Establishes the volunteer fire infrastructure and response equipment (V-FIRE) grant program to support projects which sustain or enhance fire prevention and response operations, and fire prevention and response services infrastructure and equipment.
S10096 establishes a new Volunteer Fire Infrastructure and Response Equipment (V-FIRE) grant program within the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, administered by the commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The program would provide competitive capital grants, subject to appropriation, to support projects that sustain or improve fire prevention and response operations and related infrastructure and equipment. Eligible uses include buildings, training facilities, technology, vehicles, firefighter rehabilitation equipment, communications technology, and other safety equipment.
The bill defines who may apply and what kinds of projects qualify. Eligible applicants include volunteer fire departments and fire companies, municipalities, counties applying on behalf of local departments with documented approval, and multiple municipalities pursuing shared projects that benefit more than one fire department. Eligible facility projects include acquisition, construction, renovation, rehabilitation, leasehold improvements, and electrical or other infrastructure upgrades to fire department buildings. The bill also requires the agency to publish a report after each application cycle detailing available funding, applicants, firefighter counts, requested amounts, and awardees, and it authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations to implement the program.
If enacted, the bill would add a new section 157-a to the Executive Law and create a state grant program specifically targeted to volunteer fire service capital needs. It would not mandate local spending or alter fire protection duties directly, but it would establish a state-administered funding mechanism that could affect fire departments, municipalities, counties, and nonprofit fire companies across New York. The bill also imposes reporting and administrative requirements on the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, including publication of grant-cycle data and award information.
The available record suggests generally favorable support for the bill’s purpose, as reflected by its advancement through introduction, committee referral, committee discharge, amendment, and recommittal for further consideration. The bill’s framing as support for volunteer fire infrastructure and equipment indicates a policy goal likely to attract support from fire service advocates and local governments seeking capital assistance. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be funding availability, competitive grant allocation, and eligibility rules. Because awards are subject to appropriation and made on a competitive basis, applicants may be concerned about limited funding and uneven distribution across counties or departments. The bill also gives the commissioner discretion to require additional pre-qualifications and documentation, particularly for nonprofit fire companies and counties applying on behalf of local departments, which could be a source of administrative concern. Another possible issue is whether the program sufficiently addresses the needs of volunteer departments versus other fire service entities, but no explicit opposition is documented in the provided record.