(A) A board of township trustees, a board of fire district trustees of a joint fire district, or the legislative authority of a municipal corporation may establish, by resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, an annuity program for the volunteer fire fighters serving the political subdivision, including those affiliated with a private entity that provides fire-fighting or emergency medical services. The program may permit the board or the legislative authority to contract for, purchase, or otherwise procure from an insurer or insurers licensed to do business by this state an annuity for such fire fighters. The program may also permit the board or the legislative authority at any time to cancel or otherwise terminate an annuity with any particular insurer or insurers. The board or the legislative authority may pay all or any portion of the cost, premium, or charge of the annuity. The board or the legislative authority may create a fund in the treasury of the township, the joint fire district, or the municipal corporation, as appropriate, for the annuity program. The resolution or ordinance creating the program shall include a plan to assure the proper administration and operation of the program. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The requirements a person must meet in order to be eligible to participate in the program;

(2) The requirements an eligible person must meet annually in order to participate in the program;

(3) A requirement that an audit of the accounts, financial reports, records, and files pertaining to the program be performed in the same manner and with the same frequency that an audit of a public office is performed under section 117.11 of the Revised Code. The audit required under division (A)(3) of this section shall be in addition to and separate from any audit of a township, joint fire district, or municipal corporation required under section 117.11 of the Revised Code but may be performed at the same time as such an audit.

(4) Provisions for termination of the program.

(B) A political subdivision that has established an annuity program under division (A) of this section may appropriate general revenue fund moneys of the political subdivision not appropriated for any other purpose to the annuity program and may use moneys raised under section 505.37, 505.371, or 505.39 or under division (I) or (U) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code for the annuity program. Income from the investment of moneys in any fund established in the treasury of a political subdivision for the annuity program shall be paid into the annuity fund.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Volunteer fire fighter" means a person who performs service as a fire fighter, or who performs emergency medical service, on a less than full-time basis for a political subdivision.

(2) "Political subdivision" means a municipal corporation, a township, a township fire district, or a joint fire district.

Effective Date: 12-14-1992 .