In order to assist with the recruitment and retention of volunteer members of fire and rescue companies in the Combined System, there is herein established a tuition reimbursement program for the benefit of eligible individuals of the organizations listed in Section 258.05(a). The County Administrator shall have the authority to take any action necessary for the administration of the program, and LCFR shall be responsible for promulgating and overseeing the application process for this program. Any reimbursement provided pursuant to this Chapter shall be limited to the funds made available in any given fiscal year by the Board of Supervisors.
(a) Eligibility and amount of assistance. Eligible volunteer members of the LC-CFRS may receive up to four thousand dollars in tuition reimbursement each fiscal year, with a maximum lifetime cap of sixteen thousand dollars. To be eligible, a volunteer must have been granted one year of service credit under the County’s Volunteer Length of Service Annuity Program during the proceeding plan year. Volunteers must appear as “active” on the roster of Fire/EMS volunteers at the time of application and payment in order to be eligible for reimbursement.
(b) Restrictions. Tuition reimbursement funds may be used for tuition costs incurred at any accredited two or four year college or university, graduate or professional school, and any vocational institution that is nationally accredited through the commission on Accreditation or Allied Health Education Programs or the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for EMS Professionals. For purposes of this program, the accreditation referred to herein must be from a regional accrediting organization that is recognized by the United States Department of Education or any such successor department. Reimbursement funds may not be used for registration or parking fees, travel expenses or other costs that may be associated with the course. Financial reimbursement will not be provided for conferences, conventions or seminars that do not result in college or university level credit or EMS/ALS certifications.
(Ord. 20-08. Passed 4-15-20)