(a) Self-certification.--An individual shall sign and submit an application to the chief of a volunteer fire company or the supervisor or chief of the emergency medical services agency to attest that the individual is an active volunteer.

(b) Injured volunteer.--Notwithstanding the volunteer requirements under the program, an individual who was injured while responding to an emergency as an active volunteer who can no longer serve as an active volunteer because of the injury and who would otherwise be eligible for the program shall be eligible to participate in the program for five years from the date of the injury if able to do so or under subsection (a) or (b), as appropriate.

(c) Local sign-off.--The chief and another officer of the volunteer fire company and the supervisor or chief and another officer of the emergency medical services agency shall sign the application attesting that the individual is an active volunteer under subsection (a) or that the individual can no longer serve as an active volunteer due to injury under subsection (b). The application shall then be forwarded to the agency for final review and processing.