Section 1935-B. Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
The following shall apply to appropriations for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency:
(1) Money appropriated for search and rescue programs shall be used to support programs related to training working service dogs focusing on rescue and public safety.
(2) Money appropriated for the State Fire Commissioner includes funding for a Statewide recruitment and retention coordinator and regional technical advisors to develop, implement and deliver recruitment and retention training programs and provide technical assistance to local fire organizations and local governments.
(3) From money appropriated for urban search and rescue, up to $6,000,000 shall be distributed to the sponsoring agency of an urban search and rescue task force organized within a regional counterterrorism task force covering a county of the second class established under 35 Pa.C.S. Ch. 72 (relating to counterterrorism planning, preparedness and response). Money distributed under this paragraph shall be used for equipment, equipment storage, training, administration and operating costs necessary for the urban search and rescue task force to meet or exceed the minimum requirements of a Type 3 urban search and rescue task force as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the resource-typing definition contained in the National Incident Management System guidelines, document identification number 8-508-1262, published in September 2020 and as defined in a mutually-agreed upon budget between the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the sponsoring agency. The sponsoring agency may also use no more than 3% of the money appropriated for administrative costs directly related to administering this paragraph. The minimum requirements of a Type 3 urban search and rescue task force as defined by FEMA in the resource-typing definition contained in the NIMS guidelines, document identification number 8-508-1262, published in September 2020 under 35 Pa.C.S. § 7214(a)(1)(ii)(B) (relating to urban search and rescue response teams) shall be met by January 5, 2028.
(4) For fiscal year 2026-2027, the agency may use up to $1,000,000 of unencumbered, unexpended funds previously appropriated for State disaster assistance to supplement disaster preparedness and emergency management activities.
(1935-B added July 12, 2026, P.L.265, No.21)