GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1987 SESSION

CHAPTER 1062
HOUSE BILL 300

AN ACT TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS TO VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUADS.

Whereas, volunteer rescue squads often lack funds to purchase equipment or construct buildings; and
Whereas, rescue equipment is essential to rescue squads if they are to provide services to the citizens in their response areas; and
Whereas, volunteer rescue squad members are forced to spend time raising money rather than training and providing services; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Section 5 of Chapter 584 of the 1987 Session Laws is amended by deleting the phrase "Article 5" and substituting the phrase "Article 6".
Sec. 2.  Article 5 of Chapter 118 of the General Statutes, as enacted by Chapter 709 of the 1987 Session Laws, is amended by adding a new section at the end to read:
"§ 118-51.  Volunteer Rescue Squad Fund.–(a) There is created in the Department of Insurance the Volunteer Rescue Squad Fund to provide matching grants to volunteer rescue squads to purchase equipment and make capital improvements.  An eligible rescue squad may apply to the Department of Insurance for a grant under this section.  The application form and criteria for grants shall be established by the Department and the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Human Resources.  The State Treasurer shall invest the Fund's assets according to law, and the earnings shall remain in the Fund.  Beginning December 15, 1989, and on each December 15 thereafter, the Department shall make grants to eligible rescue squads subject to the following limitations:
(1)	The size of a grant may not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000);
(2)	The applicant shall match the grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis with non-State funds;
(3)	The grant may be used only for equipment purchases or capital expenditures; and
(4)	An applicant may receive no more than one grant per fiscal year.
In awarding grants under this section, the Department shall to the extent possible select applicants from all parts of the State based upon need.  Up to two percent (2%) of the Fund may be used for additional staff and resources to administer the Fund in each fiscal year.
(b)	A rescue squad is eligible for a grant under this section if:
(1)	It serves a response area of 10,000 or fewer residents or a response area that consists of an entire county;
(2)	It is all volunteer, except that the rescue squad unit may have paid members, not to exceed two positions, either full-time or part-time; and
(3)	It has been recognized by the Department as a rescue squad; and
(4)	It satisfies the eligibility criteria established by the Department under subsection (a) of this section."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 20-183.7(a), as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 584, Session Laws 1987, is amended by deleting the phrase "eighty cents (80¢)" and substituting the phrase "one dollar ($1.00)".
Sec. 4.  G.S. 20-183.7(a1), as amended by Sections 1 and 2 of Chapter 584, Session Laws 1987, is amended in the third sentence by deleting the phrase "eighty cents (80¢)" and substituting the phrase "one dollar ($1.00)" and by deleting the phrase "two dollars and twenty cents ($2.20)" and substituting the phrase "two dollars and forty cents ($2.40)".
Sec. 5.  G.S. 20-183.7(c) (1) and (2) are rewritten to read:
"(1)	After making the transfer provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, seventy-five cents (75¢) of the fee for the valid inspection sticker collected pursuant to subsection (a) shall be transferred to the Highway Fund, and the remaining moneys shall be transferred to the Department of Insurance for the Volunteer Rescue Squad Fund created in G.S. 118-50.
(2)	After making the transfer provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the fee collected pursuant to subsection (a1) shall be transferred as follows:  the first thirty-five cents (35¢) to the Division of Environmental Management; the next twenty cents (20¢) to the Department of Insurance for the Volunteer Rescue Squad Fund created in G.S. 118-50; and any excess up to one dollar and eighty-five cents ($1.85) to the Highway Fund."
Sec. 6.  The heading of Article 5 of General Statute Chapter 118 and G.S. 118-50(a) are amended by deleting the words "Rural" and "rural" wherever it appears.
Sec. 7.  G.S. 118-50(a) is amended by substituting "each May 15" for "each May 1,".
Sec. 8.  G.S. 118-50(a) is amended by rewriting the last sentence to read:  "Up to two percent (2%) of the Fund may be used for additional staff and resources to administer the Fund in each fiscal year."
Sec. 9.  G.S. 118-50(a) is amended by adding after the last sentence in Section 1(b) a new sentence to read:  "No fire department may be declared ineligible for a grant under this section solely because it is classified as a municipal fire department."
Sec. 10.  G.S. 118-61(c)(3) is amended in first sentence by inserting the words, "two year or" immediately before the words, "four year".
Sec. 11.  Sections 6, 7, 8, and 10 are effective upon ratification.
Sec. 12.  This act shall become effective October 1, 1988.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7th day of July, 1988.