Relating to the allocation of money appropriated to the rural volunteer fire department assistance program.

Contracts

• Equipment Purchase Agreements: Vendors selling apparatus (fire trucks, tankers) to VFDs contingent on grant funding must amend "Funding Contingency" clauses.
• *New Clause:* Add language specifying that grant availability is subject to the department’s classification as "High Risk" or the release of surplus funds later in the fiscal year.
• *Validity Period:* Extend quote and contract validity through August 31 (fiscal year-end) to capture "spillover" funds if the 10% set-aside is unused and released to the general pool.

Hiring/Training

• Sales Force Education: Equipment distributors must train sales representatives to identify "High Risk" zones immediately upon agency publication. Priority for grant-funded sales must shift to these protected territories.
• Grant Writing Support: Staff assisting VFDs with Form 2007 (Grant Application) must be trained to check the new eligibility box for "High Risk Area" to secure priority processing.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Assessment Audits (Insurers): Tax departments for P&C insurers must track the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Account 5064. Your assessment is no longer capped at $30M; it will equal the total appropriated amount.
• Denial Tracking (Vendors): Maintain a specific log of client VFDs denied funding due to the 10% set-aside. These are your primary leads for re-submission if the funds are released back to the general pool.

Fees & Costs

• Insurance Carriers: High Impact. The statutory cap on assessments funding this program is removed. If the legislature appropriates $50M to this fund, the industry assessment rises from $30M to $50M. Adjust tax accruals accordingly.