HB 455 — Relating to volunteer fire departments; to amend Sections 9-3-11, 9-3-12, and 9-3-13, Code of Alabama 1975, to create and provide duties and procedures for the Rural and Community Fire Protection Advisory Committee; and to add Section 9-3-21 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to create and provide procedures for administration of the Rural and Community Fire Protection Development and Improvement Grant Program.

HB455 ENGROSSEDENROLLED 508NM3-2508NM3-3 By Representatives Standridge, Lovvorn, Shedd, Harbison, Shaver, Smith, Sorrells, Hammett, Robertson, Crawford, Chestnut, Travis, Pringle, Reynolds, Hill RFD:

09-May-23 2023 Regular Session Page 0 HB455 EngrossedEnrolled 2Enrolled, 4An AAct, BILL3 TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 9 Relating to volunteer fire departments;

"§9-3-11 The State Forester is hereby authorized and required to shall create a steering committee the Rural and Community Fire Protection Advisory Committee to represent rural community certified volunteer fire departments and to support the development and improvement of rural and community fire protection throughout the state." "§9-3-12 Said steering committee shall be composed of 13 Page 1 HB455 Engrossed members;

The President of the Alabama Page 1 HB455 Enrolled Association of Fire Chiefs shall appoint one member of his association to serve on the committee, the President of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments shall appoint one member of his association to serve on the committee, and the President of the Alabama Firemen's Association shall appoint a member of his association to serve on the committee.

(3) One member of the Alabama Firefighter's Association Page 2 HB455 Engrossed shall be appointed by the president of that association.

Page 2 HB455 Enrolled a.

Page 3 HB455 Engrossed All appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments to assure the committee's membership is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban and rural, and economic diversity of the state." "§9-3-13 Page 3 HB455 Enrolled The steering advisory committee shall make recommendations to the State Forester regarding how to improve the rural community fire program and how to solve immediate problems including parts exchange, training and financial assistance through federal grants the development and 95 improvement of rural and community fire protection throughout this state.

The advisory committee shall also make recommendations to the Alabama Forestry Commission regarding rural and community fire protection grants awarded pursuant to Section 9-3-21." 95 Section 2.

This fund shall be Page 4 HB455 Engrossed administered by the commission and all monies disbursed from the fund shall be under the supervision of the State Forester.

Any unexpended or Page 4 HB455 Enrolled unencumbered funds remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall be retained for continued use in accordance with this section.

Page 5 HB455 Engrossed (4) To build, expand, or maintain structures having the primary purpose of housing certified volunteer fire departments and their equipment.

(5) To enable or improve communication capabilities for certified volunteer fire departments, including creating or Page 5 HB455 Enrolled expanding broadband Internet access, erecting or maintaining communication towers and equipment, and acquiring real property upon which to place communication towers having the primary purpose of serving a department.

When awarding funding pursuant to this Page 6 HB455 Engrossed section, the commission shall consider both the geographic and racial diversity of the state.

(g) The commission may also directly expend a portion of the funds in the Rural and Community Fire Protection Development and Improvement Fund in furtherance of any of the Page 6 HB455 Enrolled goals stated in subsection (d).

(j) The Alabama Forestry Commission may adopt rules as Page 7 HB455 Engrossed necessary to implement and administer this section.

(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the powers, authority, and jurisdiction of the Division of Construction Management within the Department of Finance shall not extend to any property or construction Page 7 HB455 Enrolled project purchased or funded, in whole or in part, with monies derived from the Rural and Community Fire Protection Development and Improvement Fund;

Page 8 HB455 EngrossedEnrolled House________________________________________________ Speaker of Representativesthe ReadHouse forof theRepresentatives first________________________________________________ timePresident and referredPresiding ................09-May-23Officer toof the Senate House of Representatives committeeI onhereby Urbancertify andthat Ruralthe Developmentwithin ReadAct fororiginated thein second time and placedwas ................11-May-23passed onby the calendar:House 16-May-23 as amended.

amendment Read for the third time and passed ................16-May-23 as amended Yeas 103 Nays 0 Abstains 0 John Treadwell Clerk Senate 24-May-23 Passed Page 9