MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Insurance
By: Representatives Turner, Arnold, Foster, Anthony
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-23-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE RURAL FIRE TRUCK MATCHING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO REMOVE LANGUAGE THAT LIMITS ELIGIBILITY OF THE RURAL FIRE TRUCK MATCHING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO THOSE COUNTIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FOR EIGHT ROUNDS OR LESS FROM THE RURAL FIRE TRUCK MATCHING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-409, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE TO CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PARTY VENDOR TO ADMINISTER BENEFITS UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT AND TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT FOR THAT VENDOR FROM THE MISSISSIPPI FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTH AND SAFETY TRUST FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-411, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE NOTIFY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE INSURANCE CHAIRMEN BEFORE MAKING ANY DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MISSISSIPPI FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTH AND SAFETY TRUST FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 83-1-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE CREDIT TO THE MUNICIPAL FIRE PROTECTION FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 83-1-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE CREDIT TO THE COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FUND; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 83-5-72, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 17-23-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
17-23-1. (1) There is established the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Insurance for the purpose of assisting counties and municipalities in the acquisition of fire trucks.
(2) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Rural Fire Truck Fund." The Legislature may appropriate that amount necessary to fulfill the obligations created under this section by the Department of Insurance, from the State General Fund to such special fund, which sum shall be added to the remainder of the money transferred on July 1, 1995, and during the 1996 Regular Session to the Rural Fire Truck Fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Unobligated amounts remaining in the Rural Fire Truck Fund, Fund No. 3507, or in any fund created for funds appropriated or otherwise made available for this program, may be used as matching funds by any county with remaining eligibility as provided herein. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Insurance continue to accept applications from the counties for fire trucks as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) (a) A county that meets the requirements provided herein may receive an amount not to exceed One Million Ten Thousand Dollars ($1,010,000.00) as provided in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii) and (xiii) of this paragraph, and such amount shall be divided as follows: an amount of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per fire truck for the first six (6) trucks and not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per fire truck for the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh trucks, and not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per fire truck for the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth truck. Monies distributed under this chapter shall be expended only for the purchase of new or used fire trucks and such trucks must meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards in the 1900 series and be approved by the Rural Fire Truck Review Committee.
(i) Any county that has not applied for a fire truck under this section is eligible to submit applications for fifteen (15) fire trucks as follows: six (6) fire trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of One Million Ten Thousand Dollars ($1,010,000.00).
(ii) Any county that has received one (1) fire truck under this section is eligible to submit applications for fourteen (14) fire trucks as follows: five (5) fire trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of Nine Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($960,000.00).
(iii) Any county that has received two (2) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for thirteen (13) fire trucks as follows: four (4) fire trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Nine Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($910,000.00).
(iv) Any county that has received three (3) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for twelve (12) fire trucks as follows: three (3) fire trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Eight Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($860,000.00).
(v) Any county that has received four (4) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for eleven (11) fire trucks as follows: two (2) fire trucks at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Eight Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($810,000.00).
(vi) Any county that has received five (5) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for ten (10) fire trucks as follows: one (1) fire truck at not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per truck and five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Seven Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($760,000.00).
(vii) Any county that has received six (6) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for nine (9) fire trucks as follows: five (5) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Seven Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($710,000.00).
(viii) Any county that has received seven (7) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for eight (8) fire trucks as follows: four (4) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Six Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($640,000.00).
(ix) Any county that has received eight (8) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for seven (7) fire trucks as follows: three (3) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Five Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($570,000.00).
(x) Any county that has received nine (9) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for six (6) fire trucks as follows: two (2) fire trucks at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00).
(xi) Any county that has received ten (10) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for five (5) fire trucks as follows: one (1) fire truck at not more than Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per truck, and four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck or a total of not more than Four Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($430,000.00).
(xii) Any county that has received eleven (11) fire trucks under this section is eligible to submit an application for four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck.
(xiii) Any county may apply for four (4) fire trucks at not more than Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) per truck as provided in subparagraph (xii), provided that the county agrees to forego any previous fire truck under subparagraphs (i) through (xi) for which the county has not previously applied, and that the county has received approval from the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program Committee to apply for and receive a truck under subparagraph (xii).
(b) The board of supervisors of the county shall submit its request for the receipt of monies to the Department of Insurance. A committee composed of the Commissioner of Insurance, the State Fire Coordinator, the Director of the Rating Bureau and the Director of the State Fire Academy shall review the requests by the boards of supervisors and shall determine whether the county or municipality for which the board of supervisors has requested a truck meets the requirements of eligibility under this chapter.
