HB 2134 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to emergency management services, further providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing for State Fire Commissioner; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for scope of chapter, for definitions, for publication and notice, for award of grants, for consolidation incentive, for establishment, for publication and notice, for award of grants and for consolidation incentive, repealing provisions relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, further providing for Fire Company Grant Program and for Emergency Medical Services Company Grant Program, repealing provisions relating to additional funding and to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, providing for hazardous materials and specialty funding, further providing for allocation of appropriated funds, repealing provisions relating to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program, providing for Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team Grant Program, further providing for expiration of authority, repealing provisions relating to expiration of authority relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program and to expiration of authority relating to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program and further providing for special provisions and for annual reports; and making transfers.

PRINTER'S NO.   2759

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                      HOUSE BILL
                      No. 2134
                                             Session of
                                               2026

     INTRODUCED BY SCOTT, HANBIDGE, GUENST, HOHENSTEIN, McNEILL,
        BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, RIVERA, MADDEN, SAPPEY, SANCHEZ, OTTEN,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND INGLIS, JANUARY 12, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 12, 2026


                                  AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to
 3      emergency management services, further providing for
 4      definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing for
 5      State Fire Commissioner; in grants to fire companies and
 6      emergency medical services companies, further providing for
 7      scope of chapter, for definitions, for publication and
 8      notice, for award of grants, for consolidation incentive, for
 9      establishment, for publication and notice, for award of
10      grants and for consolidation incentive, repealing provisions
11      relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency
12      Medical Services Grant Program, further providing for Fire
13      Company Grant Program and for Emergency Medical Services
14      Company Grant Program, repealing provisions relating to
15      additional funding and to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and
16      Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, providing for
17      hazardous materials and specialty funding, further providing
18      for allocation of appropriated funds, repealing provisions
19      relating to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery
20      Grant Program, providing for Hazardous Materials Team and
21      Specialty Team Grant Program, further providing for
22      expiration of authority, repealing provisions relating to
23      expiration of authority relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire
24      Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program and to
25      expiration of authority relating to Emergency Medical
26      Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program and further
27      providing for special provisions and for annual reports; and
28      making transfers.
29      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
30   hereby enacts as follows:
 1      Section 1.      Section 7102 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
 2   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
 3   § 7102.    Definitions.
 4      The following words and phrases when used in this part shall
 5   have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
 6   meanings given to them in this section:
 7      * * *
 8      "Fire department identification number" or "FDID number."        A
 9   unique, five-character identifier assigned by the commissioner
10   to identify an individual fire company, volunteer rescue
11   company, hazardous materials team or specialty team within this
12   Commonwealth.
13      * * *
14      Section 2.      Section 7383(a) of Title 35 is amended by adding
15   a paragraph to read:
16   § 7383.    State Fire Commissioner.
17      (a)    State Fire Commissioner.--There shall be a State Fire
18   Commissioner, who shall report to the Governor on all matters
19   concerning fire services in this Commonwealth. The Office of the
20   State Fire Commissioner shall be within the agency for
21   administrative purposes only, and the commissioner shall not
22   report to the director of the agency. The commissioner shall
23   have the power and duty to:
24             * * *
25             (12)    Issue and revoke fire department identification
26      numbers. The commissioner may establish guidelines for the
27      issuance and revocation of FDID numbers. The commissioner
28      shall transmit the guidelines to the Legislative Reference
29      Bureau for publication in the next available issue of the
30      Pennsylvania Bulletin.

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 1      * * *
 2      Section 3.       Sections 7801, 7802 and 7812 of Title 35 are
 3   amended to read:
 4   § 7801.    Scope of chapter.
 5      This chapter relates to grants to fire companies [and],
 6   emergency medical services companies, hazardous materials teams
 7   and specialty teams.
 8   § 7802.    Definitions.
 9      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
10   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11   context clearly indicates otherwise:
12      "Advanced life support services."         The term shall have the
13   meaning given to it in Chapter 81 (relating to emergency medical
14   services system).
15      ["Agency."      The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.]
16      "Airport fire company."       A fire company that does all of the
17   following:
18             (1)    Is associated with an airport.
19             (2)    Has a mutual aid agreement with a neighboring
20      municipality.
21             (3)    Has responded to at least 15 fire or rescue
22      emergency calls annually to neighboring fire companies as
23      provided in documentation requested by the [State Fire
24      Commissioner] commissioner.
25      "ALS."       Advanced life support.
26      "Basic life support services."         The term shall have the
27   meaning given to it in Chapter 81 [(relating to emergency
28   medical services system)].
29      "BLS."       Basic life support.
30      ["Career emergency medical services."         As follows:

