Bill > SB980

This bill increases the maximum loan amount from $25,000 to $100,000 that fire companies and emergency medical services (EMS) companies can receive for purchasing protective, accessory, or communication equipment, while generally requiring that new protective equipment be free of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—a group of man-made chemicals often called "forever chemicals" because they persist in the environment and human body—though the State Fire Commissioner can grant waivers if no reasonable PFAS-free alternatives exist. To fund these loans, grants, and related programs, the legislation allows money from the state's Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund to be used by the State Fire Commissioner upon the Governor's approval. Furthermore, the bill phases in a statewide ban on the manufacture, sale, and use of Class B firefighting foam (which is designed to extinguish flammable-liquid fires) containing intentionally added PFAS, with specific timelines, federal exceptions, and exemptions for high-risk facilities like airports, oil refineries, and natural gas terminals. It directs the State Fire Commissioner to help firefighting entities transition away from PFAS foam, develop disposal and destruction plans for old foam, and maintain vendor lists, with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Attorney General handling enforcement and civil penalties up to $10,000 for violations. Additionally, the bill requires manufacturers of firefighter personal protective equipment—such as jackets, pants, and helmets—to provide clear warning labels and online notices if their gear contains intentionally added PFAS, enforced by the State Fire Commissioner with similar civil penalties. Finally, the measure expands the allowable uses of state grant money for fire companies to explicitly cover the proper disposal of old PFAS foam and the purchase of safer, PFAS-free alternatives, with all collected civil penalties redirected back into grant programs for fire and EMS companies.