HB 1569 Summary

• Amends the Rural Fire Protection Program Fund Act to update references to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and clarify coordinator responsibilities for examining financial assistance applications.

• Requires financial assistance not expended by participants by the last day of April following the grant to be returned to the Department for redistribution to other eligible participants.

• Mandates electronic transfer of funds from the Department to participants for distribution of both Rural Fire Protection Program Fund assistance and matching grants.

• Limits eligible participants to incorporated cities under 10,000 population (based on latest Federal Decennial Census), towns, and legally formed rural fire departments; removes requirement that coordinators first verify fire departments are properly formed.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2015.