Pennsylvania SB 1261: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for assistance to fire companies and EMS companies; and, in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for definitions, for publication and notice, for award of grants, for consolidation incentive, for publication and notice and for award of grants, repealing provisions relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program, 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 annual reports.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1564 PRINTER'S NO. 1625
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1261
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, BARTOLOTTA, PENNYCUICK, VOGEL AND
J. WARD, APRIL 1, 2026
SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
AS AMENDED, APRIL 21, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, IN COMMONWEALTH SERVICES, FURTHER
PROVIDING FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS COMPANIES;
AND, in grants to fire companies and emergency medical
services companies, further providing for definitions, for
publication and notice, for award of grants, for
consolidation incentive, for publication and notice and for
award of grants, repealing provisions relating to COVID-19
Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant
Program, to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery
Grant Program, 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 annual reports.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "career emergency medical
services," "invalid coach" and "volunteer EMS company" in
section 7802 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes are amended to read:
SECTION 1. SECTION 7364(A), (B) AND (B.1) OF TITLE 35 OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES ARE AMENDED TO READ:
§ 7364. ASSISTANCE TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS COMPANIES.
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(A) GENERAL RULE.--THE OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED, UPON
APPLICATION OF ANY FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY, TO MAKE LOANS
FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
(1) ESTABLISHING OR MODERNIZING FACILITIES THAT HOUSE
FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT, AMBULANCE OR RESCUE VEHICLES. THE
AMOUNT OF A LOAN FOR ESTABLISHING OR MODERNIZING FACILITIES
MADE TO ANY ONE FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY SHALL NOT EXCEED
50% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE FACILITIES OR MODERNIZATION OR
[$450,000] $750,000, WHICHEVER IS LESS, AND A NOTARIZED
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FILED UNDER SUBSECTION (C) SHALL SHOW
THAT THE APPLICANT HAS AVAILABLE 20% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE
FACILITIES IN UNOBLIGATED FUNDS. PROCEEDS OF THE LOAN SHALL
BE USED ONLY FOR PURPOSES OF STRUCTURE OR LAND ACQUISITION OR
RENOVATION OR CONSTRUCTION AND SHALL NOT BE USED FOR PAYMENT
OF FEES FOR DESIGN, PLANNING, PREPARATION OF APPLICATIONS OR
ANY OTHER COST NOT DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO STRUCTURE OR LAND
ACQUISITION OR RENOVATION OR CONSTRUCTION.
(2) PURCHASING FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS, AMBULANCES OR
RESCUE VEHICLES. THE AMOUNT OF A LOAN MADE FOR PURCHASING
FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS TO ANY ONE FIRE COMPANY SHALL NOT
EXCEED [$250,000] $375,000 FOR ANY SINGLE FIREFIGHTING
APPARATUS EQUIPMENT OR UTILITY OR SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE OR
HEAVY DUTY RESCUE VEHICLE AS DEFINED BY REGULATION OR
GUIDELINE, OR 50% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE EQUIPMENT OR
VEHICLE, WHICHEVER IS LESS, EXCEPT FOR LOANS FOR AERIAL
APPARATUS AS DEFINED BY REGULATION OR GUIDELINE, WHICH SHALL
NOT EXCEED [$350,000] $750,000. THE AMOUNT OF A LOAN MADE TO
ANY ONE FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY FOR ANY AMBULANCE OR
LIGHT DUTY RESCUE VEHICLE AS DEFINED BY REGULATION OR
GUIDELINE SHALL NOT EXCEED [$125,000] $200,000 AND FOR A
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WATERCRAFT RESCUE VEHICLE SHALL NOT EXCEED [$35,000] $75,000
OR 50% OF THE COST OF THE AMBULANCE OR RESCUE VEHICLE,
WHICHEVER IS LESS, AND A NOTARIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENT FILED
UNDER SUBSECTION (C) SHALL SHOW THAT THE APPLICANT HAS
AVAILABLE 20% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE VEHICLE IN UNOBLIGATED
FUNDS.
(3) PURCHASING PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATION
EQUIPMENT. NO FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY SHALL RECEIVE A
LOAN FOR PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATIVE EQUIPMENT
MORE THAN ONCE IN ANY FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. EACH FIRE COMPANY OR
EMS COMPANY MAY APPLY FOR A LOAN FOR A MOBILE AND PORTABLE
RADIO UNIT FOR EACH EXISTING SERVICEABLE APPARATUS EQUIPMENT,
AMBULANCE OR RESCUE VEHICLE. RADIO EQUIPMENT OBTAINED THROUGH
LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A
FREQUENCY OR FREQUENCIES LICENSED BY THE FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FOR FIREFIGHTING OR EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PURPOSES. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OBTAINED THROUGH
LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL MEET STANDARDS ADOPTED BY
THE COMMISSIONER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DOES
NOT CONTAIN PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS). A
NOTARIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SHALL BE FILED AND LOANS UNDER
THIS SUBCHAPTER FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR
COMMUNICATIVE EQUIPMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED [$25,000] $100,000.
(4) REFINANCING DEBT INCURRED OR CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO
AFTER NOVEMBER 4, 1975, AND USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF
APPARATUS EQUIPMENT OR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR MODERNIZATION
OF FACILITIES OR FOR MODIFICATION OF APPARATUS EQUIPMEN