The Kansas Insurance Department has made its annual distributions to local firefighter relief associations. Nine of those are in Franklin County and will receive just under $128,000. The funds from the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act are generated by a two percent tax paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning insurance premiums written in Kansas. Associations primarily use their distributed funds for insurance premiums and safety enhancements. The relief funds may pay for the health, accident, disability, and life insurance premiums of local firefighters. Safety enhancements such as new fire trucks, fire station building improvements, and firefighting gear can be purchased with relief funds loaned to local governing entities.
Statewide, distributions totaled $16.8 million to 554 relief associations. Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt says that the Relief Act gives first responders a safety net and allows local communities to provide improved firefighting equipment and resources.
