72-g. Expenses of volunteer firefighters attending training schools and instruction courses. 1. The chief officer of the fire department of a municipal corporation or fire district, subject to any rules or regulations governing such department, may authorize the volunteer members of the department to attend training schools or courses of instruction for firefighters.
a. If any such school is located, or any such course is given, outside the county or outside one of the counties in which the municipal corporation or fire district is located, such authorization shall be subject to the prior approval of the governing board of the municipal corporation or fire district.
b. If any such school is located, or any such course is given, outside the state, in addition to the approval required in paragraph a of this subdivision, such authorization shall be subject to a finding from the governing board that such training course or school of instruction is necessary and in the public interest and is not available within a reasonable distance and time period in the state.
c. Notification and proof of attendance of any out-of-state training school from the chief officer shall be provided to the state office of fire prevention and control.
2. The governing board by resolution may provide for the payment, in the same manner as other claims against the municipal corporation or fire district are audited, allowed and paid, of all actual and necessary registration fees not in excess of fifty dollars and all actual and necessary expenses of travel, meals and lodging and all necessary tuition fees incurred by such volunteer members in attending such a training school, or course of instruction, in this country or in Canada.
3. If such travel is by car owned by the volunteer firefighter, he or she may be paid a reasonable mileage allowance for each mile actually and necessarily traveled by him or her in attending such school or course of instruction. Such mileage allowance shall not exceed the standard travel allowance for mileage adopted or prescribed for federal income tax purposes. Any claim for such expenses or reimbursement shall have endorsed thereon, or attached thereto, a statement by the chief officer of the fire department that the attendance had been duly authorized by him or her. The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to have amended the provisions of subdivision one of section two hundred nine of this chapter in relation to participation in fire training programs which are not conducted as training schools or regular or special courses of instruction for firefighters.
Last modified: February 3, 2019