The Firemen's Relief Fund Act of 1895 was first amended in 1905 to require 3 percent of all moneys collected by the Superintendent of Insurance be paid to the Treasurer of the Kansas Firemen's Association. This money was to be used as prizes for "efficient, well-drilled and skilled fire companies" belonging to the association and competing at the annual state tournaments of the association. These tournaments were designed to encourage and maintain efficient and skilled fire companies in the state of Kansas.
In 1909 the act was amended to authorize the Firemen's Relief Fund to provide pensions to their members, who, after a minimum of 20 years service was determined to be unfit for further service to the local fire department.
In 1911 the Legislature deleted some of the restrictions on expenditures by the state association of the 3 percent fund paid to it by the Superintendent of Insurance. The state association was given wider discretion as to how this fund was to be spent in general and was specifically given the authority to loan money to city associations for the improvement of their fire departments. Also in that year, provision was made for investment by the various local associations in bonds of the city wherein the association was located. Two years later this provision was broadened to allow investment in United States Government Bonds.
In the year 1927 the Insurance Code was renumbered and the Firemen's Relief Act was designate the numbers 40-1701 to 40-1707. It has retained these numbers to this day. Also the act as read in 1895 was reworded with such words as "Commissioner of Insurance" replacing the formerly used term "Superintendent of Insurance." Further updating required the exclusion of reference to the old "state tournaments" and the term "annual meetings" was the replacement. Also in that year a provision was inserted requiring each local association to submit an annual account of its receipts and disbursements to the Commissioner of Insurance.
In 1941 an amendment to the act required the Commissioner of Insurance to notify the county attorney and in turn for him to institute proceedings against any local association whose annual accounting was not acceptable to the Commissioner. Also in that year certain unincorporated townships were made eligible for benefits under the Firemen's Relief Act.
In 1957 the law was broadened to apply to insurance companies incorporated in Kansas and benefits under the act were extended to certain counties and to fire districts. Also, expenditures of the 3 percent fund were broadened to allow disbursement for education and study of fire prevention.
In 1967 the law was amended to define the qualification of a Firemen's Relief Association and the disposition of the funds of a disqualified association. The amendment further defines the procedure used when a Firemen's Relief Association is merged, annexed or consolidated with another association.
In 1974 the law was amended to allow a volunteer Firemen's Relief Association to purchase an annuity program under certain conditions. The amendment further provided that a volunteer or paid Firemen's Relief Association may purchase group term, group permanent or individual permanent life insurance contracts.
In 1984 the name of the law was changed to the Firefighters Relief Act and the method of distribution of the tax was altered.
Also, amount equal to 5% of such total amount of tax collected shall be paid by the commissioner of insurance to the Kansas State Firefighters Association, Inc. which shall be set aside as a death benefit fund to provide such benefits as determined by the association in accordance with the constitution and bylaws thereof. At the present time, a $50,000 accidental death benefit insurance policy is purchased with this fund for firefighters belonging to a firefighter relief association participating in the 2% fund.
In 1987, legislation was enacted to establish a procedure whereby errors in one year are to be corrected in the next year's distribution and establish a process providing for the Commissioner of Insurance to hold one redetermination hearing for all associations who believe they have experienced changed circumstances and thus qualify for an adjustment in future distributions. Also to enable volunteer fire departments to purchase an annuity for firefighters who have served 20 years on the department and have fought not less than 75% of the fires, which were attended by the department and which the firefighters were available to attend.
In 1990, legislation was enacted to raise from $500 to $1,000 the minimum payment to associations from the premium taxes, provide that all association expenditures be conditioned upon the availability of distributions of the premium tax of a level sufficient to meet those financial commitments, and raise the amount of expenditures above which certification is required by the attorneys from $500 to $1,500.