GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 898

Short Title:  VFD Workers' Compensation/Appropriation.    	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Warren; Albertson, Dalton, Hoyle, Martin of Pitt, McDaniel, Miller, Page, Rand, Weinstein, and Wellons.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 16, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RESCUE/EMS WORKERS.
Whereas, the 1995 General Assembly established the Workers' Compensation Fund in the Department of Insurance to provide workers' compensation coverage to volunteer fire and rescue/EMS units; and
Whereas, the 1995 General Assembly set up funding for the Workers' Compensation Fund as follows:
(1)	A required contribution to the Fund from each eligible unit, to be set annually by the State Fire and Rescue Commission as a per capita fixed dollar amount for each member of the unit, the amount set for the 1996-97 fiscal year being estimated to yield $1,500,000; and 
(2)	An appropriation for the 1996-97 fiscal year of an additional $1,500,000 directly from the General Fund.
Whereas, the Workers' Compensation Fund needs another $3,500,000 for the 1997-98 fiscal year in addition to that already provided for to fully fund the workers' compensation needs of the volunteer fire and rescue/EMS units; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Insurance for the 1997-98 fiscal year the sum of three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) for the Workers' Compensation Fund established by G.S. 58-87-10 to provide workers' compensation coverage for volunteer fire and rescue/EMS units.
Section 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.