The Department of Fire Services maintains the state fire code, investigates explosions and fires of unknown or suspicious origin, and regulates the storage and transportation of flammable liquids, explosives, and fireworks. Through the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, the Department also trains local firefighters in the proper techniques for fire suppression and prevention. The Department's Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program provides municipalities with assistance in responding to emergencies involving hazardous materials.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 recommendation creates a new account (8324-0000) for the Department's administrative costs. The recommendation also includes a new account (8324-1007) and a new retained revenue account (8324-1006) for the ongoing operating costs of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program. To reflect these funding changes, the account structure for the Department of Fire Services in Fiscal Year 1999 will be as follows:

Fiscal Year 1999 Spending in Fiscal Year 1998 Account Structure

FY99 Account Structure			FY98 Account Structure
8324-0000	Department of Fire Services Administration	2,129,025	8324-1000	611,315
			8324-1500	1,017,710
			8324-8958	500,000
8324-1000	Fire Prevention Program	738,149	8324-1000	738,149
8324-1006	Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Retained Revenue	500,000	8324-8958	500,000
8324-1007	Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program	700,000	8324-8958	700,000
8324-1500	Massachusetts Firefighting Academy	2,000,573	8324-1500	2,000,573

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
8324-0000	For the operation of the department of fire services; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, 75 per cent of the amount appropriated herein shall be paid to the commonwealth by insurance companies writing fire, homeowners multiple peril, or commercial multiple peril policies on property situated in the commonwealth, within thirty days after said companies shall have received notice from the commissioner of insurance of the amounts due from them	2,129,025

FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM
8324-1000	For the operation of the fire prevention program, including the fire safety commission and the board of fire prevention regulations, pursuant to section 14 of chapter 22 of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the amount appropriated herein shall be paid to the commonwealth by insurance companies writing fire, homeowners multiple peril, or commercial multiple peril policies on property situated in the commonwealth, within thirty days after said companies shall have received notice from the commissioner of insurance of the amounts due from them	738,149

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
8324-1007	For the operation of the hazardous materials emergency response program	700,000

MASSACHUSETTS FIREFIGHTING ACADEMY
8324-1500	For the operation of the fire training program, including the Massachusetts fire training council; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of section 195 of chapter 175 of the General Laws, the amount appropriated herein shall be paid to the commonwealth by insurance companies writing fire, homeowners multiple peril, or commercial multiple peril policies on property situated in the commonwealth, within thirty days after said companies shall have received notice from the commissioner of insurance of the amounts due from them	2,000,573
	Local Aid Fund 100%

Budgetary Retained Revenues

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY RESPONSE RETAINED REVENUE
8324-1006	The department of fire services is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $500,000 in revenues received pursuant to chapter 21K of the General Laws, as inserted by section 27, for the mitigation of hazardous materials emergency response incidents, including the cost of reimbursements to cities and towns responding to said incidents	500,000

Trust and Other Spending

8324-0160

MASSACHUSETTS FIRE ACADEMY TRUST FUND

674,224