PRINTER'S NO. 1974
No. 1427 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY LOGAN, MAY 1, 2002
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 1, 2002
AN ACT
1 Establishing and funding a grant program for volunteer fire
2 companies, volunteer ambulance services, water and vehicle
3 rescue squads and municipal fire departments; and making
4 appropriations.
5 TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
7 Section 101. Short title.
8 Section 102. Definitions.
9 Chapter 3. Annual Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program
10 Section 301. Establishment.
11 Section 302. Guidelines and procedures.
12 Section 303. Award of grants.
13 Section 304. Consolidation.
14 Chapter 5. Annual Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Services
15 Grant Program
16 Section 501. Establishment.
17 Section 502. Guidelines and procedures.
18 Section 503. Award of grants.
1 Chapter 7. Annual Municipal Fire Department Grant Program
2 Section 701. Establishment.
3 Section 702. Guidelines and procedures.
4 Section 703. Award of grants.
5 Chapter 9. Grant Funding Provisions
6 Section 901. Annual Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program.
7 Section 902. Annual Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Services
8 Grant Program.
9 Section 903. Annual Municipal Fire Department Grant Program.
10 Section 904. Agency funding.
11 Chapter 11. Miscellaneous Provisions
12 Section 1101. Effective date.
13 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14 hereby enacts as follows:
15 CHAPTER 1
16 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
17 Section 101. Short title.
18 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Fire and
19 Emergency Services Annual Grant Act.
20 Section 2. Definitions.
21 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
22 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
23 context clearly indicates otherwise:
24 "Advanced life support services." The term shall have the
25 meaning given to it in the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45),
26 known as the Emergency Medical Services Act.
27 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
28 "Basic life support services." The term shall have the
29 meaning given to it in the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45),
30 known as the Emergency Medical Services Act.
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1 "Commissioner." The State Fire Commissioner.
2 "Facility." A structure or portion thereof intended for the
3 purpose of storage or protection of firefighting apparatus,
4 ambulances and rescue vehicles and related equipment and gear.
5 The term does not include meeting halls, social halls, social
6 rooms, lounges or any other facility not directly related to
7 firefighting or the furnishing of ambulance or rescue services.
8 "Fiscal year." One full year beginning on July 1 and ending
9 on June 30 of the next calendar year.
10 "Grant program." The Fire and Emergency Services Annual
11 Grant Program, and any of its component parts, including the
12 Annual Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program established under
13 Chapter 3, the Annual Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Services
14 Grant Program established under Chapter 5, and the Annual
15 Municipal Fire Department Grant Program established under
16 Chapter 7.
17 "Invalid coach." The term shall have the meaning given to it
18 in the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), known as the
19 Emergency Medical Services Act.
20 "Municipal fire department." Any department of a
21 municipality consisting of firefighters or support staff who are
22 employees of the municipality and whose primary purpose is to
23 engage in fire protection, firefighting or necessary support
24 services in that municipality. This term includes a volunteer
25 fire company that may employ one or more firefighters or other
26 personnel.
27 "Volunteer ambulance service." Any nonprofit chartered
28 corporation, association or organization located in this
29 Commonwealth which is licensed by the Department of Health and
30 is not associated or affiliated with a hospital and which is
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1 regularly engaged in the provision of emergency medical
2 services, including basic life support or advanced life support
3 services and the transportation of patients. The term does not
4 include any corporation, association or organization that is
5 primarily engaged in the operation of invalid coaches which are
6 intended for the routine transport of persons who are
7 convalescent or otherwise nonambulatory and do not ordinarily
8 require emergency medical treatment while in transit.
9 "Volunteer fire company." A nonprofit chartered corporation,
10 association or organization located in this Commonwealth which
11 provides fire protection or rescue services and which may offer
12 other voluntary emergency services within this Commonwealth.
13 Voluntary emergency services provided by a volunteer fire
14 company may include voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue
15 services.
16 "Water or vehicle rescue company." A nonprofit chartered
17 corporation, association or organization that provides rescue
18 services as part of the response to fires or accidents involving
19 vehicles or occurring in a body of water.
