California § 8586.9 - The Office of Emergency Services shall administer the Special District Fire Respo

§ 8586.9. The Office of Emergency Services shall administer the Special District Fire Respo

(a) The Office of Emergency Services shall administer the Special District Fire Response Fund established pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution. (b) The office shall, in coordination with the board of directors of the FIRESCOPE Program, established pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13070) of Part 1 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, do all of the following: (1) Develop a standard application form to be used by special districts that provide fire protection services to apply for grants from the Special District Fire Response Fund that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (A) Description of a special district’s eligibility to receive a grant pursuant to the criteria contained in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution. (B) Specification of the number of additional fire suppression staff that would be supported by the grant. (C) Identification of the benefits to firefighter health and safety and community response in the special district, if the grant is funded. (D) Identification of opportunities to leverage other funding sources, if the grant is funded. (2) Establish an annual timeline for special districts that provide fire protection services to apply for grants from the Special District Fire Response Fund. (3) Employ strategies to ensure that underfunded special districts that provide fire protection services are aware of the availability of the Special District Fire Response Fund to expand and increase fire suppression staffing in qualified districts. (4) Establish reporting requirements for special districts that are awarded grants from the Special District Fire Response Fund. (5) Develop metrics for consideration of grant applications consistent with paragraphs (3) and (4) of Subdivision (f) of Section 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution. (c) Notwithstanding any law, including Section 25210.7, for purposes of receiving grants that are funded by the Special District Fire Response Fund, “special district that provides fire protection services” includes a county service area, as described in Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 25210) of Part 2 of Division 2 of Title 3, formed exclusively for fire protection services.