Smith Bill Would Give Rural Firefighters Clothing Allowance

Rep David Smith

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar, has filed the “Rural Volunteer Firefighter Clothing Allowance Grants Act.”

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

“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.”

Smith last fall held an interim study to examine issues surrounding recruiting and retaining volunteer rural firefighters. The idea for the legislation came from the study.

HB1078 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 fund would consist of all monies received by the department from legislative appropriations, donations, grants or other sources of funding specifically designated for this purpose. The fund would be continuing and not limited to fiscal year limitations.

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% 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.

If signed into law, the act would become effective Nov. 1.

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David Smith represents House District 18 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Hughes and Okfuskee counties and parts of Coal and Pittsburg counties.