Bill > HB1240

This bill expands eligibility for the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program to include volunteer firefighters by first defining key terms and then establishing their participation rules. The bill defines a "fire department" as an organization established to prevent or extinguish fires that employs volunteer firefighters, and a "volunteer firefighter" as a member who actively engages in firefighting activities and receives less than $5,000 in total compensation annually from their volunteer fire department. Under the new provisions, volunteer firefighters can now participate in the insurance program, but they are responsible for paying their own premiums. These premiums can be paid through a monthly bank draft directly from the volunteer firefighter's account or can be paid partially or fully by the fire department on behalf of the volunteer. This change allows volunteer firefighters, who provide critical emergency services in many communities but often have limited compensation, to access health insurance coverage through a state program, recognizing their important public service role.

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https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1240&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R