§ 58-87-7.  Oversight and accountability of grant awards.

(a) Examination of Purchased Equipment and Supplies. - To increase accountability and to expedite receipt of certain grant awards, notwithstanding any other provision, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and other employees of the Department of Insurance, if those employees are requested to do so by the State Fire Marshal, may in their discretion conduct on-site examinations of fire, rescue, and EMS equipment and supplies purchased with funds awarded from either the Volunteer Fire Department Fund or the Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund for up to five years from the date of the grant award. The on-site examinations may include the inspection of equipment purchased from prior grants and may be conducted prior to or simultaneous with the delivery of the grant awards. The on-site examination shall document what equipment and supplies have been purchased by the volunteer fire department or volunteer rescue/EMS department and whether those items were received by the department and visually reviewed by the on-site examiner. Items that have already been distributed or put in the field shall be noted by the on-site examiner. The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall maintain records of on-site inspections and provide reports of such inspections, upon request, to the State Auditor or the Office of State Budget and Management.

(b) Reimbursement to Funds. - If equipment purchased with grant funds is disposed of within five years of the date of the grant award funding its purchase, then the grant recipient shall reimburse the appropriate fund the amount of matching funds used for the purchase of the equipment, less depreciation.

(c) Transfer of Purchased Equipment. - If a grant recipient shall cease to exist within five years of the date of award of the grant, it shall transfer, subject to the approval of the State Fire Marshal, any and all equipment purchased with such grant funds to whichever department shall assume responsibility for providing service to the grant recipient's area of service or to another appropriate department that may effectively use the equipment. (2010-22, s. 11; 2014-64, s. 4(d); 2023-151, s. 11.48.)