I. The Board of Directors may authorize the granting of emergency financial relief to Members.

II. Any Member requesting emergency financial relief shall contact his/her representative.

a. The Member shall receive from the Representative an application form as approved by the Board;

b. The Member shall submit the completed form and appropriate documentation to the Representative;

c. The Member may request an emergency relief grant. Such request shall be consider by the Board, but shall not be binding on the Board;

d. The Member shall specify the amount of relief requested. Such request shall be considered by the Board, but shall not be binding on the Board.

III. The Representative shall conduct such investigation as he/she feels necessary to adequately present the Member's emergency financial relief request to the Board of Directors.

IV. The Representative shall present the facts of the Member's emergency relief request to the Board at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

a. The Member requesting emergency financial relief may make a brief presentation to the Board concerning the facts and circumstances of the request. Such presentation is not required and the lack of such presentation is not required and the lack of such presentation shall not adversely affect the consideration of the request;

b. After making any such personal presentation, the Member requesting emergency financial relief shall be excused from the meeting;

c. The Representative shall make a recommendation to the Board regarding the acceptance or denial of the request;

d. If the Representative recommends acceptance of the request he/she shall also recommend the amount of relief;

e. Such recommendations of the Representative shall not be binding on the Board;

f. The Board may instruct the Representative to obtain additional facts or request the presence of the requesting Member for inquiry before making a determination, if necessary.

V. All discussions and other consideration of emergency financial relief requests shall be confidential within the Board. Counsel for the Board may be present during such considerations.

VI. Emergency financial relief grants are appropriate in cases wherein an unexpected and /or catastrophic event generates unexpected expenses to the Member. Examples would include property damage due to fire or severe weather conditions, medical expenses from illness or accident, etc.

a. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Board from considering the presence or availability of insurance or other resources to cover such expenses. As a matter of Policy, the West Virginia Troopers Association emergency financial relief is not designed nor intended to provide an alternative to insurance. Members are encouraged to secure appropriate insurance coverage;

b. A Member receiving an emergency financial relief grant shall not under normal circumstances qualify for an additional grant upon the same factual basis for a period of one year;

c. The provision of Section VI (b) may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

VII. A Member denied the emergency financial relief requested (even if other financial relief may have been authorized) shall have the right to make a personal appeal to the Board. Such appeal may be made at the Board meeting which considered the request if the Member is present or at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

VIII. The maximum amount of an emergency financial relief or emergency financial grant shall be limited to $1500 per year per incident/event per member.