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 1          (1)   A for-profit chartered emergency medical service
 2      corporation, association or organization which meets all of
 3      the following:
 4                (i)    Is located in this Commonwealth.
 5                (ii)    Is licensed by the Department of Health.
 6                (iii)    Is not associated or affiliated with a
 7          hospital, unless recognized in accordance with section
 8          7823(b.1) (relating to award of grants).
 9                (iv)    Is regularly engaged in the provision of
10          emergency medical services, including basic life support
11          or advanced life support services and advanced life
12          support squads as defined in 28 Pa. Code § 1027.1
13          (relating to general provisions).
14          (2)   The term shall not include a corporation,
15      association or organization that is primarily engaged in the
16      operation of invalid coaches which are intended for the
17      routine transport of individuals who are convalescent or
18      nonambulatory and who do not ordinarily require emergency
19      medical treatment while in transit.]
20      "Combined fire company."     A volunteer fire company located in
21   this Commonwealth with at least one paid employee in addition to
22   a fire chief. The term includes either an independent, nonprofit
23   entity or part of a unit of local government.
24      "Commissioner."     The State Fire Commissioner.
25      "Director."      The Director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical
26   Services of the Department of Health.
27      "Emergency medical services company" or "EMS company."       [A
28   career or volunteer emergency medical services company.] As
29   follows:
30          (1)   A municipal, for-profit or nonprofit chartered

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 1      emergency medical service corporation, association or
 2      organization which meets all of the following:
 3                (i)    Is located in this Commonwealth.
 4                (ii)    Is licensed by the Department of Health to
 5          provide emergency medical services as provided under
 6          Chapter 81.
 7                (iii)    Is not associated or affiliated with a
 8          hospital, unless recognized in accordance with section
 9          7823(b.1) (relating to award of grants).
10                (iv)    Is regularly engaged in the provision of
11          emergency medical services.
12          (2)   The term does not include a corporation, association
13      or organization that is primarily engaged in the routine
14      transport of individuals who are convalescent or
15      nonambulatory and who do not ordinarily require emergency
16      medical treatment while in transit.
17      "Facility."      A structure or portion thereof intended for the
18   purpose of storage or protection of firefighting apparatus,
19   ambulances and rescue vehicles and related equipment and gear.
20   The term does not include meeting halls, social halls, social
21   rooms, lounges or any other facility not directly related to
22   firefighting or the furnishing of ambulance or rescue services.
23      "Fire company."     A volunteer fire company, a municipal fire
24   company [or a combined volunteer and municipal], an airport fire
25   company or combined fire company located in this Commonwealth.
26   [The term includes an airport fire company.]
27      "Grant program."     The Fire Company Grant Program established
28   in Subchapter B (relating to fire company grant program) [or],
29   the Emergency Medical Services Grant Program established in
30   Subchapter C (relating to emergency medical services grant

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 1   program)[.] or the Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team
 2   Grant Program established in Subchapter F (relating to Hazardous
 3   Materials Team and Specialty Team Grant Program).
 4      "Hazardous materials team."    A nonprofit team that is
 5   certified by the agency as a hazardous materials response team
 6   in accordance with section 209 of the act of December 7, 1990
 7   (P.L.639, No.165), known as the Hazardous Material Emergency
 8   Planning and Response Act.
 9      ["Invalid coach."   The term shall have the meaning given to
10   it in Chapter 81 (relating to emergency medical services
11   system).]
12      "Municipal fire company."   A firefighting service that is
13   established and operated by a municipality as a part of the unit
14   of local government. The term does not include a nonprofit
15   chartered corporation, independent association or independent
16   organization.
17      "Quick response service" or "QRS."    The term shall have the
18   meaning given to it in Chapter 81.
19      "Specialty team."   A nonprofit team engaged in wilderness
20   search and rescue, a nonprofit wildland firefighting team
21   recognized by the Department of Conservation and Natural
22   Resources or a nonprofit squad that performs any of the
23   following:
24          (1)   Water rescue.
25          (2)   Technical rope rescue.
26          (3)   Confined space rescue.
27          (4)   Trench rescue.
28      ["Volunteer EMS company."   Any nonprofit chartered
29   corporation, association or organization located in this
30   Commonwealth, which is licensed by the Department of Health and

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 1   is not associated or affiliated with any hospital, unless
 2   recognized in accordance with section 7823(b.1) (relating to
 3   award of grants), and which is regularly engaged in the
 4   provision of emergency medical services, including basic life
 5   support or advanced life support services and advanced life
 6   support squads as defined in 28 Pa. Code § 1027.1 (relating to
 7   general provisions). The term shall not include any corporation,
 8   association or organization that is primarily engaged in the
 9   operation of invalid coaches which are intended for the routine
10   transport of persons who are convalescent or otherwise
11   nonambulatory and do not ordinarily require emergency medical
12   treatment while in transit.]
13      "Volunteer fire company."     As follows:
14          (1)   A nonprofit chartered corporation, association or
15      organization which meets all of the following:
16                (i)    Is located in this Commonwealth [which
17          provides].
18                (ii)   Provides fire protection or rescue services and
19          [which] may offer other voluntary emergency services
20          within this Commonwealth. Voluntary emergency services
21          provided by a volunteer fire company may include
22          voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue services.
23          (2)   (Reserved).
24      "Volunteer rescue company."      As follows:
25          (1)   A nonprofit chartered corporation, association or
26      organization which meets all of the following:
27                (i)    Is located in this Commonwealth [that provides].
28                (ii)   Provides rescue services as part of the
29          response to fires or vehicle accidents within this
30          Commonwealth.

