§2233 Removal of civil liability barriers that discourage the donation of fire equipment to volunteer fire companies

Summary

Stops people from being sued for money damages if they give qualified fire or rescue equipment to a volunteer fire company and the equipment later causes injury, property loss, or death. It does not protect someone who acted with gross negligence or on purpose to cause harm, the manufacturer of the equipment, or anyone who changed the equipment after it had been checked and certified to meet the maker’s specs. The law overrides conflicting state rules, but a State may still give donors more protection than this law provides. "Person" includes government bodies. "Fire control or rescue equipment" covers items like fire trucks, tools, radios, protective gear, hoses, and breathing gear. "Qualified" means the item was rechecked and certified by an authorized technician. A "volunteer fire company" is a fire group where at least 30 percent of members get little or no pay compared with the entry-level full-time pay in that group or the nearest similar group. An "authorized technician" is one certified by the equipment maker. The rule only applies to donations made on or after the date 30 days after March 9, 2006.