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SD 3787

An Act establishing the Firefighter Staffing Grant Program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a dedicated Firefighter Staffing Grant Fund and Council to award grants for hiring, retaining, and training firefighters to NFPA staffing standards.

Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
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Bill Summary · SD 3787

Summary of Bill: SD 3787 (Session 194th) – An Act Establishing the Firefighter Staffing Grant Program

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a new state framework to improve firefighter staffing across municipalities by creating a dedicated grant program and a coordinating council.
  • objetivo: provide financial and organizational support to hire, retain, and train firefighters to meet NFPA staffing standards (NFPA 1710 for career departments; NFPA 1720 for volunteer/combination departments).

Key Provisions

1) Firefighter Staffing Coordinating Council (Chapter 22D)

  • Creates a Firefighter Staffing Coordinating Council within the Department of Fire Services, but not under its control.
  • Composition:
    • Ex officio: Secretary of Public Safety and Security (or designee) and the State Fire Marshal (or designee).
    • Appointed: 5 members by the Governor
    • 2 members from the Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts, Inc.
    • 2 members from the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts
    • 1 representative from the insurance industry
  • Terms and compensation:
    • Appointees serve 3-year terms and may be reappointed.
    • Members do not receive compensation for service.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Conduct a comprehensive municipal firefighter staffing survey every four years to inform grant awards.
    • Administer the Firefighter Staffing Grant Program.
    • Promulgate regulations necessary for implementation within 180 days after the act’s effective date.
    • Establish an application process, forms, deadlines, and submission requirements.
    • Accept applications annually (or more frequently if determined by the council).

2) Firefighter Staffing Grant Fund (Chapter 29)

  • Establishes a dedicated Firefighter Staffing Grant Fund on the Commonwealth’s books.
  • Administration and use:
    • Funded and administered by the Firefighter Staffing Coordinating Council.
    • Expenditures are for financial assistance to eligible municipalities to hire, retain, and train firefighters to meet NFPA 1710 (career departments) or NFPA 1720 (volunteer/combination departments).
  • Funding sources:
    • Appropriations designated to the Fund by the General Court.
    • Federal, private, or other sources designated for firefighter staffing.
    • Interest earned on fund balances.
    • Other sources as designated.
  • Fiscal rules:
    • Money in the Fund shall be expended without further general appropriation.
    • Unexpended balances at the end of a fiscal year do not revert to the General Fund and remain available in subsequent years.

Affected Parties and Scope

  • Municipal fire departments across Massachusetts (career, volunteer, and combination) seeking staffing improvements.
  • Local governments that would potentially receive grants for hiring, retention, and training.
  • Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts, Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, and insurers (represented on the coordinating council).
  • State-level entities: Department of Fire Services, Secretary of Public Safety and Security, State Fire Marshal.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Regulatory timeline: Council must promulgate regulations within 180 days of the act’s effective date.
  • Survey cadence: Comprehensive municipal firefighter staffing survey conducted every four years to inform grant awards.
  • Application process: Annual (or more frequent) grant applications to be established and managed by the council.
  • Docket and actions: Filed March 23, 2026; rules suspended and referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security (April 16, 2026).

Potential Impact

  • Provides a stable, dedicated funding stream for firefighter staffing improvements.
  • Creates data-informed grant awards to help meet NFPA staffing standards.
  • Encourages coordination among public safety leadership, labor, and industry stakeholders in Massachusetts.
  • Potentially accelerates upgrades in staffing, training, and retention across municipalities.

If you’d like, I can add a comparison to current Massachusetts staffing practices or outline potential grant award criteria once they are promulgated.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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