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 1             (2)    (Reserved).
 2   § 7812.    Publication and notice.
 3      The commissioner shall publish notice of the grant program
 4   availability through the Legislative Reference Bureau for
 5   publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin by August 8 for each
 6   fiscal year. The commissioner shall post a notice of the grant
 7   program and application for the grant program on the Office of
 8   the State Fire Commissioner's publicly accessible Internet
 9   website. To the greatest extent possible, the commissioner shall
10   utilize a single designated Commonwealth electronic application
11   for the grant programs under this chapter.
12      Section 4.      Section 7813(a)(7), (a.1), (a.2), (b)(1), (d) and
13   (e) introductory paragraph and (2)(i) of Title 35 are amended
14   and subsection (a) is amended by adding paragraphs to read:
15   § 7813.    Award of grants.
16      (a)    Authorization.--The commissioner is authorized to make a
17   grant award to each eligible fire company for the following:
18             * * *
19             [(7)    Revenue loss for grants issued in 2021 and 2022.]
20             (8)    Personnel costs.
21             (9)    Utility costs.
22             (10)    Cancer screenings and other preventive health
23      measures.
24             (11)    Mental health awareness and treatment.
25      (a.1)    Additional uses for [paid] municipal fire companies.--
26   In addition to the authorized uses under subsection (a), the
27   commissioner may establish additional authorized uses of grant
28   funds for [paid] municipal fire companies. Additional authorized
29   uses established under this subsection must be published in the
30   Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the commissioner's publicly

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 1   accessible Internet website.
 2      (a.2)   Additional grants.--[Each fire company with not more
 3   than 20 members who are certified by the National Board on Fire
 4   Service Professional Qualifications or by the International Fire
 5   Service Accreditation Congress and are verified by the
 6   Pennsylvania State Fire Academy at a minimum level of
 7   Firefighter 1 on or before July 1 of the year of the grant
 8   application shall be eligible to receive additional grants under
 9   a certification bonus point system as administered by the
10   commissioner.] The commissioner, in consultation with the State
11   Fire Advisory Board, may establish a system to award additional
12   funds to fire companies. The commissioner shall submit the
13   guidelines for a system to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
14   publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
15   Bulletin concurrently with the notice required under section
16   7812 (relating to publication and notice). In developing a
17   system, the commissioner shall evaluate the following factors as
18   the factors relate to each eligible fire company on or before
19   July 1 of the year of the grant application:
20          (1)   Number and proportion of members who are certified
21      by the National Board on Fire Service Professional
22      Qualifications or by the International Fire Service
23      Accreditation Congress and are verified by the Pennsylvania
24      State Fire Academy at a minimum level of Firefighter 1.
25          (2)   Population served.
26          (3)   Number of incidents logged in the Pennsylvania Fire
27      Information Reporting System during the prior 12 months.
28          (4)   Land area served.
29          (5)   Miles of public roadways within the area served.
30          (6)   Population density within the area served.

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 1            (7)   Unique geographic or other natural features within
 2      the area served.
 3            (8)   Estimated cost of proposed uses authorized under
 4      subsection (a).
 5            (9)   Any other factor determined by the commissioner in
 6      consultation with the State Fire Advisory Board.
 7      (b)   Limits.--
 8            (1)   Except as provided in paragraph (3), grants shall be
 9      not less than [$2,500] the higher of $10,000 or the amount
10      received in the 2024-2025 grant cycle and not more than
11      [$20,000] $40,000 per fire company. A fire company may
12      voluntarily agree to accept less than the higher of $10,000
13      or the amount received in the 2024-2025 grant cycle if the
14      fire company is unable to utilize the full amount the fire
15      company is eligible to receive.
16            * * *
17      (d)   Eligibility.--To receive grant funds under this chapter,
18   a fire company must:
19            (1)   Have actively responded to at least 15 fire or
20      rescue emergencies during the previous calendar year.
21            (2)   Be actively participating in the Pennsylvania Fire
22      Information Reporting System under a signed agreement. The
23      commissioner shall develop and publish guidelines specifying
24      the criteria necessary to determine the level of
25      participation in the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting
26      System to remain eligible for grant funds.
27            (3)   Have on record with the commissioner up-to-date,
28      point-of-contact information for the fire company or
29      municipality. The contact information shall include a mailing
30      address, a telephone number and an email address and must be

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 1      submitted to the commissioner before July 31 of the grant
 2      year.
 3            (4)   Be registered with the appropriate Public Safety
 4      Answering Point as an active response agency.
 5            (5)   Have an FDID number that is associated solely with
 6      the fire company applying for the grant.
 7            (6)   Be designated by a municipality, by resolution or
 8      ordinance, as a provider of fire or rescue services within
 9      the municipality.
10            (7)   Demonstrate that:
11                  (i)    the fire company or volunteer rescue squad
12            receives a certification under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344
13            (relating to employees having contact with children;
14            adoptive and foster parents) or 6344.2 (relating to
15            volunteers having contact with children) for every member
16            of the fire company or volunteer rescue squad; and
17                  (ii)    the fire company or volunteer rescue squad does
18            not employ or have as a volunteer member any individual
19            whose employment or participation could be denied under
20            the provisions of 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344(c).
21      (e)   Construction Savings Account.--A fire company may apply
22   for a grant under subsection (a) for the purpose of constructing
23   [a new] or renovating a facility. The grant shall be deposited
24   into the Construction Savings Account, which is established
25   within the State Treasury. Money in the Construction Savings
26   Account may be withdrawn by application of the fire company. The
27   Construction Savings Account shall be administered by the
28   commissioner. The following shall apply:
29            * * *
30            (2)   For a fire company to withdraw money from the

