47-7-2. Purpose of fund; legislative intent.

The fund is established as a voluntary pension system which provides benefits intended to supplement primary pension benefits provided by fire departments or the governmental units or volunteer districts establishing fire departments. It is the intent of the General Assembly in authorizing the benefits of this chapter:

To provide an additional benefit which may be used by fire departments of the state or political subdivisions of the state to attract and retain qualified firefighters; and#

To limit the availability of such benefits to those fire departments which satisfy the minimum requirements for membership provided in this chapter so as to induce political subdivisions and the fire departments serving such political subdivisions to meet and maintain compliance with such minimum standards which the General Assembly deems essential to improving the ability of a fire department to suppress fires.#