PRINTER'S NO. 742
No. 669 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY SCHRODER, CIVERA, CORNELL, SAYLOR, DeLUCA,
SOLOBAY, ARMSTRONG, BARD, BARRAR, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES,
BELARDI, BELFANTI, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CASORIO,
CAWLEY, L. I. COHEN, COSTA, COY, CURRY, DAILEY, DALEY, DALLY,
DERMODY, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FICHTER,
FLEAGLE, FLICK, FORCIER, FREEMAN, GANNON, GEIST, GEORGE,
GORDNER, GRUCELA, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY,
HUTCHINSON, JADLOWIEC, KAISER, LaGROTTA, LAUGHLIN, LEH,
MARKOSEK, MARSICO, MAYERNIK, McCALL, McILHATTAN, McILHINNEY,
McNAUGHTON, MELIO, MICOZZIE, R. MILLER, S. MILLER, MYERS,
NAILOR, ORIE, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, PIPPY, PRESTON, RAYMOND,
READSHAW, ROSS, RUBLEY, RUFFING, SAINATO, SCHULER, SHANER,
B. SMITH, STABACK, T. STEVENSON, SURRA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS,
TIGUE, TRELLO, TRICH, VANCE, WALKO, WANSACZ, C. WILLIAMS,
WILT, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, ZIMMERMAN AND ZUG,
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 13, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing a program within the Office of the State Fire
2 Commissioner to provide grants to volunteer fire companies
3 for the purchase of thermal-imaging cameras; and making an
4 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 Volunteer
9 Fire Company Thermal-Imaging Camera Grant Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
1 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
2 context clearly indicates otherwise:
3 "Commissioner." The State Fire Commissioner.
4 "Thermal-imaging camera." A hand-held or helmet-mounted
5 camera that uses a thermal-imaging system in order for a person
6 to view objects through smoke or darkness and that conforms to
7 specifications approved by the State Fire Commissioner, in
8 consultation with fire companies.
9 "Volunteer fire company." A volunteer fire company as
10 defined in section 3 of the act of July 15, 1976 (P.L.1036,
11 No.208), known as the Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service
12 and Rescue Squad Assistance Act.
13 Section 3. Volunteer Fire Company Thermal-Imaging Camera Grant
14 Program.
15 (a) Establishment.--The Volunteer Fire Company Thermal-
16 Imaging Camera Grant Program is established and shall be
17 administered by the commissioner. The program shall award grants
18 that must be used exclusively for the purchase of thermal-
19 imaging cameras by volunteer fire companies.
20 (b) Guidelines and procedures.--The commissioner shall
21 develop guidelines and procedures, including a formal written
22 application procedure to implement the grant program. The
23 commissioner shall assess the needs and the existing financial
24 resources of each fire company in the criteria for award of
25 grants.
26 (c) Award of grants.--The commissioner is authorized to make
27 grants to eligible volunteer fire companies under this act. A
28 grant awarded to eligible volunteer fire companies under this
29 act shall be limited to no more than $5,000 and shall be used
30 soley for the purchase of a thermal-imaging camera.
20010H0669B0742 - 2 -
1 Section 4. Appropriation.
2 The sum of $15,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the State
3 Fire Commissioner for the fiscal year July 1, 2001, to June 30,
4 2002, to carry out the provisions of this act.
5 Section 5. Effective date.
6 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001, or immediately,
7 whichever is later.
L29L35JLW/20010H0669B0742 - 3 -