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 1      Construction Savings Account:
 2                 (i)    The application shall contain the signatures of
 3             two [duly elected] officers of the fire company or
 4             municipality.
 5                 * * *
 6      Section 5.       Sections 7814, 7821 and 7822 of Title 35 are
 7   amended to read:
 8   § 7814.    Consolidation incentive.
 9      If two or more [volunteer] fire companies consolidate their
10   use of facilities, equipment, firefighters and services, the
11   consolidated entity may, upon notification of the commissioner,
12   be eligible for a reduction of the interest rate payable on any
13   outstanding principal balance owed, as of the date of
14   consolidation, by any or all of the consolidating companies to
15   the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Fund for loans made
16   under the act of July 15, 1976 (P.L.1036, No.208), known as the
17   Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service and Rescue Squad
18   Assistance Act, or under Subchapter E of Chapter 73 (relating to
19   Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program). The reduction
20   in the interest rate payable shall be from 2% to 1%. Upon
21   receipt of such notification, the commissioner shall determine
22   and verify that the consolidated entity is in fact a bona fide
23   consolidated [volunteer] fire company. If the commissioner
24   determines that the consolidated entity is a bona fide
25   consolidated [volunteer] fire company, the commissioner shall
26   reduce the interest rate payable on any outstanding principal
27   balance owed to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan
28   Fund for loans made under the former Volunteer Fire Company,
29   Ambulance Service and Rescue Squad Assistance Act, or under
30   Subchapter E of Chapter 73, for which the consolidating

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 1   companies or the consolidated entity may be individually or
 2   jointly responsible. The commissioner may promulgate such rules
 3   and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions
 4   of this section.
 5   § 7821.    Establishment.
 6      The Emergency Medical Services Grant Program is established
 7   and shall be administered by the [commissioner] director. Grants
 8   provided under this program shall be used to improve and enhance
 9   the capabilities of EMS [to provide ambulance, emergency
10   medical, basic life support and advanced life support services.]
11   companies to provide emergency medical services.
12   § 7822.    Publication and notice.
13      The [commissioner] director shall publish notice of the grant
14   program availability through the Legislative Reference Bureau
15   for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin by August 8 for
16   each fiscal year. To the greatest extent possible, the director
17   shall utilize a single designated Commonwealth electronic
18   application for the grant programs under this chapter.
19      Section 6.     Section 7823(a)(1), (2) and (7), (b)(1) and (c)
20   of Title 35, amended June 30, 2025 (P.L.80, No.25), are amended,
21   subsections (a) and (b) are amended by adding paragraphs and the
22   section is amended by adding subsections to read:
23   § 7823.    Award of grants.
24      (a)    Authorization.--The [commissioner] director is
25   authorized to make a grant award to each eligible EMS company
26   for the following:
27             (1)   Construction and renovation of the EMS company's
28      facilities and purchase or repair of fixtures, furnishings,
29      office equipment and support services necessary to maintain
30      or improve the capability of the services to provide

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 1      ambulance, emergency medical, squad, quick response, basic
 2      life support and advanced life support services.
 3          (2)     Repair of ambulance, squad or QRS equipment or
 4      purchase thereof.
 5          * * *
 6          [(7)     Revenue loss for grants issued in 2021 and 2022.]
 7          (8)     Personnel costs.
 8          (9)     Utility costs.
 9          (10)     Cancer screenings and other preventive health
10      measures.
11          (11)     Mental health awareness and treatment.
12      (a.1)   Additional grants.--The director may establish a
13   system to award additional funds to EMS companies. The director
14   shall submit the guidelines for a system to the Legislative
15   Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of
16   the Pennsylvania Bulletin concurrently with the notice required
17   under section 7812 (relating to publication and notice). In
18   developing a system, the director shall evaluate the following
19   factors as the factors relate to each eligible EMS company on or
20   before July 1 of the year of the grant application:
21          (1)     Number and proportion of members who are certified
22      as each type of EMS provider as provided at section 8113(a)
23      (relating to emergency medical services providers).
24          (2)     Population served.
25          (3)     Number of EMS patient care reports during the prior
26      12 months as required to be provided to the regional EMS
27      council that is assigned responsibilities for the region in
28      which the EMS company is licensed.
29          (4)     Land area served.
30          (5)     Miles of public roadways within the area served.

