Sec. 5. (a) Unless otherwise provided by contract, a unit served by a volunteer fire department shall pay to each active and participating member of the department:
(1) a clothing allowance of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) per year; and
(2) an automobile allowance of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) per year for the use of the member's automobile in the line of duty.
(b) A contract may also provide that fees for membership in a regularly organized volunteer firefighters' association be paid by the unit on behalf of the firefighters in the volunteer fire department.