(c) To be eligible to receive monies under this chapter:
(i) A county or municipality must pledge to set aside or dedicate each year as matching funds, for a period not to extend over ten (10) years, local funds in an amount equal to or not less than one-tenth (1/10) of the amount of monies for which it is requesting distribution from the Rural Fire Truck Fund, which pledged monies may be derived from local ad valorem tax authorized by law or from any other funds available to the county or municipality, except for those funds received by municipalities or counties from the Municipal Fire Protection Fund or the County Volunteer Fire Department Fund, as defined in Sections 83-1-37 and 83-1-39.
(ii) A municipality must provide adequate documentation of its contract with the county that requires the municipality to provide fire protection in rural areas. The term "rural areas" means any area within the county located outside the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or any incorporated municipality with a population of two thousand five hundred (2,500) or less.
(d) The Department of Insurance shall maintain an accurate record of all monies distributed to counties and municipalities and the number of fire trucks purchased and the cost for each fire truck, such records to be kept separate from other records of the Department of Insurance; notify counties and municipalities of the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program and the requirements for them to become eligible to participate; adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary and desirable to implement the provisions of this chapter; and file with the Legislature a report detailing how monies made available under this chapter were distributed and spent during the preceding portion of the fiscal year in each county and municipality, the number of fire trucks purchased, the counties and municipalities making such purchases, and the cost of each fire truck purchased.
(4) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Rural Fire Truck Matching Assistance Fund," which shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature from the State General Fund or any other special source fund. The Department of Insurance shall use the funds for matching assistance to counties and municipalities with remaining eligibility in accordance with the provisions of subsection (5) of this section. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
(5) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the Department of Insurance may provide funds to counties and municipalities out of the Rural Fire Truck Matching Assistance Fund in an amount exceeding the amount authorized in subsection (3) of this section. However, the total amount of funds allowed under this subsection combined with the funds provided in subsection (3) of this section shall not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the purchase price of the rural fire truck. A county or municipality is eligible for such matching assistance upon meeting the following criteria:
(a) The county or municipality's application is approved for funding in accordance with the criteria in subsection (3)(b) of this section; and
(b) The department determines
that the county or municipality does not have sufficient funds available for the
purchase of a rural fire truck with the funds authorized in subsection (3)(b)
of this section * * *.
* * *
SECTION 2. Section 25-15-409, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-15-409. (1) The state, municipality, county or fire protection district shall, no later than January 1, 2024, show proof of insurance coverage that meets the requirements of this article to the Commissioner of Insurance, or shall show satisfactory proof of the ability to pay such compensation to ensure adequate coverage for all eligible first responders.
(2) The Commissioner of Insurance shall adopt such rules and regulations as are reasonable and necessary to implement the provisions of this article. Such regulations shall include the process by which a first responder files a claim for cancer and the process by which claimants can appeal a denial of benefits.
(3) The Commissioner of Insurance shall adopt rules to establish firefighter cancer prevention best practices as it relates to personal protective equipment, decontamination, fire suppression, apparatus and fire stations.
(4) The Commissioner of Insurance may contract with a third party vendor to administer the benefits provided under the Mississippi First Responders Health and Safety Act. Further, he may expend up to ten percent (10%) of the monies in the fund for the administration and management of the fund and for carrying out the purposes of this section.
SECTION 3. Section 25-15-411, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-15-411. There is created
in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Mississippi First
Responders Health and Safety Trust Fund" to be administered by the Commissioner
of Insurance, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to assist the state, municipalities,
counties and fire protection districts with providing benefits required by the Mississippi
First Responders Health and Safety Act. * * * This fund shall consist of monies provided to it through the provisions
of Section 83-34-4(6), and any monies which may be appropriated to it by the Legislature.
Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse
into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall
be deposited to the credit of the fund.
SECTION 4. Section 83-1-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
83-1-37. (1) The Department of Revenue shall pay for credit to a fund known as the "Municipal Fire Protection Fund," the sum of Four Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($4,850,000.00) annually out of the insurance premium tax collected annually from the taxes levied on the gross premiums on fire insurance policies written on properties in this state, under Sections 27-15-103 through 27-15-127. The State Treasurer shall credit this amount to the Municipal Fire Protection Fund. This fund shall be set aside and earmarked for payment to municipalities in this state, as hereinafter provided.
(2) Using 1990 as a base year,
the Department of Revenue shall pay over annually to the State Treasurer, for credit
to the "Municipal Fire Protection Fund," an amount representing one-half
of * * * twenty
percent (1/2 of * * *
20%) of any growth after 1990 of the insurance premium tax collected annually
from the taxes levied on the gross premium on fire insurance policies written on
properties in this state, under Sections 27-15-103 through 27-15-127.
