission to eligible members of volunteer fire departments as set forth in this subsection. For purposes of this subsection "eligible members" are any individuals appearing on the certified roster of eligible firefighters submitted to the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association under G.S. 58‑86‑25.
(1)	Firefighters who are eligible members of a volunteer fire department during the prior fiscal year shall receive a waiver of license fees for any annual license issued during the following fiscal year.
(2)	Firefighters who are eligible members of a volunteer fire department in each of 10 consecutive fiscal years shall receive a waiver of license fees for any lifetime license issued under this Article."
SECTION 3.(b)  G.S. 113‑174.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(e)	Fee Waiver. – The Wildlife Resources Commission shall waive the fee charged for licenses issued under this section to members of volunteer fire departments as follows:
(1)	For firefighters who are eligible members of a volunteer fire department during the prior fiscal year, a waiver of the fee for an annual license.
(2)	For firefighters who are eligible members of a volunteer fire department in each of 10 consecutive fiscal years, a waiver of the fee for a lifetime license.
For purposes of this subsection, "eligible members" shall have the definition set forth in G.S. 113‑276(o)."
SECTION 3.(c)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2019.

Part IV. Tax incentive
SECTION 4.(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) attended at least 36 hours of fire department drills and meetings during the taxable year and (ii) has more than five years of volunteer fire service."
SECTION 4.(b)  This section is effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2019.

part v. Increase pension fund member payments
SECTION 5.(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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 5.(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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 5.(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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 5.(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 eighty dollars ($180.00) per month. Any retired firefighter receiving a pension shall, effective July 1, 2019, receive a pension of one hundred eighty dollars ($180.00) per month.
(b)	Members shall pay fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 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 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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 5.(e)  Subsections (a) through (d) of this section become effective January 1, 2020, and apply to monthly payments into the Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund for months of service on or after that date.

Part vI. severability clause and effective date
SECTION 6.1.  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 6.2.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.