HARRISBURG – Legislation to make it easier for fire and EMS agencies to access state funding through the Fire and EMS Grant program was approved by the PA Senate. Senate Bill 1261 makes administrative changes to the Fire and EMS Grant program to streamline the application process, including eliminating outdated wording and incentives, requiring the State Fire Commissioner to use the PA Department of Community and Economic Development’s Single Application for Assistance instead of having a separate, redundant system, and asking fire companies to provide additional contact information to ensure lines of communication are open. It also increases the amount fire and EMS agencies can borrow through the State Fire Commissioner’s low-interest loan program, freeing up more funding opportunities for first responder agencies. The bill now advances to the PA House.