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 1          (6)   Population density within the area served.
 2          (7)   Unique geographic or other natural features within
 3    the area served.
 4          (8)   Estimated cost of proposed uses authorized under
 5    subsection (a).
 6          (9)   Any other factor determined by the director.
 7    (b)   Limits.--
 8          (1)   Grants shall be [not less than $2,500 and not more
 9    than $15,000 per EMS company.]:
10                (i)    Not less than $2,500 and not more than $10,000
11          per EMS company whose highest level of licensure is to
12          operate an ALS squad, intermediate ALS squad, BLS squad
13          or quick response service.
14                (ii)   Not less than the higher of the amount received
15          in the 2024-2025 grant cycle or $10,000 and not more than
16          $40,000 per EMS company whose highest level of licensure
17          is to operate an ALS ambulance, intermediate ALS
18          ambulance or BLS ambulance service.
19          (1.1)   An EMS company may voluntarily agree to accept
20    less than the higher of $10,000 or the amount received in the
21    2024-2025 grant cycle if the EMS company is unable to utilize
22    the full amount it is eligible to receive.
23          * * *
24          (5)   An EMS company may only apply for a grant for up to
25    five years for the purpose under subsection (d).
26    * * *
27    (c)   Time for filing application and department action.--
28          (1)   By September 8 of each year, the [commissioner]
29    director shall provide applications and written instructions
30    for grants under this chapter to the president or lead

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 1    officer of every EMS company in this Commonwealth.
 2        (2)   (i)     EMS companies seeking grants under this chapter
 3        shall submit completed applications to the [commissioner]
 4        director.
 5              (ii)    Except as provided under subparagraph (iii):
 6                     (A)   The application period shall remain open for
 7              45 days each year.
 8                     (B)   The [commissioner] director shall act to
 9              approve or disapprove applications within 60 days of
10              the application submission deadline each year.
11                     (C)   Applications which have not been approved or
12              disapproved by the [commissioner] director within 60
13              days after the close of the application period each
14              year shall be deemed approved.
15              (iii)    Upon request by an EMS company, the
16        [commissioner] director may extend the application period
17        under subparagraph (ii)(A) for up to 45 additional days
18        if the EMS company demonstrates hardship or undue burden
19        that prevents the EMS company from submitting a completed
20        application within the application period and if the EMS
21        company requests the extension within 30 days of the date
22        of the end of the application period. The [commissioner]
23        director shall have sole discretion to determine whether
24        an EMS company has demonstrated hardship or undue burden
25        under this subparagraph.
26              (iv)    Upon request by an EMS company, the
27        [commissioner] director shall extend the period to submit
28        required reports for 15 additional days. An EMS company
29        may only make a request under this subparagraph once
30        every three years.

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 1      (d)    Construction Savings Account.--An EMS company may apply
 2   for a grant under subsection (a) for the purpose of constructing
 3   a new facility or renovating a facility. The grant shall be
 4   deposited into the Construction Savings Account, which is
 5   established within the State Treasury. Money in the Construction
 6   Savings Account may be withdrawn by application of the EMS
 7   company. The Construction Savings Account shall be administered
 8   by the director. The following shall apply:
 9             (1)   An EMS company may only access money in the
10      Construction Savings Account for emergency purposes and at
11      the discretion of the director.
12             (2)   For an EMS company to withdraw money from the
13      Construction Savings Account:
14                   (i)    The application shall contain the signatures of
15             two officers of the EMS company or municipality.
16                   (ii)    The EMS company shall indicate on the
17             application how the money is going to be used under
18             subsection (a).
19             (3)   Interest accrued on the Construction Savings Account
20      may be used by the director for administrative purposes.
21      Section 7.         Section 7824 of Title 35 is amended to read:
22   § 7824.    Consolidation incentive.
23      After January 1, 2020, if two or more emergency medical
24   services companies consolidate their use of facilities,
25   equipment and services, the consolidated entity may, upon
26   notification of the [commissioner] director, be eligible for a
27   reduction of the interest rate payable on any outstanding
28   principal balance owed, as of the date of consolidation, by any
29   or all of the consolidating companies to the Fire and Emergency
30   Medical Services Loan Fund for loans made under Subchapter E of

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 1   Chapter 73 (relating to Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan
 2   Program). The reduction in the interest rate payable shall be
 3   from 2% to 1%. Upon receipt of such notification, the
 4   [commissioner] director shall determine and verify that the
 5   consolidated entity is in fact a bona fide consolidated
 6   emergency medical services company. If the [commissioner]
 7   director determines that the consolidated entity is a bona fide
 8   consolidated emergency medical services company, the
 9   [commissioner] director shall reduce the interest rate payable
10   on any outstanding principal balance owed to the Fire and
11   Emergency Medical Services Loan Fund for loans made under
12   Subchapter E of Chapter 73, for which the consolidating
13   companies or the consolidated entity may be individually or
14   jointly responsible. The [commissioner] director may promulgate
15   such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
16   provisions of this section.
17      Section 8.    Subchapter C.1 of Chapter 78 of Title 35 is
18   repealed:
19                                [SUBCHAPTER C.1
20                       COVID-19 CRISIS FIRE COMPANY AND
21                   EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM
22   Sec.
23   7827.1. Establishment.
24   7827.2. Publication and notice.
25   7827.3. Award of grants.
26   § 7827.1.   Establishment.
27      The COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical
28   Services Grant Program is established and shall be administered
29   by the agency. Grants provided under the program shall be used
30   by fire companies and EMS companies to provide services during

