1. The state treasurer shall annually transfer an amount prescribed in subsection 2 of this section out of the state revenues derived from premium taxes levied on insurance companies pursuant to sections 148.310 to 148.461 which are deposited by the director of revenue in the general revenue fund pursuant to section 148.330 in a fund hereby created in the state treasury, to be known as the “Fire Education Fund”. Any interest earned from investment of moneys in the fund, and all moneys received from gifts, grants, or other moneys appropriated by the general assembly, shall be credited to the fund. The state treasurer shall administer the fund, and the moneys in such fund shall be used solely as prescribed in this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, moneys in the fire education fund at the end of any biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund.

2. Beginning July 1, 1998, three percent of the amount of premium taxes collected in the immediately preceding fiscal year pursuant to sections 148.310 to 148.461 which are deposited in the general revenue fund that exceeds the amount of premium taxes which were deposited in the general revenue fund in the 1997 fiscal year shall be transferred from the general revenue fund to the credit of the fire education fund. At the end of each fiscal year, the commissioner of administration shall determine the amount transferred to the credit of the fire education fund in each fiscal year by computing the premium taxes deposited in the general revenue fund in the prior fiscal year and comparing such amount to the amount of premium taxes deposited in the general revenue fund in the 1997 fiscal year. An amount equal to three percent of the increase computed pursuant to this section shall be transferred by the state treasurer to the credit of the fire education fund; however, such transfer in any fiscal year shall not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars.

3. There is hereby established a special trust fund, to be known as the “Missouri Fire Education Trust Fund”, which shall consist of all moneys collected per subsection 2 of this section transferred to the fund from the fire education fund pursuant to this subsection, any earnings resulting from the investment of moneys in the fund, and all moneys received from gifts, grants, or other moneys appropriated by the general assembly. Each fiscal year, an amount equal to forty percent of the moneys transferred to the fire education fund collected pursuant to subsection 2 of this section shall be transferred by the state treasurer to the credit of the Missouri fire education trust fund. The fund shall be administered by the Missouri fire safety education/advisory commission. Subject to appropriations, moneys in the fund shall be used solely for the purposes described in this section. Moneys shall accumulate in the trust fund until the earnings from investment of moneys in the fund can adequately support the activities described in this section, as determined by the commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, moneys in the Missouri fire education trust fund at the end of any biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund.

4. The moneys in the fire education fund shall be appropriated to the division of fire safety to coordinate education needs in cooperation with community colleges, colleges, regional training facilities, fire and emergency services training entities and universities of this state and shall provide training and continuing education to firefighters in this state relating to fire department operations and the personal safety of firefighters while performing fire department activities. Programs and activities funded under this subsection shall be approved by the Missouri fire safety education/advisory commission established in subsection 5 of this section. These funds shall primarily be used to provide field education throughout the state, with not more than two percent of funds under this subsection expended on administrative costs.

5. There is established the “Missouri Fire Safety Education/Advisory Commission”, to be domiciled in the division of fire safety within the department of public safety. The commission shall be composed of nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, consisting of two firefighters, with one serving as a volunteer of a recognized fire department and one serving as a full-time firefighter employed by a recognized fire department, two members shall be fire service training officers, one member shall be a person with expertise in fire investigation, one member shall be an insurer licensed to provide insurance coverage for losses due to fire, one member who provides fire safety appliances or equipment, one member who is serving as the chief of a recognized volunteer fire department, and one member serving as the full-time chief of a recognized paid fire department. No more than five members appointed by the governor shall be of the same political party. The terms of office for the members appointed by the governor shall be four years and until their successors are selected and qualified, except that, of those first appointed, two shall have a term of four years, two shall have a term of three years and one shall have a term of two years. There is no limitation on the number of terms an appointed member may serve. The governor may appoint a member for the remaining portion of the unexpired term created by a vacancy. The governor may remove any appointed member for cause. The members shall at their initial meeting select a chair. All members of the commission shall serve without compensation for their duties, but shall be reimbursed for necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The commission shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the chair and shall review and determine appropriate programs and activities for which funds may be expended under subsection 4 of this section.