(1) The Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program is created within the division to help protect the health and safety of firefighters in this state. The program shall provide financial assistance to help fire departments, including volunteer fire departments, procure equipment, supplies, and educational training designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals.
(2) The division shall administer the program and annually award grants to fire departments on a need-based basis. The division shall distribute equipment and training in a manner that leads to the greatest reduction in incidences of firefighters being exposed to hazardous postfire contaminants.
(3) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules and procedures for the program, including for the approval of applications and development of need-based criteria. These criteria shall include, but are not limited to, the decontamination equipment and supply needs of the fire department, the financial needs of the fire department, and the level of nonstate matching funds proposed in the application. Grant applications must include a minimum of 25 percent nonstate funding.
(4) Grant recipients must:(a) Report their activity to the division for submission in the Fire and Emergency Incident Information Reporting System created under s. 633.136. (b) Comply with the Florida Firefighters Occupational Safety and Health Act, ss. 633.502-633.536. (c) Comply with any other rule determined by the State Fire Marshal to effectively and efficiently implement, administer, and manage the program.
