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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; fire incident management grants.
Purpose
Appropriates $6.5 million in FY 2026 from the state General Fund (state GF) to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for a fire incident management grant program.
Background
In 2023, the Legislature established the Fire Incident Management Fund (Fund) administered by ADOA to provide hardware and software that enables the deployment of a secure incident management platform (Laws 2023, Ch. 138). The FY 2023 General Appropriations Act appropriated $6.1 million in one time monies to ADOA and the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act appropriated $12.2 million in one time monies to ADOA for fire incident management system grants (Laws 2022, Ch. 313 and Laws 2023, Ch. 133).
The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was established by the National Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 and requires states to participate (NFIRS). Currently, Arizona uses NFIRS to report fires and other incidents and to and maintain records of incidents in a uniform manner to which fire departments respond. The data collected can be used for planning future fire department needs, identifying resource needs and prioritizing training (DFFM).
S.B. 1149 appropriates $6.5 million in FY 2026 from the state GF to ADOA.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $6.5 million from the state GF in FY 2026 to ADOA for a fire incident management grant program.
2. Caps the amount of monies that ADOA can use to administer the program, including conducting audits of grant recipients, at $250,000.
3. Requires the remaining monies to be used to provide grants to municipal fire departments and fire districts for hardware and software that:
a) enables the statewide deployment of a secure incident management platform to fire and law enforcement agencies;
b) provides a standardized incident command and management platform based on federal emergency management agency standards that enable diverse incident management and supports entities to work together; and
c) provides a collaboration and communications solution.
4. Requires the incident command and management platform to ensure the following:
a) a clearly defined chain of command;
b) the use of common terminology;
c) the safety of first responders and others;
d) the achievement of response objectives; and
e) the efficient use of resources.
5. Requires the collaboration and communications solution to:
a) identify the location, status and assignment of assigned resources;
b) allow status updates, tracking and management of an incident;
c) allow secure messaging and file sharing to all users involved in an incident;
d) allow the sharing of collaborative maps, building floor plans and images between public safety agencies;
e) allow collaboration and information sharing between disparate agencies during a mass casualty incident;
f) define a federal emergency management agency or national incident management systems based organizational structure for the management of incidents;
g) provide the ability to print standard integrated computer solutions forms for tracking and cost reimbursement;
h) provide enhanced telemetry-based firefighter safety monitoring;
i) work in areas without internet access in a disconnected mode;
j) provide a seamless and connected platform for notification, response and rostering;
k) provide cross platform functionality; and
l) provide a smartphone-based application for notification, accountability and situational awareness.
6. Allows each municipal fire department or fire district in Arizona to submit a grant request to ADOA for the costs of the secure incident management system that meets all of the outlined criteria.
7. Requires ADOA to award grants on a first-come, first-served basis.
8. Requires grants that are awarded to fully fund the costs of the secure incident management system for each municipal fire department or fire district for three years.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 24, 2025
SB/slp