Bill would create grant program for rural firefighter clothing allowance

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Arpelar Republican has introduced a bill that would create a rural volunteer firefighters clothing allowance grant.

House Bill 1078, by Rep. David Smith, is eligible for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Feb. 3.

The bill would create a revolving fund in the state treasury, to be administered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, for the benefit of rural volunteer firefighters.

The Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture would be charged with developing procedures for the disbursement of the clothing allowance to reimburse eligible applicants for approved purchases and to maintain oversight of the grant awards. To be eligible, an applicant must be a member of a certified Oklahoma fire department, must have responded to at least 75 percent of the fire department responses during the fiscal year, and must have completed 24 hours of firefighter training during the fiscal year.

The applicant’s fire chief would certify requirements have been met, and disbursements will be made by the last business day in September each year.

“Rural volunteer firefighters work at their own expense to keep their friends and neighbors safe from the devastating effects of fire,” Smith said. “They are the first-line of defense in protecting lives, homes and businesses. This clothing allowance will help alleviate some of their personal cost and could help incentivize recruitment and retainment.”

The act would go into effect Nov. 1, if passed and signed into law.