NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1981 SESSION

CHAPTER 944
HOUSE BILL 661

AN ACT TO INCLUDE FIREMEN FROM THE DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES WITHIN THE COVERAGE OF THE DEATH BENEFIT ACT.

Whereas, employees of the Division of Forest Resources are called upon to render the same hazardous public service to the people of this State as are firemen; but
Whereas, employees of the Division of Forest Resources are not now considered "firemen" for the purposes of inclusion in the Law Enforcement Officers', Firemen's, Rescue Squad Workers' and Civil Air Patrol Members' Death Benefit Act, and do not receive the same death benefit that firemen do; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. G.S. 143-166.2(d) is amended by deleting the second sentence and by substituting the following: "The term 'firemen' shall mean both 'eligible fireman'; or 'fireman' as defined in G.S. 118‑23 and all full‑time, permanent part‑time and temporary employees of the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, during the time they are actively engaged in fire fighting activities."
Sec. 2. G.S. 143‑166.7 is amended by adding a new sentence at the end to read "The provisions of this Article shall apply with respect to full‑time, permanent part‑time and temporary employees of North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, killed in line of duty on or after July 1, 1975."
Sec. 3. This act shall become effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of July, 1981.