44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION; PROVIDING FOR A DISTRIBUTION FROM THE FIRE PROTECTION FUND TO PROVIDE FOR VEHICLE AND APPARATUS PURCHASES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Fire Protection Fund Law is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] VEHICLE AND APPARATUS ACQUISITION FUND--CREATED--DISTRIBUTION--ADVISORY COMMITTEE.--

A. The "vehicle and apparatus acquisition fund" is created in the state treasury. Annually, prior to distribution of the fire protection fund as provided in Section 59A-53-7 NMSA 1978, ten percent of the total amount in the fire protection fund shall be distributed to the vehicle and apparatus acquisition fund. Money in the fund shall be distributed annually by the marshal to the treasurers of incorporated municipalities or counties that are recipients of grants to acquire firefighting vehicles and related apparatus as provided in this section.

B. The marshal shall appoint a "vehicle and apparatus acquisition advisory committee" to assist him in developing a grant application process and approving grants for distributions from the fund.

C. Each municipality or county applying for a grant shall provide a detailed statement and plan for providing matching funds and the financial or in-kind match to be provided. A minimum local match of twenty-five percent is required. The municipality or county may satisfy the match requirement through a loan from the New Mexico finance authority.

D. A grant shall not be made for more than seventy-five percent of the cost of a vehicle and shall not exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for each municipality or county."