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 1   the novel coronavirus pandemic as identified in the proclamation
 2   of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on March 6, 2020,
 3   published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020), and any renewal of
 4   the state of disaster emergency.
 5   § 7827.2.      Publication and notice.
 6      The agency shall transmit notice of the COVID-19 Crisis Fire
 7   Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program
 8   availability to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication
 9   in the Pennsylvania Bulletin within 30 days of the effective
10   date of this section.
11   § 7827.3.      Award of grants.
12      (a)   Authorization.--The agency shall make a grant award from
13   the COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services
14   Grant Program to:
15            (1)    Each eligible fire company that received a grant
16      award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7813 (relating
17      to award of grants) for the purposes under section 7813(a)
18      and (a.1).
19            (2)    A fire company that did not apply for or receive a
20      grant award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7813 and
21      that applies for a grant under this subchapter for the
22      purposes under section 7813(a) and (a.1).
23            (3)    Each eligible EMS company that received a grant
24      award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7823 (relating
25      to award of grants) for the purposes under section 7823(a).
26            (4)    An EMS company that did not apply for or receive a
27      grant award in fiscal year 2019-2020 under section 7823 and
28      that applies for a grant under this subchapter for the
29      purposes under section 7823(a).
30      (b)   Amount of award.--The amount of the grant award under

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 1   this subchapter shall be the same amount of the grant award for
 2   fiscal year 2019-2020 to:
 3             (1)   An eligible fire company under section 7813.
 4             (2)   An eligible EMS company under section 7823.
 5      (c)    Application not required.--
 6             (1)   Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), no
 7      additional application shall be required for a grant under
 8      this subchapter.
 9             (2)   A fire company under subsection (a)(2) and an EMS
10      company under subsection (a)(4) must file an application for
11      a grant under this subchapter.]
12      Section 9.     Sections 7831 and 7832 of Title 35 are amended to
13   read:
14   § 7831.    Fire Company Grant Program.
15      (a)    Expenditure.--The sum of $22,000,000 of the amount
16   appropriated to the commissioner for fire company grants under
17   section 1799-E of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176),
18   known as The Fiscal Code, shall be expended for the purpose of
19   making grants to eligible fire companies under Subchapter B
20   (relating to fire company grant program).
21      (b)    Transfer.--In addition to sums transferred under
22   subsection (a) and 3 Pa.C.S. § 1113(a) (relating to disposition
23   of certain funds), the sum of $25,700,000 shall be transferred
24   annually from the Property Tax Relief Reserve Fund to the Fire
25   Company Grant Program for the purpose of making grants to
26   eligible fire companies under this subchapter.
27   § 7832.    Emergency Medical Services Company Grant Program.
28      (a)    Expenditure.--The sum of $3,000,000 of the amount
29   appropriated to the [commissioner] director for EMS company
30   grants under section 1799-E of the act of April 9, 1929

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 1   (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, shall be expended
 2   for the purpose of making grants to eligible EMS companies under
 3   Subchapter C (relating to emergency medical services grant
 4   program).
 5      (b)   Transfer.--
 6            (1)    In addition to sums transferred under subsection (a)
 7      and 3 Pa.C.S. § 1113(a) (relating to disposition of certain
 8      funds), the sum of $8,100,000 shall be transferred annually
 9      from the Property Tax Relief Reserve Fund to the Emergency
10      Medical Services Grant Program for the purpose of making
11      grants to eligible EMS companies under this subchapter.
12            (2)    No less than 85% of the money transferred under
13      paragraph (1) shall be used for grants to EMS companies whose
14      highest level of licensure is to operate an ALS ambulance,
15      Intermediate ALS ambulance or BLS ambulance service.
16      Section 10.      Sections 7832.1 and 7832.2 of Title 35 are
17   repealed:
18   [§ 7832.1.      Additional funding.
19      In addition to sums transferred from the State Gaming Fund
20   and under section 2413(a)(1) of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,
21   No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, the sum of
22   $5,000,000 shall be transferred annually from the Property Tax
23   Relief Reserve Fund to the Fire Company Grant Program for the
24   purpose of making grants to eligible fire companies under this
25   subchapter.
26   § 7832.2.      COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical
27                  Services Grant Program.
28      The following shall apply to any appropriation from money
29   received by the Commonwealth under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
30   and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136, 134 Stat. 281)

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 1   for purposes of making grants under Subchapter C.1 (relating to
 2   COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services
 3   Grant Program):
 4             (1)    The sum of $44,000,000 of the amount appropriated
 5      shall be expended for the purpose of making grants to
 6      eligible fire companies.
 7             (2)    The sum of $6,000,000 of the amount appropriated
 8      shall be expended for the purpose of making grants to
 9      eligible EMS companies.
10             (3)    Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the agency
11      may use up to $200,000 of unencumbered funds from the amount
12      appropriated for administrative costs for the implementation
13      of Subchapter C.1.]
14      Section 11.       Title 35 is amended by adding a section to read:
15   § 7832.3.       Hazardous materials and specialty funding.
16      The sum of $1,200,000 shall be transferred annually from the
17   Property Tax Relief Reserve Fund to the Hazardous Materials Team
18   and Specialty Team Grant Program for the purpose of making
19   grants to eligible entities under section 7852 (relating to
20   hazardous materials team and specialty team competitive grants).
21      Section 12.       Section 7833 of Title 35 is amended to read:
22   § 7833.    Allocation of appropriated funds.
23      (a)    Administration.--
24             (1)    Except as provided under paragraph (2), no money
25      from the appropriation for grants shall be used for expenses
26      or costs incurred by the commissioner for the administration
27      of the grant programs authorized under Subchapters B
28      (relating to fire company grant program) and [C (relating to
29      emergency medical services grant program).] F (relating to
30      Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team Grant Program) or

