The Joint Committee on Volunteer Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services convened at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8 in Room 215-E to consider two pieces of draft legislation pertaining to the financial procedures of Volunteer Fire Departments in the state of West Virginia.
Doren Burrell, an Attorney representing the West Virginia’s Legislative Services Division, presented two pieces of draft legislation—respectfully referred to as VFD 1 and VFD 2 throughout the committee meeting.
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VFD 1 is a piece of draft legislation that would require West Virginia’s Volunteer Fire Departments to document their use of allocated state funds. This legislation would require Volunteer Fire Departments to send financial statements and images of checks to Legislative Auditors in order to be held accountable for the use of funds. Failure to comply or suspicion of noncompliance could result in the Volunteer Fire Department being audited.
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VFD 2 involves redefining the sanctions put on Volunteer Fire Departments for financial infractions. Whereas the current law does not specify a financial penalty for Volunteer Fire Departments spending money on unauthorized expenditures, this bill allows for future grant money to be deducted from in order to cover the cost of unauthorized expenditures and misapplication of state funds. Additionally, failure to meet written requests from state auditors could also result in the reduction or holding of grant money from the Volunteer Fire Department.
Nathan Hamilton, a West Virginia Auditor for Volunteer Fire Departments, cited that $22 million dollars total were given to 428 West Virginia Volunteer Fire Departments in the fiscal year of 2018. Of that, 21 Volunteer Fire Departments were found to be in noncompliance. $2.8 million dollars were audited.
Senator Ron Stollings (D-Boone) was critical of the proposed legislation, arguing that it made it more difficult to retain and recruit needed volunteer firefighters in the state.
“Hopefully, since this session is just beginning, this committee can move in a direction and draft some legislation that will help our volunteer firefighters—people who greatly need it.” Stollings said.
Both pieces of draft legislation were approved of by the committee to be reviewed and introduced as bills during the 84th West Virginia Regular Legislative Session for passage. The bills would work to solve for the loss of state funds in the state due to misuse, and allow for more state discretion over how volunteer fire departments utilize state funds.
