Bill > SB1651

This bill expresses the legislative intent that counties in Tennessee prioritize funding for their fire departments, whether they are county-wide departments or volunteer fire departments that provide services to the entire county. Specifically, if a county establishes a county-wide fire department, the county government should prioritize allocating county funds, from its general fund or other revenue sources, to support its operations, aiming for a funding level at least equal to that provided for the sheriff's department. Similarly, if a volunteer fire department serves the entire county and requests funding, the county government should also prioritize allocating funds to that department. A "volunteer fire department" is defined as one recognized by the state fire marshal's office and classified as such by the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System (TFIRS). This legislation aims to ensure that fire protection services receive adequate financial support from local governments.