(a)(1) As used in this section, 'firefighter' means a full-time, paid member of a fire protection district who is employed by the board of commissioners of a fire protection district and whose primary duty is fighting fires.(2) 'Firefighter' does not include the chief or head of the fire protection district.(b) A residency requirement for a fire protection district may be established by ordinance or resolution for firefighters or persons applying to be a firefighter only if the fire protection district: (1) Uses full-time, paid firefighters and volunteer firefighters;(2) Is a volunteer fire department; or(3) Uses part-time, paid firefighters and firefighters who are paid an appearance fee.(c) A residency requirement that is enacted under subsection (b) of this section shall not affect the residency or employment status of a firefighter who is employed with the fire protection district at the time the residency requirement is adopted.(d) For the purpose of hiring, a fire protection district may give preference to a person applying to be a firefighter who is a resident of the state or a county adjacent to the county in which the fire protection district is located.(e) This section strict may give preference to a person applying to be a firefighter who is a resident of the state or a county adjacent to the county in which the fire protection district is located.(e) This section does not affect a fire protection district's policies concerning:(1) The use of a vehicle owned by the fire protection district by a firefighter who is not on duty; or(2) Firefighters who, based on their assignment, are required to respond to an emergency or call out within a specific time period.Added by Act 2023, No. 487,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.
Arkansas Legal Code