(a) Authorization.--The commissioner is authorized to make a grant award to each eligible fire company for the following:
(1) Construction and renovation of facilities and purchase or repair of fixtures and furnishings, office equipment and support services necessary to maintain or improve the capability of the company to provide fire, ambulance and rescue services.
(2) Repair of firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment or purchase thereof.
(3) Debt reduction associated with paragraph (1) or (2).
(4) Training and certification of members.
(5) Education of the general public regarding fire prevention and community risk reduction.
(6) Recruitment and retention, including, but not limited to, volunteer firefighter length of service award programs and programs for minors.
(7) Revenue loss for grants issued in 2021 and 2022.
(a.1) Additional uses for paid municipal fire companies.--In addition to the authorized uses under subsection (a), the commissioner may establish additional authorized uses of grant funds for paid municipal fire companies. Additional authorized uses established under this subsection must be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the commissioner's publicly accessible Internet website.
(a.2) Additional grants.--Each fire company with not more than 20 members who are certified by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications or by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and are verified by the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy at a minimum level of Firefighter 1 on or before July 1 of the year of the grant application shall be eligible to receive additional grants under a certification bonus point system as administered by the commissioner.
(b) Limits.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), grants shall be not less than $2,500 and not more than $20,000 per fire company.
(2) Grants may be awarded on a pro rata basis if the total dollar amount of the approved application exceeds the amount of funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose.
(3) In a municipality where there are two or more volunteer fire companies and if two or more volunteer fire companies consolidated their use of equipment, firefighters and services within 20 years preceding the date of the current year application submission deadline, the consolidated entity shall be deemed eligible to receive a grant not to exceed the amount of the combined total for which the individual companies would have been eligible had they not consolidated.
(4) A fire company may only apply for a grant for up to five years for the purpose under subsection (e).
(5) In a municipality where one volunteer fire company and one EMS company consolidate their use of equipment, personnel and services within 20 years preceding the date of the current year application submission deadline, the consolidated entity shall be deemed eligible to receive a grant not to exceed the amount of the combined total for which the individual companies would have been eligible had they not consolidated.
(c) Time for filing application and department action.--
(1) By September 8 of each year, the commissioner shall provide applications and written instructions for grants under this chapter to:
(i) except as set forth in subparagraph (ii), the fire chief and president of every fire company; or
(ii) in the case of a municipal fire company, the chief executive of the municipality.
(2) (i) Fire companies seeking grants under this chapter shall submit completed applications to the commissioner and the municipalities where the fire companies are located.
(ii) Except as provided under subparagraphs (iii) and (iv):
(A) The application period shall remain open for 45 days each year.
(B) The agency shall act to approve or disapprove applications within 60 days of the application submission deadline each year.
(C) Applications which have not been approved or disapproved by the commissioner within 60 days after the close of the application period each year shall be deemed approved.
(iii) Upon request by a fire company, the commissioner may extend the application period under subparagraph (ii) for up to 45 additional days if the fire company demonstrates hardship or undue burden that prevents the fire company from submitting a completed application within the application period and if the fire company requests the extension within 30 days of the date of the end of the application period. The commissioner shall have sole discretion to determine whether a fire company has demonstrated hardship or undue burden under this subparagraph.
(iv) Upon request by a fire company, the commissioner shall extend the period to submit required reports for 15 additional days. A fire company may only make a request under this subparagraph once every three years.
(d) Eligibility.--To receive grant funds under this chapter, a fire company must:
(1) Have actively responded to at least 15 fire or rescue emergencies during the previous calendar year.
(2) Be actively participating in the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System under a signed agreement. The commissioner shall develop and publish guidelines specifying the criteria necessary to determine the level of participation in the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System to remain eligible for grant funds.
(e) Construction Savings Account.--A fire company may apply for a grant under subsection (a) for the purpose of constructing a new facility. The grant shall be deposited into the Construction Savings Account, which is established within the State Treasury. Money in the Construction Savings Account may be withdrawn by application of the fire company. The Construction Savings Account shall be administered by the commissioner. The following shall apply:
(1) A fire company may only access money in the Construction Savings Account for emergency purposes and at the discretion of the commissioner.
(2) For a fire company to withdraw money from the Construction Savings Account:
(i) The application shall contain the signatures of two duly elected officers of the fire company.
(ii) The fire company shall indicate on the application how the money is going to be used under subsection (a).
(3) Any interest accrued on the Construction Savings Account may be used by the commissioner for administrative purposes.