Section 45-35-140 – Applicability.

Section 45-35-140 Applicability. This article shall apply only to those portions of Houston County located outside the corporate boundaries of the City of Dothan. (Act 2000-473, p. 900, §1.)

Section 45-35-140.01 – Legislative Findings.

Section 45-35-140.01 Legislative findings. The Legislature declares that volunteer fire departments and associations which receive funds pursuant to this article are organizations which are public in nature, as they protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the county. (Act 2000-473, p. 900, §2.)

Section 45-35-140.02 – Fire Protection Service Fee – Levy; Definitions; Exemption.

Section 45-35-140.02 Fire protection service fee – Levy; definitions; exemption. (a) There is levied on the owner of each dwelling and commercial building located in those portions of Houston County located outside the corporate boundaries of the City of Dothan a fire protection service fee of thirty dollars ($30) per year. (b) For the purposes […]

Section 45-35-140.03 – Fire Protection Service Fee – Collection, Administration, and Enforcement.

Section 45-35-140.03 Fire protection service fee – Collection, administration, and enforcement. Except with regard to the enforcement provisions thereof, the fire protection service fee shall be collected and administered as closely as possible at the same time, in the same manner, and under the same requirements and laws as are the ad valorem taxes of […]

Section 45-35-140.04 – Eligible Volunteer Fire Department.

Section 45-35-140.04 Eligible volunteer fire department. An eligible volunteer fire department, for the purposes of this article, shall mean a volunteer fire department located in Houston County which is certified under the Alabama Forestry Commission and which is a member of the Houston County Volunteer Firefighters Association. (Act 2000-473, p. 900, §5.)

Section 45-35-140.05 – Disposition of Funds.

Section 45-35-140.05 Disposition of funds. Funds paid to eligible volunteer fire departments and the association shall only be expended for fire protection, including training, supplies, and equipment. The funds may also be expended to purchase insurance, including liability insurance, to insure coverage of acts or omissions which are directly related to the functions of a […]

Section 45-35-140.06 – Transfer of Funds Upon Dissolution or Abandonment of Volunteer Fire Department.

Section 45-35-140.06 Transfer of funds upon dissolution or abandonment of volunteer fire department. Upon dissolution or abandonment of any eligible volunteer fire department or the Houston County Volunteer Firefighters Association, any remaining funds derived from this article or any assets purchased with funds derived from this article shall, after all lawful indebtedness has been satisfied, […]

Section 45-35-140.07 – Liability of Personnel.

Section 45-35-140.07 Liability of personnel. The personnel of volunteer fire departments and the Houston County Volunteer Firefighters Association provided for in this article shall not be considered as employees, servants, or agents of the county and the members of the county commission and the employees of the county shall not be liable in either their […]

Section 45-35-140.08 – Purpose.

Section 45-35-140.08 Purpose. The primary purpose and use of funds generated by this article is to enable all volunteer fire departments in Houston County to lower their ISO ratings, thus lowering insurance costs to the citizens of the county. All departments are required to attain and maintain an ISO of 7/9 (seven slash nine) or […]

Section 45-35-140.09 – Regulatory Control and Supervision; Forfeiture of Funds.

Section 45-35-140.09 Regulatory control and supervision; forfeiture of funds. With regard to the collection and administration of the fees levied by this article including, but not limited to, the application for and granting of exemptions, the Houston County Commission shall exercise such regulatory control and supervision over and may adopt rules and regulations as may […]