Permitting volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments to use certain funds to employ or contract with certified firefighters

HB 2749 allows West Virginia volunteer and part-volunteer fire departments to use state funds from the Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund and the Fire Protection Fund to hire or contract with certified firefighters. Before doing so, the department must obtain written approval from their county fire board (or county commission if no board exists), confirming the department is understaffed and that the hiring addresses this need. This bill adds hiring certified firefighters as a new authorized use of these funds, which were previously restricted to equipment, insurance, training, and operational costs. The change aims to help departments address staffing shortages while maintaining oversight through county-level approval.