20 CHAPTER 3
21 ANNUAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY GRANT PROGRAM
22 Section 301. Establishment.
23 The Annual Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program is hereby
24 established and shall be administered by the agency in
25 consultation with the commissioner. Grants provided under this
26 program shall be used to continually improve and enhance the
27 capabilities of the volunteer fire company to provide
28 firefighting, ambulance and rescue services.
29 Section 302. Guidelines and procedures.
30 The agency, in consultation with the commissioner, shall
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1 develop guidelines, procedures and all applications necessary to
2 implement the annual grant program. The agency shall submit the
3 guidelines, procedures and applications to the Legislative
4 Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
5 within 30 days after the effective date of this act.
6 Section 303. Award of grants.
7 (a) Authorization.--The agency is hereby authorized to make
8 annual grant awards to each eligible volunteer fire company, to
9 be used for the following:
10 (1) Construction or renovation of the fire company's
11 facility and purchase or repair of fixtures, furnishings,
12 office equipment and support services necessary to maintain
13 or improve the capability of the company to provide
14 firefighting, ambulance and rescue services.
15 (2) Purchase or repair of equipment used to provide
16 firefighting, ambulance or rescue services.
17 (3) Retirement or reduction of debt accumulated through
18 the construction or renovation of facilities, purchase or
19 repair of fixtures, furnishings, office equipment and support
20 services or the purchase or repair of equipment.
21 (4) Reasonable costs associated with training or
22 certification of members.
23 (b) Eligibility and limits.--
24 (1) To receive grant funds under this act, a volunteer
25 fire company shall have actively responded to one or more
26 fire or rescue emergencies since July 1, 2001, and must sign
27 an agreement to actively participate in the Pennsylvania Fire
28 Information Reporting System administered by the agency.
29 (2) No volunteer fire company shall be eligible for more
30 than one grant award per each fiscal year.
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1 (3) All grant awards shall be equitable, except as
2 provided under section 304(a) and made upon a pro rata basis
3 if the total dollar amount of approved applications exceeds
4 the amount of funds allocated under section 901.
5 (c) Application.--
6 (1) The agency shall provide applications and a program
7 summary for grants under this act to the fire chief and
8 president of every volunteer fire company in this
9 Commonwealth on or before July 31 of each fiscal year. The
10 program summary shall include, but not be limited to:
11 (i) Limitations on the use of grants.
12 (ii) Eligibility criteria.
13 (iii) Amount of funding available for the current
14 fiscal year.
15 (iv) Number of grants awarded during the previous
16 fiscal year.
17 (v) Total amount of grants awarded during the
18 previous fiscal year.
19 (2) Volunteer fire companies seeking grants under this
20 act shall submit completed applications to the agency on or
21 before October 1 of each fiscal year.
22 (d) Agency action.--The agency shall act to approve or
23 disapprove the application by December 1 of each fiscal year.
24 Applications which have not been approved or disapproved by the
25 agency by December 1 shall be deemed approved.
26 Section 304. Consolidation.
27 (a) Financial incentives.--If, after the effective date of
28 this act, two or more volunteer fire companies consolidate their
29 use of facilities, equipment, firefighters and services, the
30 consolidated entity may, upon notification of the agency, be
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1 eligible for:
2 (1) Reduction of the interest rate payable on any
3 outstanding principal balance owed, as of the date of
4 consolidation, by any or all of the consolidating companies
5 to the Volunteer Companies Loan Fund for loans made under the
6 act of July 15, 1976 (P.L.1036, No.208), known as the
7 Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service and Rescue Squad
8 Assistance Act. The reduction in the interest rate payable
9 shall be from 2% to 1%. Upon receipt of such notification,
10 the agency, in conjunction with the State Fire Commissioner,
11 shall determine and verify that the consolidated entity is in
12 fact a bona fide consolidated volunteer fire company. If the
13 agency determines that the consolidated entity is a bona fide
14 consolidated volunteer fire company, it shall reduce the
15 interest rate payable on any outstanding principal balance
16 owed to the Volunteer Companies Loan Fund for loans made
17 under the Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service and
18 Rescue Squad Assistance Act, for which the consolidating
19 companies or the consolidated entity may be individually or
20 jointly responsible.
