Section 141.425 Amount of Reimbursement

The Office will reimburse up to 50% of the following costs:

a) Salary

1) Salary, according to an opinion from the Attorney General, is that sum actually paid to a trainee while in school by the employer (local governmental agency). It does not include employer contributions to insurance and pension programs, but does include contributions deducted from a trainee's salary for insurance and retirement.

2) The formula for computing a trainee's hourly salary is yearly salary divided by the number of hours for which paid. It is realized that hourly shifts may vary from 40 to 56 or more hours per week. In such instances, the formula should be adjusted to most nearly reflect the above definition.

3) If there is a variation in an individual's salary or between firefighters of equal grade, the claimant should explain these variations on the claim form, e.g.:

A)	Promotion	100 hours @ $4.65
		50 hours @ $5.28
		OR
B)	1½ time overtime	100 hours @ $4.65
		50 hours @ $6.98

b) Tuition and/or registration fees.

c) Food, not to exceed amounts allowed by 80 Ill. Adm. Code 2800.

d) Transportation costs, not to exceed amounts allowed by 80 Ill. Adm. Code 2800.

1) If the course is five or more consecutive days and lodging is available (availability means that hotels, motels, dormitories, or other sleeping facilities may be hired for overnight lodging in the nearby vicinity), the Office will reimburse for one round trip to the training center per week for the duration of the course.

2) If the course is offered on non-consecutive days, the Office will reimburse round trip transportation costs for each day.

3) If the course is offered on consecutive days (e.g., Saturday and Sunday) and overnight lodging is available, the Office will reimburse for only one round trip per consecutive day period (e.g., six round trips for a course offered on six weekends).

A) If the travel distance is less than 50 miles, the Office will only reimburse for each round trip.

B) If the travel distance is 50 miles or greater and lodging is available, the Office will reimburse for one round trip and lodging costs per consecutive day period.

4) Reimbursement for mileage will only be provided for one person when two or more persons travel together, as in car pools.

e) Lodging, not to exceed lodging costs approved under 80 Ill. Adm. Code 2800.

f) The Office will reimburse for other expenses in the amount authorized for Office employees by 80 Ill. Adm. Code 2800 or the amount requested by the local governmental agency or individual, whichever is less.

g) Applicants for reimbursement can contact the Office for a list of current reimbursement limits prescribed by 80 Ill. Adm. Code 2800.

h) The following are the maximum hours for which reimbursement may be claimed:

1)	Firefighter II	450 hours
2)	Airport Firefighter	54 hours
3)	Firefighter III	450 hours
4)	Fire Apparatus Engineer	54 hours
5)	Fire Officer I	324 hours
6)	Fire Department Incident Safety Officer	54 hours
7)	Fire Officer II	324 hours
8)	Fire Officer III	400 hours
9)	Fire Service Instructor I	54 hours
10)	Fire Service Instructor II	54 hours
11)	Fire Service Instructor III	54 hours
12)	Training Program Manager	54 hours
13)	Fire Prevention Officer	120 hours
14)	Public Fire and Life Safety Educator II	40 hours
15)	Public Fire and Life Safety Educator III	40 hours
16)	Fire Investigator	120 hours
17)	Arson Investigator	200 hours
18)	Fire Inspector II and Plan Examiner I	120 hours
19)	Fire Inspector III and Plan Examiner II	40 hours
20)	Hazardous Materials Awareness	450 hours
21)	Hazardous Materials First Responder − Operations	450 hours
22)	Hazardous Materials Technician A and B	108 hours
23)	Hazardous Materials Incident Command	24 hours
24)	Technical Rescue Awareness	12 hours
25)	Rescue Specialist − Confined Space	54 hours
26)	Trench Operations	24 hours
27)	Trench Technician	32 hours
28)	Rescue Specialist − Vertical II	54 hours
29)	Structural Collapse Operations	54 hours
30)	Structural Collapse Technician	54 hours
31)	Vehicle and Machinery Operations	54 hours
32)	Vehicle and Machinery Technician	54 hours
33)	Motor Sports Fire and Rescue	16 hours
34)	Fire Service Vehicle Operator	12 hours
35)	Water Operations	32 hours

i) Reimbursement is not available for repeat courses.