 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
appropriation; fire incident management grants
Purpose
Appropriates $6.5 million in FY 2026 from the state General Fund (state GF) to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for a fire incident management grant program.
Background
In 2023, the Legislature established the Fire Incident Management Fund (Fund) administered by ADOA to provide grants to municipal fire departments and fire districts for hardware and software that enables the statewide deployment of a secure incident management platform (Laws 2023, Ch. 138). The FY 2023 General Appropriations Act appropriated $6.1 million in one-time monies to ADOA and the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act appropriated $12.2 million in one-time monies to ADOA for fire incident management system grants (Laws 2022, Ch. 313 and Laws 2023, Ch. 133).
The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was established by the National Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 and participation for fire departments in Arizona is mandatory. Currently, Arizona uses NFIRS to report fires and other incidents and to maintain records of incidents in a uniform manner to which fire departments respond. The data collected can be used for planning future fire department needs, identifying resource needs and prioritizing training (DFFM and NFIRS).
S.B. 1297 appropriates $6.5 million in FY 2026 from the state GF to ADOA.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $6.5 million in FY 2026 from the state GF to ADOA for a fire incident management grant program.
2. Caps the amount of appropriated monies that ADOA may use to administer the fire incident grant program, including conducting audits of grant recipients, at $250,000.
3. Requires the remaining monies to be used to provide grants to municipal fire departments and fire districts for hardware and software that:
a) enables the statewide deployment of a secure incident management platform to fire and law enforcement agencies;
b) provides a standardized incident command and management platform based on federal emergency management agency standards that enable diverse incident management and supports entities to work together; and
c) provides a collaboration and communications solution.
4. Requires the incident command and management platform to ensure the following:
a) a clearly defined chain of command;
b) the use of common terminology;
c) the safety of first responders and others;
d) the achievement of response objectives; and
e) the efficient use of resources.
5. Requires the collaboration and communications solution to:
a) identify the location, status and assignment of assigned resources;
b) allow status updates, tracking and management of an incident;
c) allow secure messaging and file sharing to all users involved in an incident;
d) allow the sharing of collaborative maps, building floor plans and images between public safety agencies;
e) allow collaboration and information sharing between disparate agencies during a mass casualty incident;
f) define a federal emergency management agency or national incident management systems based organizational structure for the management of incidents;
g) provide the ability to print standard integrated computer solutions forms for tracking and cost reimbursement;
h) provide enhanced telemetry-based firefighter safety monitoring;
i) work in areas without internet access in a disconnected mode;
j) provide a seamless and connected platform for notification, response and rostering;
k) provide cross platform functionality; and
l) provide a smartphone-based application for notification, accountability and situational awareness.
6. Allows each municipal fire department or fire district in Arizona to submit a grant request to ADOA for the costs of the secure incident management system that meets all of the outlined criteria.
7. Requires ADOA to award grants on a first-come, first-served basis.
8. Requires ADOA, by December 31, 2025, to submit a report to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House Representatives, Governor and provide a copy to the Secretary of State on the grant program.
9. Requires the report to include the name of each applicant that applied for a grant, the name of each entity that was awarded a grant and the amount awarded to each entity.
10. Requires grants that are awarded to:
a) fully fund the costs of the secure incident management system for each municipal fire department or fire district for three years; and
b) contain a requirement that any portion of a grant award that is not fully encumbered by a municipal fire department or fire district within one year after the award is made must be returned to ADOA.
11. Requires any portion of a grant award made with monies previously appropriated for fire incident management grants that are not fully encumbered by a municipal fire department or fire district within six months after the general effective date to be returned to ADOA.
12. Allows ADOA to use the outlined unencumbered monies that are returned to ADOA to award additional grants for the Fire Incident Management Grant Program.
13. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
14. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the Appropriations Committee
1. Adds a reporting requirement for ADOA to submit to the Legislature and Governor.
2. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires grants that are awarded for the fire incident management grant program to contain a requirement that any portion of a grant award that is not fully encumbered by a municipal fire department or fire district within one year after the award is made must be returned to ADOA.
2. Requires any portion of a grant award made with monies previously appropriated for fire incident management grants that are not fully encumbered by a municipal fire department or fire district within six months after the general effective date to be returned to ADOA.
3. Allows ADOA to use the outlined unencumbered monies that are returned to ADOA to award additional grants for the fire incident management grant program.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
NR 2/4/25 DP 7-1-0
APPROP 2/11/25 DPA 10-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 27, 2025
SB/slp