 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
appropriation; fire incident management
Purpose
Appropriates a total of $2,545,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2027 to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for fire incident management.
Background
In 2023, the Legislature established the Fire Incident Management Fund (Fund) administered by ADOA to provide grants to municipal fire departments and fire districts for hardware and software that enables the statewide 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, the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act appropriated $12.2 million in one-time monies to ADOA and the FY 2026 General Appropriation Act appropriated $2,291,600 in one-time monies to ADOA for fire incident management system grants (Laws 2022, Ch. 313; Laws 2023, Ch. 133; and Laws 2025, Ch. 233).
The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was established by the Federal National Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 and participation for fire departments in Arizona is mandatory. Currently, Arizona uses NFIRS to report fires and other incidents and to 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 and NFIRS).
S.B. 1580 appropriates $2,545,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA.
Provisions
1. Appropriates the following amounts from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA to distribute to the following entities for fire incident management:
a) $49,700 to the Pinetop Fire District;
b) $145,700 to the Vernon Fire District;
c) $99,400 to the Surprise Fire-medical Department;
d) $160,900 to the Gilbert Fire and Rescue;
e) $49,700 to the Buckeye Fire-medical-rescue Department;
f) $132,500 to the Goodyear Fire Department;
g) $49,700 to the Daisy Mountain Fire District;
h) $1,044,000 to the Scottsdale Fire Department;
i) $552,400 to the Chandler Fire Department; and
j) $261,000 to the Superstition Fire Department.
2. Requires the outlined appropriated monies to be used for hardware or 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2026
SB/hk