20-22-1004. Office of Fire Protection Services.

20-22-1004. Office of Fire Protection Services. (a) The Office of Fire Protection Services shall have the following duties and functions: (1) To be responsible for carrying out the administrative functions and directives of the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Board and for managing those activities prescribed for the board under § 14-284-401 et seq.; (2) To act as coordinator of the activities for the programs and functions prescribed under this subchapter; (3) To act as the point of contact for the State of Arkansas concerning federal, state, and local fire services-related programs; (4) To advise and direct the designation of fire services liaisons within each affected state department or agency and each local government; (5) To prepare, publish, and keep current a listing of the various fire services agencies of the state and its local governments and the firefighting, prevention, training, mitigation, and adjunct services they are trained and equipped to perform; and (6) To facilitate and coordinate the preparation, formulation, and development of the Arkansas Fire Protection Services Resources Plan, a comprehensive plan for the orderly coordination, cooperation, and development of fire services resources of the State of Arkansas and its local governments. (b)(1) The office shall have those professional, technical, secretarial, and administrative employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of this subchapter. (2) The office may make the expenditures within the appropriation therefor made available to it from whatever sources for the purpose of fire services coordination as may be necessary to carry out the functions of this subchapter. (c) The office shall coordinate the activities prescribed under this subchapter and shall cooperate with and receive cooperation from the following fire services agencies of the State of Arkansas: (1) The State Fire Marshal, who is responsible for providing the services and functions related to the investigation of arson and enforcement of arson laws, fire safety, public awareness, and other functions as may be specified by law for the office; (2) The Arkansas Fire Training Academy, which shall provide fire services and adjunct training and education services as are required to ensure the maximum possible professionalism and competence of firefighters in Arkansas; and (3) The Rural Fire Protection Service of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, which shall provide refurbished and repaired vehicles and other equipment for firefighting operations and which provides technical assistance and guidance to rural fire protection districts. (d) All state agencies involved in fire services, including the State Fire Marshal, the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, and the Rural Fire Protection Service, and all fire services agencies of local governments shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the office in the performance of their duties and functions under this subchapter.