(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Under the provisions of section 7(a)(3) of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the voters of the Commonwealth approved by referenda on November 4, 1975, the incurring of indebtedness of $10,000,000 and on November 3, 1981, approved the incurring of an additional $15,000,000 of indebtedness and on November 6, 1990, approved the incurring of an additional $25,000,000 of indebtedness for loans to volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and volunteer rescue squads for the purpose of establishing or modernizing facilities to house firefighting apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles and for purchasing new firefighting apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, protective and communications equipment and any other accessory equipment necessary for the proper performance of such organizations' duties.
(2) Under the provisions of section 7(a)(3) of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2002, the voters of this Commonwealth approved by referendum the incurring of indebtedness for the establishment of a program that utilizes capital and other related methods to enhance and improve the delivery of volunteer fire and volunteer emergency services in this Commonwealth. The General Assembly further finds that the use of up to $50,000,000 of such indebtedness to expand the existing program providing for loans to volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and volunteer rescue squads as authorized under this subchapter is an appropriate use of such indebtedness.
(b) Purpose.--The General Assembly has determined that fire companies and emergency medical services companies are most in need of loans. The General Assembly intends that the loans provided under this subchapter be used to replace outmoded or unsafe equipment and buildings of fire companies and emergency medical services companies to meet an increasing demand for a higher level of service in the communities which they serve.
(Oct. 29, 2020, P.L.739, No.91, eff. 60 days)
2020 Amendment. Act 91 amended subsec. (b).
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 73 - Commonwealth Services
Section 7301 - General authority of Governor
Section 7302 - Temporary housing
Section 7303 - Debris and wreckage removal
Section 7304 - Community disaster loans
Section 7305 - Individual and family assistance
Section 7305.1 - Grants for hazard mitigation
Section 7306 - Appropriation of Federal funds
Section 7307 - Use and appropriation of unused Commonwealth funds (Repealed)
Section 7308 - Laws suspended during emergency assignments
Section 7313 - Powers and duties
Section 7314 - Utilization of existing services and facilities
Section 7315 - Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner (Repealed)
Section 7316 - Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (Repealed)
Section 7317 - Pennsylvania Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (Repealed)
Section 7318 - Fire Safety Advisory Committee (Repealed)
Section 7319 - Appropriations (Repealed)
Section 7320 - Radiological emergency response preparedness, planning and recovery program
Section 7321 - Unconventional well 911 emergency response information
Section 7331 - Purpose of subchapter
Section 7333 - Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee
Section 7336 - License, certificate and permit portability
Section 7338 - Workers' compensation
Section 7340 - Effect on other agreements
Section 7351 - Establishment, purpose and name
Section 7352 - Supervision and control
Section 7353 - Powers and duties
Section 7354 - Persons admitted
Section 7355 - Application for admission
Section 7356 - Acquisition of site
Section 7357 - Conveyance of land and plans for buildings and structures
Section 7358 - Leasing by Commonwealth
Section 7361 - Scope of subchapter
Section 7362 - Legislative findings and declaration of purpose
Section 7364 - Assistance to fire companies and EMS companies
Section 7365 - Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Fund
Section 7366 - Powers and duties of office
Section 7367 - Authority to borrow
Section 7368 - Bonds, issue, maturity and interest
Section 7370 - Refunding bonds
Section 7371 - Disposition and use of proceeds
Section 7372 - Registration of bonds
Section 7373 - Information to General Assembly
Section 7374 - Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Sinking Fund and investments
Section 7375 - Expenses of preparation, issue and sale of bonds
Section 7376 - Repayment obligations for principal and interest
Section 7378 - Temporary financing authorization
Section 7378.1 - Referendum for additional indebtedness
Section 7378.2 - Authorization of contracts, reimbursement procedure and amount
Section 7378.3 - Reimbursement procedure and amount
Section 7378.4 - Referendum to expand loan assistance
Section 7378.5 - Annual report and distribution of information
Section 7381 - Scope of subchapter
Section 7383 - State Fire Commissioner
Section 7383.1 - Curriculum, training and education certification management system
Section 7384 - Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Section 7385 - Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program
Section 7385.1 - Capital grants for municipal fire departments
Section 7385.2 - Capital grants for emergency service training centers
Section 7386 - State Fire Advisory Board
Section 7388 - Online training for firefighters
Section 7388.1 - Money for online training for firefighters
Section 7389 - Money for reimbursement to Pennsylvania bomb squads