PRINTER'S NO. 3860
No. 2701 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY HARHAI, DeLUCA, LaGROTTA, LESCOVITZ, GEORGE, ORIE,
MANN, CAPPABIANCA, GORDNER, BELARDI, FAIRCHILD, WRIGHT, COY,
TRELLO, CAWLEY, WANSACZ, SOLOBAY, TRAVAGLIO, LAUGHLIN, RAMOS,
LEH, McNAUGHTON, RUBLEY, WOJNAROSKI, FRANKEL, READSHAW,
LUCYK, YOUNGBLOOD, BELFANTI, BARD, McILHATTAN, STABACK,
PLATTS, WILLIAMS, SHANER, GRUCELA, MICOZZIE, PETRARCA,
MAYERNIK, BEBKO-JONES, WOGAN, DeWEESE, SAMUELSON, MELIO,
TIGUE, TANGRETTI, HUTCHINSON, RUFFING, VAN HORNE, STURLA,
ALLEN, McCALL, BARRAR, M. COHEN, GEIST, YUDICHAK, SCRIMENTI
AND CORRIGAN, AUGUST 23, 2000
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 23, 2000
AN ACT
1 Establishing a program within the Office of the State Fire
2 Commissioner to provide matching grants to municipal fire
3 departments and volunteer fire companies for the purchase of
4 thermal-imaging cameras; and making an appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Thermal-
9 Imaging Camera Purchase Assistance Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Commissioner." The State Fire Commissioner.
1 "Fire company." Any of the following:
2 (1) A fire department of a municipality.
3 (2) A volunteer fire company as defined in section 3 of
4 the act of July 15, 1976 (P.L.1036, No.208), known as the
5 Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service and Rescue Squad
6 Assistance Act.
7 "Thermal-imaging camera." A hand-held or helmet-mounted
8 camera that uses a thermal-imaging system in order for a person
9 to view objects through smoke or darkness and that conforms to
10 specifications approved by the State Fire Commissioner, in
11 consultation with fire companies.
12 Section 3. Thermal-Imaging Camera Purchase Assistance Program.
13 (a) Establishment.--The Fire Company Thermal-Imaging Camera
14 Purchase Assistance Program is established and shall be
15 administered by the commissioner. The program shall award grants
16 that must be used exclusively for the purchase of thermal-
17 imaging cameras by fire companies.
18 (b) Guidelines and procedures.--The commissioner shall
19 develop guidelines and procedures, including a formal written
20 application procedure to implement the grant program. The
21 commissioner shall assess the needs and the existing financial
22 resources of each fire company in the criteria for award of
23 grants.
24 (c) Award of grants.--The commissioner is authorized to make
25 grants to eligible fire companies under this act. Each grant
26 awarded to eligible fire companies under this act shall be
27 limited to no more than 50% of the total cost of purchase of a
28 thermal-imaging camera.
29 Section 4. Appropriation.
30 The sum of $15,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
20000H2701B3860 - 2 -
1 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the State Fire Commissioner
2 for the fiscal year July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2001, to carry out
3 the provisions of this act.
4 Section 5. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect July 1, 2000, or immediately,
6 whichever is later.
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