Membership

Application forms are available online or from individual departments and squads. Members complete the application and submit it with a check for $30, $60 or $90 (first quarterly contribution) to the department or squad's fund representative. Once per quarter, the department or squad writes one check payable to VOLSAP for all members' contributions and sends it to the VOLSAP Plan Administrator. Only one fund membership is allowed per member; therefore, if eligible under more than one position, the member must choose the position upon which membership will be based.

A member does not incur any individual charges to participate in VOLSAP other than the quarterly $30, $60 or $90 contribution. However, if a member ceases to participate in VOLSAP for any reason (i.e., receives a distribution, defaults on payments, etc.), then a one-time fee of $25 is required to reactivate his or her membership, unless the member provides prior notice by submitting a VOLSAP-5 . Fees associated with the investment services provided are charged to the VOLSAP Fund as a whole.

Plan Year

The VOLSAP plan year is July 1 through June 30.

Effective Date of Membership

Membership is effective on the date the application, accompanied by the department or squad check, is received in good order by the VOLSAP Plan Administrator. Quarterly payments and forms must be received by the VOLSAP Plan Administrator by February 28, May 31, August 31 and November 30 annually.

Enrollment & Contribution Acknowledgment

New members receive enrollment confirmation from their department or squad.

Transfer of Membership

Members may transfer from one department or squad to another and continue membership, but members may only participate in the fund based on one membership. According to the Code of Virginia § 51.1-1204, “in the event an eligible volunteer is in more than one eligible position, he must choose the position upon which his membership will be determined.” This does not prevent simultaneous contributions from a volunteer department and its governing locality. For the purpose of determining membership, however, any eligible volunteer will be treated as if he or she is in only one eligible position, regardless of the actual number of eligible positions.

Falsification of Records; Penalty

Any person who knowingly makes any false statements or falsifies, or permits the falsification of, any record related to eligibility for membership in the fund in any attempt to defraud the fund shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (Code of Virginia § 51.1-1211)

Eligibility

An active member must be an eligible volunteer, defined as follows:

• an active rescue squad member or volunteer firefighter
• recognized as an active member of a bona fide volunteer fire department or bona fide volunteer rescue or emergency medical squad

Active members may include those who are actively engaged in performing firefighting and prevention services or emergency medical and ambulance services, or they may be serving as dispatchers or in certain other positions that do not require actual response to an emergency scene. In any event, an active member must be essential to the performance of fire and rescue services. For example, individuals who service equipment used in firefighting and/or rescue efforts are eligible for membership.

Local volunteer departments or squads may impose additional eligibility requirements. Check with the local department or squad for detailed eligibility rules.

Auxiliary members and individuals engaged strictly in fundraising are not eligible for membership.