39-71-745. Calculation of volunteer firefighter benefits and premiums -- definitions. (1) (a) A plan No. 1 or plan No. 2 insurer shall designate whether an employer, as defined in 7-33-4510, is to use actual volunteer hours or a flat assumed payroll amount for each volunteer firefighter for calculating premiums. The coverage option must be the same for all fire agencies organized under Title 7, chapter 33, that are covered by that insurer and meet the definition of employer in 7-33-4510. A plan No. 3 insurer shall use a flat assumed payroll amount for each volunteer firefighter for calculating premiums.

(b) If a plan No. 1 or plan No. 2 insurer uses actual volunteer hours, the payroll calculation is the number of actual volunteer hours of each volunteer firefighter, not to exceed 60 hours a week, times the state's average weekly wage divided by 40 hours.

(c) When a plan No. 1, plan No. 2, or plan No. 3 insurer uses a flat assumed payroll amount, the assumed payroll for each volunteer firefighter must be reported as a full month for any month in which the volunteer firefighter is on the roster of service as defined in 7-33-4510. The employer shall maintain the roster of service with the effective date of membership for each volunteer firefighter.

(2) For benefit purposes, if concurrent employment under 39-71-123 does not apply, a volunteer firefighter injured in the course and scope of employment as a volunteer firefighter is eligible for medical and compensation benefits provided in Title 39, chapter 71. Any weekly compensation benefit must be based on either the actual volunteer hours if chosen as provided in subsection (1)(b) or the flat assumed payroll amount on which premiums are based, whichever is applicable.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Volunteer firefighter" has the meaning provided in 7-33-4510.

(b) "Volunteer hours" means the time spent by a volunteer firefighter in the service of a fire agency organized under Title 7, chapter 33, that meets the definition of employer in 7-33-4510, including but not limited to training time, response time, and time spent at the premises of the fire agency.