To enact section 3737.17 of the Revised Code to create the Small Government Fire Department Services Revolving Loan Program to help certain municipal corporations and townships meet specified fire fighting and emergency medical needs and to make an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Sec. 3737.17. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL SHALL ADMINISTER A SMALL GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM UNDER WHICH THE FIRE MARSHAL MAKES LOANS TO QUALIFYING TOWNSHIPS AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

(A) TO EXPEDITE PURCHASES OF MAJOR EQUIPMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING, AMBULANCE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL, OR RESCUE SERVICES;

(B) TO EXPEDITE PROJECTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS.

A LOAN FOR EITHER PURPOSE UNDER THE SMALL GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM IS NOT TO CARRY INTEREST, AND IS TO BE REPAID WITHIN A TERM OF NOT LONGER THAN TWENTY YEARS. A QUALIFYING TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A LOAN FOR A PROJECT OR PURCHASE UNDER THE PROGRAM UNLESS THE QUALIFYING TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROJECT OR PURCHASE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO AT LEAST FIVE PER CENT OF THE LOAN AMOUNT.

A TOWNSHIP QUALIFIES FOR A LOAN UNDER THE SMALL GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM IF IT HAS A POPULATION OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND OR, REGARDLESS OF ITS POPULATION, IS LOCATED IN A COUNTY HAVING A POPULATION OF LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND. A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION QUALIFIES FOR A LOAN UNDER THE PROGRAM IF IT HAS A POPULATION OF NOT MORE THAN SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED.

A QUALIFYING TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION MAY APPLY TO THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR A LOAN UNDER THE SMALL GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. IN ITS APPLICATION, THE TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL EXPLAIN HOW IT QUALIFIES FOR THE LOAN, DESCRIBE THE PROJECT OR PURCHASE FOR WHICH IT IS REQUESTING A LOAN, STATE THE AMOUNT OF THE LOAN IT REQUESTS, AND STATE THE AMOUNT IT IS PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROJECT OR PURCHASE. THE QUALIFYING TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ITS APPLICATION FOR A LOAN UNDER THE PROGRAM AS REQUESTED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL.

THE FIRE MARSHAL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 119. OF THE REVISED CODE, SHALL ADOPT RULES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SMALL GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM.

General Revenue Fund

GRF	800-404	Small Government Fire Departments - Equipment	$	2,500,000	$	0
GRF	800-406	Small Government Fire Departments - Construction	$	2,500,000	$	0
TOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund			$	5,000,000	$	0
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS			$	5,000,000	$	0

Small Government Fire Departments

The foregoing appropriation items 800-404, Small Government Fire Departments - Equipment, and 800-406, Small Government Fire Departments - Construction, are subject to the following conditions:

(1) The foregoing appropriation item 800-404, Small Government Fire Departments - Equipment, shall be disbursed through the Department of Commerce, State Fire Marshal, to make loans under the Small Government Fire Department Services Revolving Loan Program as provided in division (A) of section 3737.17 of the Revised Code.

(2) The foregoing appropriation item 800-406, Small Government Fire Departments - Construction, shall be disbursed through the Department of Commerce, State Fire Marshal, to make loans under the Small Government Fire Department Services Revolving Loan Program as provided in division (B) of section 3737.17 of the Revised Code.

(3) The Director of Budget and Management, upon receiving a request from the State Fire Marshal, may transfer from appropriation item 800-404, Small Government Fire Departments - Equipment, to appropriation item 800-406, Small Government Fire Departments - Construction, funds not required to make loans under division (A) of section 3737.17 of the Revised Code, and may transfer from appropriation item 800-406, Small Government Fire Departments - Construction, to appropriation item 800-404, Small Government Fire Departments - Equipment, funds not required to make loans under division (B) of section 3737.17 of the Revised Code.

(4) If appropriation item 800-406, Small Government Fire Departments - Construction, is rejected at a referendum, an additional $2,500,000 is hereby appropriated to appropriation item 800-404, Small Government Fire Departments - Equipment.

Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act and shall determine the form and manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made by the main operating appropriations act or main capital appropriations act, as the case may be, of the 122nd General Assembly.

The appropriations made in this act are subject to all provisions of the main operating appropriations act or main capital appropriations act, as the case may be, of the 122nd General Assembly that are generally applicable to General Revenue Fund appropriations.

(B) Section 3737.17 of the Revised Code, except for division (B) of the section; Section 2 of this act, except for appropriation item 800-406, Small Government Fire Departments - Construction, and paragraphs (2) and (3); and this section constitute an item not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the item goes into immediate effect when this act becomes law.