Req. No. 1132 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 747 By: Stephens AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to income tax credit; amend ing 68 O.S. 2021, Section 2358.7, which relates to volunteer firefighter tax credit; providi ng credit for certain hours of service; limiting tax credit for taxable year; making credit refundable under certain circumstances; requiring documentation; authori zing the Oklahoma Tax Commission to requi re documentation for verification; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 2358.7, is amended to read as follows: Section 2358.7. A. For taxable years beginning after Decem ber 31, 2004, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed pursuant to Section 2355 of this title an amount equal to: 1. Two Hundred Dollars ($200.0 0) each year for which a volunteer firefighter provides proof of certification as required by subsection B C of this section; and Req. No. 1132 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) each year following the taxable years for which a taxpayer is eligible for the credit provided by paragraph 1 of this subsection for a volunteer firefighter providing proof of certific ation as required by subsection D E of this section. B. For tax year 2024 and subsequent tax years, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed pu rsuant to Section 2355 of this title an amo unt equal to One Hun dred Dollars ($100.00) for every twenty (20) hours of service performed as a volunteer firefighter each year after providing documentation of service as required by subsection H of this section . The total amount of the tax credit provided in this subsecti on shall not exceed Five Hundre d Dollars ($500.00) for every income tax return filed. If the credit provided in this subsection exceeds the tax imposed by Section 2355 of this title, the exces s amount shall be refunded to the taxpayer. C. In order to claim the tax credit authorized by paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section, a volunteer firefi ghter shall be required to provide adequate documentation to the Oklahoma Tax Commission of at least twelve (12) credited hours toward the St ate Support or State Basic Firefighter or Firefight er I from an internationally recognized accrediting assembly or board, their equivalent, or other related fire or emergency medical services training approved by the State Fire Marshal Commission and offer ed by Oklahoma State University Fire Service Traini ng or Oklahoma Req. No. 1132 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Department of Career and Technology Education pri or to or during the first taxable year for which a tax credit is claimed pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsect ion A of this section. For the pu rpose of this subsection, the local fire chief shal l be the authority having jurisdiction and shall choose and appr ove all volunteer firefighter training in the applicable department. C. D. For each year subsequent to the first year for which a volunteer firefighter may clai m the tax credit authorized by paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section, in order to claim any further tax credits pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section, the volunteer firefighter s hall be required to provide documentation that the fir efighter has completed an addit ional six (6) hours of State Support or State Basic Firefighter or Firefighter I from an internationally recognized accrediting assembly or board, their equivalent, or oth er related fire or emergency medic al services training approved by the State Fire Mar shal Commission until such program or its equivalent is completed. For purposes of this subsection, equivalency shall be determined by the State Fire Marshal Commission a nd Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training. For purposes of this subsection, Firefighter I or Firefighter II certifications or their equivalent s may be provided in lieu of the State Support or State Basic Firefighter completion. D. E. After having completed the State Support or S tate Basic Firefighter program, in order to be elig ible for the tax credit Req. No. 1132 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 authorized by paragraph 2 of subsection A of t his section, the volunteer firefighter shall: 1. Complete at least six (6) hours of continuing educa tion each year until the volunteer firefighter completes Intermediate or Advanced Firefighter or Firefighter I from an internationally recognized accrediti ng assembly or board, their equivalent, or other related fire or emergency medical services training approved by the State Fire Marshal Commission or its equivalent. For purposes of this paragraph, equivalency shall be determined by the State Fire Marshal Commission and Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training; 2. After completion of Intermediate or Advanced Firefighter or Firefighter I from an inte rnationally recognized accredit ing assembly or board, their equivalent, or other related fire or emergency medical services training approved by the State Fire Marshal Commission, the volunteer firefigh ter shall complete six (6) hours of training per year to claim the tax credit. For t he purpose of this subsection, the local fire chief shall be the autho rity having jurisdiction and shall choose and approve all volunteer firefighter training in the appli cable department; 3. Provide documentation from the f ire chief of the applicable department that the firefighter has been provided and participated in all annual training as required by federal and state authorities; and Req. No. 1132 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. Provide documentation from the fire chief of the applicable department that the volu nteer firefighter has met the r equirements under the fire department ’s constitution and bylaws and is a member in good standing of the department together with a record of the total number of years of s ervice in good standing with such department. E. F. The Office of the State Fire Mar shal and the State Fire Marshal Commission shall prescribe a reporting fo rm for use by volunteer fire departments and by volunteer firefighters in order to provide the certifications required by this secti on. F. G. The Oklahoma Tax Commission may require copies of such reporting form provided by the State Fire Marshal Commission regarding training history to verify eligibility for the tax credits provided by this section. H. In order to be eligib le for the tax credit authori zed by subsection B of this section, the volunteer firefighter shall be required to provide adequate docume ntation from the fire chief of the applicable department to the Oklahoma Tax Com mission of the total hours of service in a tax year and that the volunteer firefighter has met the r equirements under the fire de partment’s constitution and bylaws and is a mem ber in good standing of the department. The Tax Commission may require verification from the fire chief of the applicable depart ment that the volunt eer Req. No. 1132 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 firefighter has met the req uirements of subsection B of this section. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-1132 QD 1/18/2023 5:13:17 PM