(a) Fire departments in this state may apply for annual certification and classification by the Director of the Office of Fire Protection Services. Each fire department applying for certification shall submit such information as may be required by the director to determine whether the fire department meets minimum certification standards and to classify the department as to its level of service.

(b)

(1) Certification standards for fire departments shall not be changed unless the changes are approved by the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board.

(2) Any change to the certification standards under this subsection shall not be effective until twelve (12) months after the adoption of the published change.

(c)

(1) Firefighters shall maintain a minimum of sixteen (16) hours per year of certifiable training meeting the standards of the Arkansas Fire Training Academy.

(2) A firefighter who receives more certified hours than required in subdivision (c)(1) of this section in a year may carry over the additional certified hours to the next year only.

(d) Firefighters shall also receive within the first year of service as a firefighter:

(1) Up to sixteen (16) hours in the Introduction to Firefighting course;

(2) Up to sixteen (16) hours in the Personal Protective Equipment course; and

(3) Up to eight (8) hours in the Wildland Fire Suppression course.

(e)

(1) A member of a fire department who does not engage in firefighting is exempt from the requirements of this section.

(2) A member under subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall be eligible for workers' compensation coverage under § 20-22-809.

(3) A member under subdivision (e)(1) of this section is considered a firefighter for the purpose of number of members of the fire department.

(f) A fire department that complies with this section is eligible for insurance premium tax moneys under § 14-284-401 et seq.