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 1      for expenses or costs incurred by the director for the
 2      administration of the grant program authorized under
 3      Subchapter C (relating to emergency medical services grant
 4      program).
 5             (2)   Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the commissioner and
 6      the director may use not more than [$800,000] $1,200,000 of
 7      any unencumbered funds remaining in the fund for
 8      administrative costs for grant program implementation under
 9      this chapter.
10      [(b)     Grant allocation.--Unless otherwise expressly stated,
11   money appropriated to the commissioner for purposes of fire
12   company and EMS company grants shall be allocated as follows:
13             (1)   Eighty-eight percent of the amount appropriated
14      shall be used for making grants to eligible fire companies
15      under Subchapter B.
16             (2)   Twelve percent of the amount appropriated shall be
17      used for making grants to eligible EMS companies under
18      Subchapter C.]
19      (c)    Transfers.--Funds appropriated under this chapter that
20   are not spent as of the effective date of this subsection or
21   after each annual grant cycle shall be transferred as follows:
22             (1)   50% of the amount shall be used for the purpose of
23      making grants under section 7385.1 (relating to capital
24      grants for municipal fire departments).
25             (2)   50% of the amount shall be used for the purpose of
26      making grants under section 7385.2 (relating to capital
27      grants for emergency service training centers).
28      Section 13.     Subchapter E of Chapter 78 of Title 35 is
29   repealed:
30                                [SUBCHAPTER E

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 1                        EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
 2                      COVID-19 RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM
 3   Sec.
 4   7841.    Establishment.
 5   7842.    Award of grants.
 6   7843.    Funding and costs.
 7   7844.    Report.
 8   § 7841.    Establishment.
 9      The Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant
10   Program is established and shall be administered by the Office
11   of the State Fire Commissioner in consultation with the
12   Department of Health. Grants provided under the Emergency
13   Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program shall be used
14   by EMS companies to provide services in response to the novel
15   coronavirus pandemic.
16   § 7842.    Award of grants.
17      (a)    Application not required.--No application shall be
18   required to receive a grant under this subchapter.
19      (b)    Notification.--The Office of the State Fire Commissioner
20   shall notify in writing each EMS company, as defined under
21   section 7802 (relating to definitions), of the availability of
22   grants from the Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery
23   Grant Program for the purposes under section 7823(a) (relating
24   to award of grants).
25      (c)    Certification.--The Office of the State Fire
26   Commissioner shall include with the written notification under
27   subsection (b) a form for each eligible EMS company to certify
28   that a grant received under this subchapter shall be used for
29   the purposes under section 7823(a) and provide a deadline by
30   which an EMS company must return the certification form.

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 1      (d)    Amount.--Grants shall be awarded under this subchapter
 2   in an amount equal to the total amount of funds appropriated
 3   under section 7843 (relating to funding and costs) less the
 4   amount used under section 7843(b) divided by the total number of
 5   EMS companies that returned the certification under subsection
 6   (c).
 7      (e)    Report.--No later than July 30, 2022, each EMS company
 8   receiving a grant award under this subchapter shall report to
 9   the Office of the State Fire Commissioner how it will use the
10   grant money awarded under subsection (d).
11   § 7843.    Funding and costs.
12      (a)    Appropriation.--The sum of $25,000,000 of Federal funds
13   in the COVID-19 Response Restricted Account is appropriated to
14   the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for the Emergency
15   Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program under this
16   subchapter. The provisions of section 111-C(g) of the act of
17   April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, shall
18   not apply to the amount appropriated under this section.
19      (b)    Administrative costs.--The Office of the State Fire
20   Commissioner may use up to $200,000 of unencumbered funds from
21   the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for administrative
22   costs for the implementation of this subchapter.
23   § 7844.    Report.
24      (a)    Contents.--The commissioner shall prepare a report on
25   the Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program.
26   The report shall include all of the following information:
27             (1)   The total number of EMS companies that were notified
28      of the grant program.
29             (2)   The total number of EMS companies that submitted a
30      certification for the grant program.

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 1             (3)   The total number of EMS companies that received a
 2      grant.
 3             (4)   The total amount of the grant received by each EMS
 4      company.
 5             (5)   A summary of how each EMS company will use the grant
 6      money awarded under the program.
 7      (b)    Submission.--The commissioner shall submit the report by
 8   September 1, 2022, to all of the following:
 9             (1)   The chair and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs
10      and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate.
11             (2)   The chair and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs
12      and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of
13      Representatives.
14             (3)   The chair and minority chair of the Appropriations
15      Committee of the Senate.
16             (4)   The chair and minority chair of the Appropriations
17      Committee of the House of Representatives.
18      (c)    Posting.--The commissioner shall post the annual report
19   on the Office of the State Fire Commissioner's publicly
20   accessible Internet website.]
21      Section 14.      Chapter 78 of Title 35 is amended by adding a
22   subchapter to read:
23                                  SUBCHAPTER F
24                     HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM AND SPECIALTY
25                               TEAM GRANT PROGRAM
26   Sec.
27   7851.    Establishment.
28   7852.    Hazardous materials team and specialty team competitive
29                   grants.
30   § 7851.    Establishment.

