GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 779

Short Title:  Rural Fire Protection Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Warren; Albertson, Cooper, Kerr, Rand, and Soles.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 10, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE RURAL COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
Whereas, the Rural Community Fire Protection Program in the Division of Forest Resources, Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources has provided funding, surplus government fire trucks, firefighting equipment, and training to the rural fire departments of North Carolina since 1970; and
Whereas, the Division of Forest Resources has assisted rural volunteer fire departments with training and emergency response equipment and vehicles; and
Whereas, in 1997, the United States Department of Agriculture reduced available federal funding such that the Rural Community Fire Protection Program is no longer efficient or able to provide adequate support to the rural volunteer fire departments in North Carolina; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for the Rural Community Fire Protection Program in the Division of Forest Resources.  These funds shall be used only for this Program.  These funds may be used for administrative and operating costs of the Program and may be distributed as grants to rural fire departments in North Carolina pursuant to the Program.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.