"Our mission is to serve the communities of Summerhill Borough, New Germany, Croyle township and surrounding areas by protecting its citizens, visitors, businesses, property and the environment. We will accomplish this by working together as a team and in a cooperative effort with other municipal departments and agencies. Through education, training and leadership we will provide fire suppression, rescue operations, hazardous materials response and public education to fulfill our mission. Recognition that the citizens of Summerhill and Croyle Township are the key to our success is the driving force behind our dedication and professionalism."
Grants to Fire Companies and Volunteer EMS
House Bill 955 (PN 2571) amends Title 4 (Amusements) and Title 35 (Health and Safety) reassigning administrative oversight of the Fire Company Grant Program and the Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program and updating grant amounts and limitations. The bill also extends eligibility to paid fire companies.
The bill increases the grant program allocation from $25 million to $40 million. These funds continue to be transferred from the State Gaming Fund; and under the legislation, the funds will go into a separate non-lapsing fund for fire companies and volunteer services.
Administrative oversight for the Fire Company Grant Pro-gram and the Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Pro-gram will transfer from PEMA to the State Fire Commissioner. In order to be eligible for a grant, both fire and ambulance services must be officially recognized by the appropriate municipality.
Grant program funds are divided with 85% allocated to fire companies and 15% to ambulance companies. The maximum amount each fire company may receive annually increases from $15,000 to $19,000; the maximum amount a volunteer ambulance service may receive increases from $10,000 to $13,000. For paid fire companies, the chief executive of the municipality is designated as the Fire Com-missioner’s point of contact.
The authority of the commissioner to award grants is ex-tended out to June 30, 2016. The bill also authorizes the commissioner to use up to $100,000 from the appropriation for grant program administrative costs.
Location: Set on House Tabled Calendar for February