Senate Bill No. 338, identified as File No. 139, is a legislative proposal aimed at expanding the eligibility for grants to remove perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from fire apparatus. The bill proposes to amend subsection (b) of section 41 of public act 23-204 by repealing subdivision (10) and substituting it with new provisions. The new language extends the availability of $3,000,000 in grants, originally allocated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, to not only municipalities but also to independent fire companies and state agencies. Additionally, the bill allows for these grants to be used to reimburse expenses for PFAS removal from fire apparatus that occurred prior to July 1, 2023.

The bill also includes a provision that any unspent funds from the allocated $3,000,000 at the end of the fiscal year 2024 will not lapse but will be carried forward to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. This ensures the continued availability of funds for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to provide grants for the same purpose. The bill is effective upon passage and has received a Joint Favorable report from the Public Safety and Security Committee with a unanimous vote of 23-0 on March 12, 2024. The fiscal impact statement indicates that there may be a potential transfer of costs from various state agencies to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, with no fiscal impact in the out years.