For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. A volunteer fire department, a fire department of a political subdivision or fire district of the state, or a private volunteer company that has elected to participate in the Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund pursuant to R.C. § 146.02.
MEMBER OF THE FUND. Includes a political subdivision or fire district of the state that maintains, in whole or in part, a volunteer fire department or employs volunteer firefighters, and a private volunteer fire company that has elected to participate in the Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund.
PRIVATE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY. A company of trained volunteer firefighters having a contract to furnish fire protection or emergency service or both to a political subdivision or fire district of the state.
TOTALLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED. A volunteer firefighter is unable to engage in any substantial gainful employment for a period of not less than 12 months by reason of a medically determinable physical impairment that is permanent or presumed to be permanent.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.
(1) VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER means both of the following, subject to division (2) of this definition:
(a) A duly appointed member of a Fire Department on either a nonpay or part-pay basis who is ineligible to be a member of the State Police and Fire Pension Fund, or whose employment as a firefighter does not in itself qualify any such person for membership in the Public Employees Retirement System, or who has waived membership in the Public Employees Retirement System; and
(b) Firefighters drafted, requisitioned, or appointed to serve in an emergency.
(2) (a) A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER who is a member of the Public Employees Retirement System shall be considered a VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER for purposes of this subchapter and R.C. Chapter 146 and, in particular, for purposes of R.C. § 146.12(A) and (B), until the FIREFIGHTER has at least one and one-half years of state service credit for purposes of R.C. § 145.45(B); and
(b) A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER who is a member of the Public Employees Retirement System shall be considered a VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER for purposes of this chapter and R.C. Chapter 146 and, in particular, for purposes of R.C. § 146.12(C), until the FIREFIGHTER has at least five years of total service credit for purposes of R.C. §§ 145.35 and 145.36 or 145.361.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS’ DEPENDENTS FUND. The fund established by R.C. § 146.07.
(R.C. § 146.01)