661—265.11(10A) Local fire protection and emergency medical service providers grant program. The local fire protection and emergency medical service providers grant program is established by Iowa Code section 10A.519(7). The grant program is funded with only those moneys from the consumer fireworks fee fund that are not needed by the department to fulfill the responsibilities of the department for the administration and enforcement of Iowa Code sections 10A.519 and 10A.520.
	265.11(1) Definitions. The following definitions apply.
“Emergency medical services” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 147A.1(5).
“Fire protection service” means volunteer or paid fire departments.
	265.11(2) Authorized applicants. Any local fire protection service provider or local emergency medical service provider in the state of Iowa may apply for grant funds from the local fire protection and emergency medical service providers grant program.
	265.11(3) Authorized purposes of grant funds. The grant funds in the local fire protection and emergency medical service providers grant program may be used for the following in order of priority:
	a. 	To establish or provide fireworks safety education programming to members of the public.
	b. 	To purchase necessary enforcement, protection, or emergency response equipment related to the sale and use of consumer fireworks in this state.
	c. 	To purchase necessary enforcement, protection, or emergency response equipment.
	265.11(4) Application. An application for grant funds should be made to the department. The application form may be found on the department’s website. Applications must be received on or before June 30 of each year. The application will include all of the following:
	a. 	The application shall be signed by a person who is an official, owner, or another person who has authorization to sign on behalf of the fire protection service or the emergency medical service provider entity.
	b. 	The specifics of the proposed use of the grant funds.
	(1)	If the application is for equipment, the applicant should include a detailed description of the equipment, the company or entity from which the purchase will be made, the cost, and a justification as to how this equipment purchase fits the purposes of the grant program.
	(2)	If the application is for safety education programming, the application should include a detailed description of the programming, the specific people who will be providing the programming, and a description of the materials to be purchased and used.
	c. 	The amount of grant funds requested.
	265.11(5) Approval of application. The director of the department will review the application and determine whether to make the award of grant funds. The director of the department has the sole discretion in determining whether or not to award funds from the grant program to the applicant and the amount of funds awarded to each applicant. Factors to be considered in making an award of grant funds include, but are not limited to:
	a. 	The amount of grant funds available.
	b. 	The number of applicants for grant funds.
	c. 	The proposed use of the grant funds and whether the use is consistent with the approved program purposes.
	d. 	Whether the applicant has previously been approved for grant funds from this program.
	e. 	The applicant’s use of any previous grant funds received from the program.
	265.11(6) Award of tangible property. Should the department determine that the purpose of the grant program is better served by awarding tangible property, such as equipment, rather than funds, the department has the authority to award tangible property purchased with grant funds rather than disperse grant funds to the applicants.
	265.11(7) Report required. All grant recipients shall file a report with the department that lists the amount of grant funds received and the purpose(s) for which the grant funds were spent. The department may conduct an inspection or audit to determine compliance with the rules and purposes of the grant program, in addition to any other authorized audits.
[ARC 7872C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]