Section 45-36-140.20 Funding.

(a) The board of county commissioners or other like governing body of Jackson County, in its discretion, may appropriate and pay county funds, within the financial means of the county, in such amounts as may seem reasonable and necessary to the commissioners or other like governing body of Jackson County, to volunteer nonprofit fire departments or volunteer nonprofit corporations or organizations, organized for the purpose of providing volunteer service in case of emergencies arising in Jackson County, including, but not limited to, lost children and drowning victims and otherwise furnishing first aid assistance in emergency situations. Such funds so appropriated shall be used for the purchase of equipment, materials, or supplies to be used solely for such volunteer nonprofit fire departments or such volunteer nonprofit corporations or organizations. Any appropriation so made shall be paid by the county treasury or depository on warrants drawn in such manner as the county governing body may direct. (b) The Legislature finds as a fact that volunteer fire departments perform such essential and necessary public functions as to entitle them to public funds.