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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
H. B. No. 274
2025-2026
Representatives Thomas, D., Hall, T.
Cosponsors: Representatives Williams,
Johnson, Robb Blasdel, Fischer
To
enact
sections
9.51
and 9.511
of the Revised Code
to
require townships and municipal corporations to provide firefighting
services and emergency medical services and to establish the Fire and
EMS Shared Services Reimbursement Grant Program.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
sections
9.51
and 9.511
of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
9.51.
(A)
Each municipal corporation shall provide in the municipal
corporation, and each township shall provide in the unincorporated
territory of the township, the following services:
(1)
Fire-fighting services;
(2)
Emergency medical services.
(B)
The services required under division (A) of this section shall be
provided using one or more of the following methods:
(1)
Directly by the township or municipal corporation via authority
granted in the Ohio Constitution or another section of the Revised
Code;
(2)
Via district or joint district under authority granted in another
section of the Revised Code;
(3)
Via contract under authority granted in another section of the
Revised Code;
(4)
Via other authority granted in another section of the Revised Code.
(C)
This section does not grant general authority to provide the services
listed in division (A) of this section.
Sec.
9.511.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Eligible expense" means any expense related to the
following:
(a)
Joining a district, joint district, or regional council of
governments including related election expenses, or entering into a
contract as specified under division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this
section;
(b)
Equipment, training, or personnel related to the provision of an
eligible service incurred by the township or municipal corporation
within one year after joining a district, joint district, or regional
council of governments or entering into a contract as specified under
division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.
(2)
"Eligible service" means either of the following:
(a)
Firefighting services;
(b)
Emergency medical services.
(B)
The fire and emergency medical shared services reimbursement grant
program is created. The state fire marshal shall administer the
program, under which the state fire marshal shall provide grants to
eligible townships and municipal corporations to reimburse eligible
expenses.
(C)
A township or municipal corporation is eligible to receive a grant
under the program if, on or after the effective date of this section,
the township or municipal corporation does any of the following for
the purpose of providing one or more eligible services:
(1)
Joins a newly created district, joint district, or regional council
of governments;
(2)
Joins an existing district, joint district, or regional council of
governments;
(3)
Enters into a new contract, not substantially similar to an existing
or recently expired contract, with another governmental entity.
(D)
Not less than one year after the township or municipal corporation
joins a district, joint district, or regional council of governments
or enters into a contract as specified under division (C)(1), (2), or
(3) of this section, but not more than two years thereafter, a
township or municipal corporation may apply for reimbursement under
the grant program in the manner prescribed by the state fire marshal.
Subject to the availability of funds, the state fire marshal shall
reimburse fifty per cent of the eligible expenses, up to one hundred
thousand dollars. A township or municipal corporation shall not
receive more than one reimbursement under the program.
Section
2.
Section
1 of this act takes effect January 1, 2026.