(3) The fund hereby created and denominated "Municipal Fire Protection Fund" shall be apportioned and paid over by the Department of Insurance to the incorporated municipalities certified as eligible to participate in the fund by the Commissioner of Insurance, and shall be distributed in the following manner annually: each municipality shall be paid Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00), with the remainder of the monies to be paid on a population basis, to be determined by the most recent federal census. Municipalities receiving these funds shall earmark such monies for fire protection services.
(4) The amount paid under subsections (1) and (2) of this section to a municipality shall be used and expended in accordance with the guidelines established by the Commissioner of Insurance authorized by Section 45-11-7, for the training of municipal personnel as needed for the adoption of and compliance with the minimum building codes as established and promulgated by the Mississippi Building Codes Council, for windstorm mitigation programs as approved by the Commissioner of Insurance, and for emergency medical service training and equipment as provided by municipal fire protection services. A municipality may provide reasonable remuneration to municipal volunteer firefighters in accordance with the guidelines established by the Commissioner of Insurance authorized by Section 45-11-7.
(5) Each municipality shall levy a tax of not less than one-fourth (1/4) mill on all property of the municipality or appropriate the avails of not less than one-fourth (1/4) mill from the municipality's general fund for fire protection purposes. Municipalities may allow such millage to be collected by the county. Each municipality shall annually provide the Commissioner of Insurance and the State Fire Coordinator on a form provided by the State Fire Coordinator a report stating whether the municipality is levied the one-fourth (1/4) mill hereby required or in lieu thereof is allowing such millage to be collected by the county.
(6) The Commissioner of Insurance may promulgate rules and regulations to establish guidelines for the use of fire rebate funds.
SECTION 5. Section 83-1-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
83-1-39. (1) The Department of Revenue shall pay over to the State Treasurer, to be credited to a fund entitled "County Volunteer Fire Department Fund," the sum of Four Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($4,850,000.00) annually out of the insurance premium tax in addition to the amount collected by it under the provisions of Section 27-15-103 et seq. Such funds, hereinafter referred to as insurance rebate monies, are hereby earmarked for payment to the various counties of the state and shall be paid over to the counties by the Department of Insurance in the following manner: each county shall be paid Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00), with the remainder of the monies to be paid on the basis of the population of each county as it compares to the population of participating counties, not counting residents of any municipality. Such insurance rebate monies shall only be distributed to those counties which are in compliance with subsections (5) and (6) of this section.
(2) Using 1990 as a base year,
the Department of Revenue shall pay to the State Treasurer, to be credited to the
"County Volunteer Fire Department Fund," an amount representing one-half
of * * * twenty
percent (1/2 of * * *
20%) of any growth after 1990 of the insurance premium tax collected annually
from the taxes levied on the gross premium on fire insurance policies written on
properties in this state, in addition to the amount collected by it under Section
27-15-103 et seq.
(3) Insurance rebate monies shall be expended by the board of supervisors for fire protection purposes of each county for the following categories:
(a) For training expenses, including emergency medical services training;
(b) Purchase of equipment, purchase of fire trucks, repair and refurbishing of fire trucks and firefighting equipment, for emergency medical services equipment, and capital construction anywhere in the county or pledging as security for a period of not more than ten (10) years for such purchases;
(c) Purchase of insurance on county-owned firefighting or emergency medical services equipment;
(d) Fire protection service contracts, including, but not limited to, municipalities, legal fire protection districts, and nonprofit corporations providing or coordinating fire service or emergency medical services in or out of the county;
(e) Appropriations to legal fire protection districts located in counties subject to all restrictions applicable to the use of insurance rebate monies;
(f) Training of any county personnel as needed for the adoption of and compliance with the codes established and promulgated by the Mississippi Building Codes Council or for windstorm mitigation programs as approved by the Commissioner of Insurance;
(g) Any county-owned equipment or other property, at the option of the board of supervisors, may be used by any legally created fire department;
(h) At the option of the board of supervisors, a county may provide reasonable remuneration to volunteer firefighters in accordance with the guidelines established by the Commissioner of Insurance authorized by Section 45-11-7; or
(i) For any use allowed in accordance with the guidelines as established by the Commissioner of Insurance.
(4) Insurance rebate monies not expended in a given fiscal year for fire protection purposes shall be placed in a special fund with a written plan approved by the Commissioner of Insurance for disposition and expenditure of such monies. After the contracts for fire protection services have been approved and accepted by the board of supervisors, the monies shall be released to be expended in such manner as provided by this section.
