2020 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 26 - HEALTH AND SAFETY (35 PA.C.S.) - FUNDS AND COVID-19 CRISIS FIRE COMPANY AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM
Session of 2020
No. 2020-26
SB 1122
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in volunteer firefighters, further providing for funds; and, in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, providing for COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7416(f) of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 7416. Funds.
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(f) Use.--Funds of any volunteer firefighters' relief association may be spent:
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(18) To pay for expenses for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting of equipment and property, or other expenses incurred to prevent the spread of communicable illnesses.
Section 2. Chapter 78 of Title 35 is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER C.1
COVID-19 CRISIS FIRE COMPANY AND
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.
7823.1. Establishment.
7823.2. Publication and notice.
7823.3. Award of grants.
§ 7823.1. Establishment.
The COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program is established and shall be administered by the agency. Grants provided under the program shall be used by fire companies and EMS companies to provide services during the novel coronavirus pandemic as identified in the proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020), and any renewal of the state of disaster emergency.
§ 7823.2. Publication and notice.
The agency shall transmit notice of the COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program availability to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin within 30 days of the effective date of this section.
§ 7823.3. Award of grants.
(a) Authorization.--The agency shall make a grant award from the COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program to:
(1) Each eligible fire company that received a grant award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7813 (relating to award of grants) for the purposes under section 7813(a) and (a.1).
(2) A fire company that did not apply for or receive a grant award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7813 and that applies for a grant under this subchapter for the purposes under section 7813(a) and (a.1).
(3) Each eligible EMS company that received a grant award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7823 (relating to award of grants) for the purposes under section 7823(a).
(4) An EMS company that did not apply for or receive a grant award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7823 and that applies for a grant under this subchapter for the purposes under section 7823(a).
(b) Amount of award.--The amount of the grant award under this subchapter shall be the same amount of the grant award for fiscal year 2019-2020 to:
(1) An eligible fire company under section 7813.
(2) An eligible EMS company under section 7823.
(c) Application not required.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), no additional application shall be required for a grant under this subchapter.
(2) A fire company under subsection (a)(2) and an EMS company under subsection (a)(4) must file an application for a grant under this subchapter.
Section 3. Title 35 is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 7832.2. COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
The following shall apply to any appropriation from money received by the Commonwealth under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136, 134 Stat. 281) for purposes of making grants under Subchapter C.1 (relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program):
(1) The sum of $44,000,000 of the amount appropriated shall be expended for the purpose of making grants to eligible fire companies.
(2) The sum of $6,000,000 of the amount appropriated shall be expended for the purpose of making grants to eligible EMS companies.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the agency may use up to $200,000 of unencumbered funds from the amount appropriated for administrative costs for the implementation of Subchapter C.1.
§ 7841.1. Expiration of authority relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
The authority of the agency to award grants under Subchapter C.1 (relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program) shall expire six months after the effective date of this section.
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
APPROVED--The 29th day of May, A.D. 2020.
TOM WOLF