21 (2) A grant award equal to the total amount each
22 volunteer fire company from which the consolidated entity was
23 created would have been eligible to receive as though it had
24 not consolidated, for a period of five years after the date
25 of consolidation.
26 (b) Regulatory authority.--The agency may promulgate such
27 rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
28 provisions of this section.
29 CHAPTER 5
30 ANNUAL VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE AND RESCUE
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1 SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM
2 Section 501. Establishment.
3 The Annual Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Services Grant
4 Program is hereby established and shall be administered by the
5 agency. Grants provided under this program shall be used to
6 continually improve and enhance the capabilities of the
7 volunteer ambulance and rescue services to provide ambulance,
8 emergency medical, basic and advanced life support and general
9 rescue services.
10 Section 502. Guidelines and procedures.
11 The agency shall develop guidelines, procedures and all
12 applications necessary to implement the annual grant program.
13 The agency shall submit the guidelines, procedures and
14 applications to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication
15 in the Pennsylvania Bulletin within 30 days after the effective
16 date of this act.
17 Section 503. Award of grants.
18 (a) Authorization.--The agency is hereby authorized to make
19 annual grant awards to each eligible volunteer ambulance service
20 and water or vehicle rescue company for the following:
21 (1) Construction or renovation of the volunteer
22 ambulance service's facilities and purchase or repair of
23 fixtures, furnishings, office equipment and support services
24 necessary to maintain or improve the capability of the
25 ambulance service to provide ambulance, emergency medical,
26 basic and advanced life support and general rescue services.
27 (2) Purchase or repair of ambulance or rescue equipment.
28 (3) Retirement or reduction of debt accumulated through
29 the construction or renovation of facilities, purchase or
30 repair of fixtures, furnishings, office equipment and support
20020S1427B1974 - 8 -
1 services or the purchase or repair of equipment.
2 (4) Reasonable costs associated with training and
3 certification of members.
4 (b) Eligibility and limits.--
5 (1) To receive grant funds under this act, a volunteer
6 ambulance service or a water or vehicle rescue company shall
7 have actively responded to one or more emergency medical
8 situations or water or vehicle rescue emergencies since July
9 1, 2001.
10 (2) No volunteer ambulance service or water or vehicle
11 rescue company shall be eligible for more than one grant
12 award per each fiscal year.
13 (3) All grant awards shall be equitable and made upon a
14 pro rata basis if the total dollar amount of approved
15 applications exceeds the amount of funds allocated under
16 section 902.
17 (c) Application.--
18 (1) The agency shall provide applications and a program
19 summary for grants under this act to the fire chief and
20 president of every volunteer ambulance service and water or
21 vehicle rescue company in this Commonwealth on or before July
22 31 of each fiscal year. The program summary shall include,
23 but not be limited to:
24 (i) Limitations on the use of grants.
25 (ii) Eligibility criteria.
26 (iii) Amount of funding available for the current
27 fiscal year.
28 (iv) Number of grants awarded during the previous
29 fiscal year.
30 (v) Total amount of grants awarded during the
20020S1427B1974 - 9 -
1 previous fiscal year.
2 (2) Volunteer ambulance services and water or vehicle
3 rescue companies seeking grants under this act shall submit
4 completed applications to the agency on or before October 1
5 of each fiscal year.
6 (d) Agency action.--The agency shall act to approve or
7 disapprove the application by December 1 of each fiscal year.
8 Applications which have not been approved or disapproved by the
9 agency by December 1 shall be deemed approved.
10 CHAPTER 7
11 ANNUAL MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANT PROGRAM
12 Section 701. Establishment.
13 The Annual Municipal Fire Department Grant Program is hereby
14 established and shall be administered by the agency in
15 consultation with the commissioner. Grants provided under this
16 program shall be used to continually improve and enhance the
17 capabilities of the municipal fire departments to provide
18 firefighting and fire protection services.
19 Section 702. Guidelines and procedures.
20 The agency, in consultation with the commissioner, shall
21 develop guidelines, procedures and all applications necessary to
22 implement the annual grant program. The agency shall submit the
23 guidelines, procedures and applications to the Legislative
24 Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
25 within 30 days after the effective date of this act.
