(a) Members of a fire department who desire to participate in the distribution of firefighter's relief funds shall:
(1) Apply for a charter and incorporation as a not-for-profit corporation;
(2) file with the commissioner of insurance a certified copy of the articles of incorporation of the firefighter's relief association; and
(3) file with the commissioner of insurance evidence of establishment of a fire district within a township or county in accordance with applicable Kansas statutes. This requirement shall not apply to fire departments under the exclusive control of the governing body of an incorporated city.
(b) When the members of a city, township, county, or fire district fire department notify the commissioner of insurance of their desire to participate in the firefighter's relief fund tax and have otherwise qualified for participation, the proper officials shall complete a declaration form, provided by the corrrmissioner, which declares their right to participate in the firefighter's relief fund. The completed form shall be returned to the commissioner. The declaration form shall be executed by the chief executive officer of the city, township, county, or fire district. The clerk of the city, township or county, or the equivalent official of the fire district shall attest to the execution of the form.
(c) A declaration form shall be filed annually with the commissioner of insurance.
(d) Qualified firefighter's relief associations shall annually submit, on forms provided by the commissioner, a certification by the county clerk, of the population and assessed tangible property valuation of the geographic area provided for protection services by the fire department of the association. The population figure shall be computed using the most recent population figures available from the United States bureau of the census as certified to the secretary of state by the division of the budget on July 1 of each year. The assessed tangible property valuation figure provided on the form shall be computed using the tangible assessed valuation as shown on the latest November 1 assessment roll prepared and maintained by the county clerk.
(e) Each firefighter's relief association shall adopt bylaws to cover all activities of the association and shall set forth the procedures for disbursing funds for the payment of benefits provided by the association. A copy of the bylaws and the procedures shall be filed with the commissioner.
(f) The Insurance Department will then:
1. Check the documents submitted and forward the Articles of Incorporation and your check for $27.50 made payable to the Secretary of State to cover the cost of the charter to the Secretary of State for approval and filing.
2. Notify the local fire department when the Charter is granted and certify the Association for participation.