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 1      The Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team Grant Program
 2   is established and shall be administered by the Office of the
 3   State Fire Commissioner.
 4   § 7852.    Hazardous materials team and specialty team competitive
 5                   grants.
 6      (a)    Awards.--The commissioner shall use money transferred
 7   under section 7832.3 (relating to hazardous materials and
 8   specialty funding) to establish a grant program for hazardous
 9   materials teams and specialty teams.
10      (b)    Eligibility.--An eligible grant recipient under this
11   section shall meet all of the following:
12             (1)   Be assigned an FDID number.
13             (2)   Report incidents in the fire incident reporting
14      system.
15             (3)   Have a letter of recommendation from the emergency
16      management coordinator of the host county affirming that the
17      team is a deployable resource.
18      (c)    Uses.--The commissioner shall establish authorized uses
19   of grant funds under this section. Additional uses established
20   under this section shall be transmitted to the Legislative
21   Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of
22   the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the commissioner's publicly
23   accessible Internet website.
24      (d)    Guidelines.--The commissioner shall develop guidelines
25   for the grant program, including for the issuance and revocation
26   of FDID numbers for eligible applicants of the grant program,
27   and shall transmit the guidelines to the Legislative Reference
28   Bureau for publication in the next available issue of the
29   Pennsylvania Bulletin.
30      Section 15.      Section 7891.1 of Title 35, added June 30, 2025

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 1   (P.L.80, No.25), is amended to read:
 2   § 7891.1.    Expiration of authority.
 3      The authority of the commissioner to award grants under
 4   Subchapters B (relating to fire company grant program) and [C
 5   (relating to emergency medical services grant program)] F
 6   (relating to Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team Grant
 7   Program) and for the director to award grants under Subchapter C
 8   (relating to emergency medical services grant program) shall
 9   expire December 31, [2029] 2030.
10      Section 16.    Sections 7892 and 7893 of Title 35 are repealed:
11   [§ 7892.    Expiration of authority relating to COVID-19 Crisis
12                 Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant
13                 Program.
14      The authority of the agency to award grants under Subchapter
15   C.1 (relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency
16   Medical Services Grant Program) shall expire six months after
17   the effective date of this section.
18   § 7893.    Expiration of authority relating to Emergency Medical
19                 Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program.
20      The authority of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to
21   award grants under Subchapter E (relating to Emergency Medical
22   Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program) shall expire June 30,
23   2022.]
24      Section 17.     Sections 7894(a) and (d) and 7895(a) of Title 35
25   are amended to read:
26   § 7894.    Special provisions.
27      (a)     Claim.--An applicant for a grant under this chapter who
28   failed to return a signed agreement for the preceding year shall
29   not be permitted to apply for a grant in the current year unless
30   the applicant has provided the commissioner or director with a

20260HB2134PN2759                     - 28 -
 1   reasonable written explanation as to why it did not claim its
 2   grant prior to the beginning of the application period.
 3      * * *
 4      (d)    Approval.--An applicant shall not be approved for a
 5   grant to be used for purposes other than those stated in section
 6   7813(a) (relating to award of grants) [or], 7823(a) (relating to
 7   award of grants) or 7852(c) (relating to hazardous materials
 8   team and specialty team competitive grants).
 9   § 7895.    Annual reports.
10      (a)    Contents.--The commissioner, in consultation with the
11   director, shall prepare an annual report on the Fire Company
12   Grant Program [and], the Emergency Medical Services Grant
13   Program and the Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team
14   Grant Program. The annual report shall include all of the
15   following information:
16             (1)   The total number of fire companies [and], EMS
17      companies, hazardous materials teams and specialty teams that
18      were notified of the grant programs.
19             (2)   The total number of fire companies [and], EMS
20      companies, hazardous materials teams and specialty teams that
21      submitted applications for the grant programs.
22             (3)   The total number of fire companies [and], EMS
23      companies, hazardous materials teams and specialty teams that
24      were approved for grants.
25             (4)   An analysis of how the grants to fire companies and
26      EMS companies were used for facilities, equipment, debt
27      reduction, training and certification, the education of the
28      general public, construction savings accounts and recruitment
29      and retention, including length of service award programs, as
30      delineated by county and municipality.

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 1        [(5)    A list of the fire companies as delineated by
 2    county that received additional grants under section
 3    7813(a.2) (relating to award of grants).]
 4        (6)    A list of the different entities that received
 5    grants, including hazardous materials teams, specialty teams,
 6    combined fire companies, municipal fire companies, volunteer
 7    fire companies[, municipal emergency medical services
 8    companies and volunteer] and EMS companies.
 9        (7)    A list of the different reasons why grants were not
10    issued to fire companies [and], EMS companies, hazardous
11    materials teams and specialty teams, including, but not
12    limited to, the following:
13               (i)    Failure to submit applications for the grant
14        programs.
15               (ii)    Failure to run calls for emergencies.
16               (iii)    Delinquencies and bankruptcies.
17        (8)    A list of the fire companies and EMS companies that
18    utilized the grants to pay off loans under the Pennsylvania
19    Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program.
20    * * *
21    Section 18.       This act shall take effect as follows:
22        (1)    The addition of 35 Pa.C.S. § 7852 shall take effect
23    in 180 days.
24        (2)    The remainder of this act shall take effect
25    immediately.




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