26 Section 703. Award of grants.
27 (a) Authorization.--The agency is hereby authorized to make
28 annual grant awards to each eligible municipal fire department
29 to be used for the following:
30 (1) Construction or renovation of municipal fire
20020S1427B1974 - 10 -
1 department facilities and purchase or repair of fixtures,
2 furnishings, office equipment and support services necessary
3 to maintain or improve the capability of the company to
4 provide firefighting, ambulance and rescue services.
5 (2) Purchase or repair of equipment used to provide
6 firefighting, ambulance or rescue services.
7 (3) Retirement or reduction of debt accumulated through
8 the construction or renovation of facilities, purchase or
9 repair of fixtures, furnishings, office equipment and support
10 services or the purchase or repair of equipment.
11 (4) Reasonable costs associated with training or
12 certification of members.
13 (b) Eligibility and limits.--
14 (1) To receive grant funds under this act, a municipal
15 fire department shall have actively responded to one or more
16 fire or rescue emergencies since July 1, 2001.
17 (2) No municipal fire department shall be eligible for
18 more than one grant award per each fiscal year.
19 (3) All grant awards shall be equitable and made upon a
20 pro rata basis if the total dollar amount of approved
21 applications exceeds the amount of funds allocated in section
22 903.
23 (c) Application.--
24 (1) The agency shall provide applications and a program
25 summary for grants under this act to the chief of every
26 municipal fire department in this Commonwealth on or before
27 July 31 of each fiscal year. The program summary shall
28 include, but not be limited to:
29 (i) Limitations on the use of grants.
30 (ii) Eligibility criteria.
20020S1427B1974 - 11 -
1 (iii) Amount of funding available for the current
2 fiscal year.
3 (iv) Number of grants awarded during the previous
4 fiscal year.
5 (v) Total amount of grants awarded during the
6 previous fiscal year.
7 (2) Municipal fire departments seeking grants under this
8 act shall submit completed applications to the agency on or
9 before October 1 of each fiscal year.
10 (d) Agency action.--The agency shall act to approve or
11 disapprove the application by December 1 of each fiscal year.
12 Applications which have not been approved or disapproved by the
13 agency by December 1 shall be deemed approved.
14 CHAPTER 9
15 GRANT FUNDING PROVISIONS
16 Section 901. Annual Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program.
17 The sum of $38,500,000, or as much thereof as may be
18 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Emergency
19 Management Agency for the current fiscal year for the purpose of
20 making grants to eligible volunteer fire companies under Chapter
21 3. The General Assembly shall annually include in the
22 appropriation to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in
23 the General Appropriation Act an appropriation from the General
24 Fund in an amount sufficient to make grants pursuant to Chapter
25 3.
26 Section 902. Annual Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Services
27 Grant Program.
28 The sum of $5,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
29 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Emergency
30 Management Agency for the current fiscal year for the purpose of
20020S1427B1974 - 12 -
1 making grants to eligible volunteer ambulance services and water
2 or vehicle rescue companies under Chapter 5. The General
3 Assembly shall annually include in the appropriation to the
4 Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in the General
5 Appropriation Act an appropriation from the General Fund in an
6 amount sufficient to make grants under Chapter 5.
7 Section 903. Annual Municipal Fire Department Grant Program.
8 The sum of $1,500,000, or as much thereof as may be
9 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Emergency
10 Management Agency for the current fiscal year for the purpose of
11 making grants to eligible volunteer fire companies under Chapter
12 7. The General Assembly shall annually include in the
13 appropriation to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in
14 the General Appropriation Act an appropriation from the General
15 Fund in an amount sufficient to make grants under Chapter 7.
16 Section 904. Agency funding.
17 The sum of $100,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
18 is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
19 Agency for the current fiscal year for expenses or costs
20 incurred by the agency for the administration of the grant
21 programs authorized under Chapters 3, 5 and 7.
22 CHAPTER 11
23 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
24 Section 1101. Effective date.
25 This act shall take effect immediately.
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