FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 69
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES WARD AND SELBY (Co-sponsors).
Pre-filed December 1, 2000, and 1000 copies ordered printed.
ANNE C. WALKER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 320, RSMo, relating to fire protection by adding thereto one new section relating to grants for volunteer fire protection associations and certain fire protection districts.
Section A. Chapter 320, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 320.330, to read as follows:
320.330. 1. Subject to appropriations, the department of public safety, in consultation with the state fire marshal, shall establish a program to award grants, pursuant to this section, to:
(1) Volunteer fire protection associations; or
(2) Fire protection districts that collected or received local tax revenue in an amount less than ten thousand dollars for the preceding fiscal year.
2. The grants established pursuant to this section shall be awarded for the purchase of equipment for, the construction of, or the adding of structural improvements to, fire stations for qualified fire protection districts or volunteer fire protection associations. Funds for the purchase of equipment may include all costs for fire safety and firefighting equipment, including trucks, hoses, protection gear for firefighters and other such equipment. Funds for construction may include all costs associated with the initial building of any fire station, but shall not include any costs associated with land acquisition. Funds for adding of structural improvements may include all costs associated with constructing a physical addition to any fire station, but shall not include any costs for repair or maintenance to any such fire station.
3. The department of public safety shall solicit applications from volunteer fire protection associations and fire protection districts and shall make grants from funds appropriated from general revenue for that purpose in such amounts and on such terms as it determines is necessary to help complete the proposed project or to compensate the shortfall of revenue to such association or district. Grants shall be awarded on a matching funds basis. In a grant application, the volunteer fire protection association or fire department shall show proof of dedication of funds equal to twenty-five percent of the amount necessary to complete the project. Upon grant approval, the department shall provide the additional seventy-five percent.
4. For purposes of this section, "volunteer fire protection association" means any fire protection association which is:
(1) Staffed by persons not paid for their work;
(2) Organized for the purpose of combating fires in a specified area; and
(3) Either partially or wholly funded by membership or subscriber fees and not supported by local tax revenues.
5. The department of public safety shall adopt rules necessary to implement the grant program established
pursuant to this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to this section shall become
effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.
Missouri House of
Representatives