NC H606

Establishes a statewide Reimbursement for Volunteer Firefighters Pilot Program operated by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management to reimburse volunteer firefighters for mileage and personal equipment expenses during emergency response.

Reimbursement rate for mileage shall equal the annual Internal Revenue Service standard business mileage rate, and firefighters may also be reimbursed for personal equipment used to secure scenes or treat individuals.

Reimbursement requests must be submitted within 60 days of the reimbursable event and collected by the commanding officer or highest-ranking officer at each volunteer firefighter organization.

Appropriates $1,000,000 in nonrecurring General Fund monies for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with the program terminating on June 30, 2024.

Division of Emergency Management must report to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee by June 30, 2024, on the program's effectiveness, including number and amounts of requests, trends by organization, and recommendations for expansion or modification.