(5) No county shall receive payments pursuant to this section after July 1, 1988, unless such county:
(a) Designates a county fire service coordinator who is responsible for seeing that standard guidelines established by the Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to Section 45-11-7(9), Mississippi Code of 1972, are followed. The county fire coordinator must demonstrate that he possesses fire-related knowledge and experience;
(b) Designates one (1) member of the sheriff's department to be the county fire investigator and, from and after July 1, 2008, requires the designated member of the sheriff's department to attend the State Fire Academy to be trained in arson investigation; however, in the event of a loss of the county fire investigator due to illness, death, resignation, discharge or other legitimate cause, notice shall be immediately given to the Commissioner of Insurance and the county may continue to receive payments on an interim basis for a period not to exceed one (1) year;
(c) Adheres to the standard guidelines established by the Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to Section 45-11-7(9); and
(d) Counties shall levy a tax of not less than one-fourth (1/4) mill on all property of the county or appropriate avails of not less than one-fourth (1/4) mill from the county's general fund for fire protection purposes. Municipalities making a written declaration to the county that they fund and provide their own fire services shall be exempted from this levy. This levy shall be used for fire protection purposes which include, but are not limited to, contracting with any provider of fire protection services.
(6) (a) No funds shall be paid by the county to any provider of fire protection services except in accordance with a written contract entered into in accordance with guidelines established by the Commissioner of Insurance and properly approved by the board of supervisors and Commissioner of Insurance. No county shall distribute funds to any fire service provider which has not met the reporting requirements required by the Commissioner of Insurance. At such time that a fire protection services provider, particularly a county volunteer fire department, a municipality or a fire protection district, has fulfilled the obligations of the written contract and has met the reporting requirements provided for in this subsection and the board of supervisors has received the insurance rebate monies, the board of supervisors shall disburse the appropriate amount to the fire protection services provider within a reasonable time, not to exceed six (6) weeks, from the time such requirements are met. Insurance rebate monies used for the purposes of contracting shall be expended by the fire service provider for capital construction, training expenses, purchase of firefighting equipment, including payments on any loans made for the purpose of purchasing firefighting equipment, purchase of insurance for any fire equipment owned or operated by the provider, and for training and equipment of emergency medical services as provided by fire protection services.
(b) If the Commissioner of Insurance believes that a county is using the funds in a manner not consistent with subsections (5) and (6) of this section, the commissioner shall request the State Auditor to conduct an investigation pursuant to Section 7-7-211(e).
(7) The board of supervisors of any county may contribute funds directly to any provider of fire protection services serving such county. Such contributions must be used for fire protection purposes as may be reasonably established by the Commissioner of Insurance.
(8) Any municipal, county or local water association or other utility district supplying water may, upon adoption of a resolution authorizing such action, contribute free of charge to a volunteer fire department or fire protection district serving such local government, political subdivision or utility district such water as is necessary for firefighting or training activities of such volunteer fire department or fire protection district.
(9) The board of supervisors of any county may, in its discretion, grade, gravel, shell and/or maintain real property of a county volunteer fire department, including roads or driveways thereof, as necessary for the effective and safe operation of such county volunteer fire department. Any action taken by the board of supervisors under the authority of this subsection shall be spread upon the minutes of the board of supervisors when the work is authorized.
(10) For the purpose of this section, "fire protection district" means a district organized under Section 19-5-151 et seq., or pursuant to any other code section or by any local and private act authorizing the establishment of a fire protection district, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(11) The Commissioner of Insurance may promulgate rules and regulations to establish guidelines for the use of fire rebate funds.
SECTION 6. Section 83-5-72, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
83-5-72. All life, health and accident insurance companies and health maintenance organizations doing business in this state shall contribute annually, at such times as the Insurance Commissioner shall determine, in proportion to their gross premiums collected within the State of Mississippi during the preceding year, to a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the "Insurance Department Fund" to be expended by the Insurance Commissioner in the payment of the expenses of the Department of Insurance as the commissioner may deem necessary. The commissioner is hereby authorized to employ such actuarial and other assistance as shall be necessary to carry out the duties of the department; and the employees shall be under the authority and direction of the Insurance Commissioner. The amount to be contributed annually to the fund shall be fixed each year by the Insurance Commissioner at a percentage of the gross premiums so collected during the preceding year. However, a minimum assessment of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) shall be charged each licensed life, health and accident insurance company regardless of the gross premium amount collected during the preceding year.
The total contributions collected for the Insurance Department Fund shall not exceed the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) in each fiscal year.
From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of this agency shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law.
From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.