PRINTER'S NO. 581
No. 518 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY HABAY, DeLUCA, ORIE, STEVENSON, WALKO, MARKOSEK,
HUTCHINSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, WAUGH, MELIO, LAUGHLIN, LYNCH,
READSHAW, CURRY, OLASZ, SCRIMENTI, BAKER, GORDNER, TIGUE,
SCHRODER, BUNT, COLAIZZO, PESCI, ARGALL, SEYFERT, HERMAN,
LEH, SAYLOR, SEMMEL, MUNDY, YOUNGBLOOD, CIVERA, STABACK,
RAYMOND, VAN HORNE, ROBERTS, L. I. COHEN, B. SMITH,
ARMSTRONG, HENNESSEY, GIGLIOTTI, PHILLIPS, SHANER, TRELLO,
CORPORA, BROWN, COY, GEORGE, LaGROTTA, BELARDI AND COLAFELLA,
FEBRUARY 12, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 12, 1997
AN ACT
1 Establishing a grant program for volunteer fire companies; and
2 making an appropriation.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Volunteer
7 Fire Company Grant Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Agency." The Department of Community and Economic
13 Development.
14 "Volunteer fire company." A nonprofit chartered corporation,
1 association or organization located in this Commonwealth which
2 provides fire protection services and which may offer other
3 voluntary emergency services within this Commonwealth. Voluntary
4 emergency services provided by a volunteer fire company may
5 include voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue services.
6 Section 3. Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program.
7 (a) Establishment.--The Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program
8 is hereby established and shall be administered by the agency.
9 Grants provided under this program shall be used to improve and
10 enhance the capabilities of the volunteer fire company.
11 (b) Guidelines and procedures.--The agency shall develop
12 guidelines and procedures to implement the grant program.
13 Section 4. Grants.
14 (a) Authorization.--The agency is hereby authorized to make
15 grants to eligible volunteer fire companies.
16 (b) Limits.--Grants shall be not less than $1,000 and not
17 more than $20,000 per volunteer fire company in any one fiscal
18 year.
19 Section 5. Appropriation.
20 The sum of $12,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
21 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Community
22 and Economic Development for the fiscal year July 1, 1996, to
23 June 30, 1997, to carry out the provisions of this act. This
24 appropriation shall be a continuing appropriation until June 30,
25 1999, at which time it shall lapse.
26 Section 6. Effective date.
27 This act shall take effect immediately.
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