DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Grant Assistance Program
SUMMARY:
Ordinance will authorize the submission, acceptance and appropriation of funds for up to $12,000.00 for FY 2014. These funds will aid the City by providing the Fire Department with tuition on courses that will keep the Department updated on Fire related courses offered through the Texas Forest Services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The 81st Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1011 in 2009. The law amended portions of the statute governing the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. By statute, the former TCFP Fire Department Emergency Program was abolished effective January 1, 2010. The funds from that program were transferred to the Texas Forest Service. These funds are now used for an entirely new grant program called the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Grant Assistance Program. The program assists career and combination fire departments with grants for the purchase of TIFMAS apparatus, training tuition, Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE), and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
The Training Tuition grants will reimburse 100% of the cost of tuition for eligible courses, not to exceed $85.00 per day per trainee, not to exceed $595.00 per trainee, and not to exceed $6,000.00 per school. The annual maximum cap per department is $12,000.00. These courses are necessary to provide the Fire Department personnel with up to date training. Grants and hosting of classes locally lessens the impact on funds allocated for training.
ISSUE:
This ordinance will allow for the acceptance and appropriation of up to $12,000.00 in funds for future classes and the acceptance of such funds.
ALTERNATIVES:
Non-acceptance of this TIFMAS Grant would reduce the additional training the Department could take advantage of.
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