2021 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) - The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) is a grant program designed to reimburse eligible volunteer fire departments for the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies. Eligible coverage includes any combination of compensation insurance for firefighters (workers’ compensation, accidental death and dismemberment, group term life, accident and sickness, and/or cancer-related insurance) purchased from Texas insurance companies. The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage up to a maximum of $175 per fire department member.

Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer department is also eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. Departments may enter into agreements with cities or counties in order to qualify for coverage and/or special premiums.

All eligible departments must participate in a firefighter certification program administered under Section 419.071 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Commission on Fire Protection), or by the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas (SFFMA), or by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

TO APPLY, PLEASE COMPLETE AND SUBMIT BEFORE JULY 31, 2021:
1) Rural Volunteer Fire Department Application for Grant Assistance (Form TFS-FO-408)
2) Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (IRS Form W-9)
3) Roster of active fire department members.
4) Copy of a Payroll Classification Schedule Page 1 and 2, or a copy of the current paid insurance policy which provides insurance coverage during the calendar year 2021, or payment receipt for a workers’ compensation, accidental death and dismemberment, group term life, accident and sickness, or cancer-related insurance policy.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
• The policy or payment documents must show the policy number, the cost or premium amount and the coverage period.
• All required reimbursement documents must accompany the grant application form.
• Applications, either complete or incomplete, arriving after July 31, 2021 are not eligible for reimbursement.
• Only ONE application per department will be reimbursed for the enrollment period of November 2020 thru July 2021.

All forms can be found at texasfd.com/RuralVFDInsuranceProgram or by contacting the Capacity Building Department.

SUBMIT VIA FAX, EMAIL OR MAIL FAX TO:
Texas A&M Forest Service
200 Technology Way, Suite 1162
College Station, Texas 77845-3424
P: 979-458-6505
F: 979-845-6160
Email: ffins@tfs.tamu.edu
Website: TexasFD.com ​

​We are pleased to announce that Texas Mutual's board voted to pay $330 million in dividends two months early to support our policyholders. Texas Mutual is working diligently to deliver dividends to our policyholder owners and are on target to mail checks on April 20. Policyholders will also be able to log in to the Texas Mutual website on the 20th to see their dividend information.

Texas Mutual knows that supporting our policyholders during this uncertain time is more important than ever, which is why their board of directors has voted to pay dividends two months early. Like many of you, we don't know the economic impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, but Texas Mutual is in a good position to distribute these dividends in this critical time.
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This year marks the 22nd year that Texas Mutual is paying dividends to their more than 57,000 policyholders, bringing the total to over $3.1 billion back to Texas businesses since 1999.  

Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2020 Emergency Responder Health and Wellness Grant sponsored by VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual! 
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We received a record-breaking 136 grant applications requesting more than $600,000.
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