Nearly $10M Being Distributed to Kansas Firefighters Relief Associations

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is currently making the annual distribution of funds to state and local firefighter relief organizations.

More than $9.7 million will be distributed among 580 local Firefighters Relief Associations (FRAs) across the state. That is $500,000 more than the 2009 total.

The local association funds are used for purchasing accident and health, disability, and life insurance premiums to assist firefighters and their families. The money is generated by a percent tax paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning insurance premiums written in Kansas for the previous calendar year. It is collected by the department, on behalf of the Kansas Firefighter Relief Act, and passed on to the FRAs.

Also, the Kansas State Firefighters Association will receive $408,981 for education and research purposes and to replenish the state association’s death benefit fund. These funds also come from the insurance company premium assessment.

Of the state association total, $308,981 is earmarked for educational purposes and research into fire prevention and firefighting, and $100,000 is used to replenish the death benefit fund. One Kansas firefighter died in the line of duty during 2009, and120 firefighters were injured as a result of a fire, according to the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Nearly $1.3 million in benefits was paid in 2009 to firefighters for lost wages as a result of firefighting-related injuries or disability, and nearly $634,000 went to dependents of firefighters.

Most of this year’s distribution was deposited electronically into the relief association bank accounts.

A list of the organizations receiving funds is available at: http://www.ksinsurance.org/consumers/firefighters/fradist.php.

Source: Kansas Department of Insurance