Budget Amendment ID: FY2024-S3-875

EPS 875

Establishment of the PFAS Research and Development Public Safety Fund

Messrs. Moore, Eldridge and Tarr, Ms. Gobi and Messrs. Mark, Pacheco, Brady, Feeney, Velis and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 8324-0000, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for the PFAS Research and Development Public Safety Fund established under section 2RRRRR of chapter 29 of the General Laws”; and by striking out the figure “$36,555,544” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$37,555,544”;

and by inserting after section ___ the following section: -

“SECTION __. Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 2QQQQQ following new section:-

Section 2RRRRR. There shall be established and set up on the books of the Commonwealth a PFAS Research and Development Public Safety Fund. For the purposes of this section, the term “PFAS” shall include Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances. The secretary of public safety and security shall administer the fund. The fund shall consist of amounts credited to the fund from: (i) any appropriations, grants, gifts or other money authorized by the general court or other parties and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; and (ii) any income derived from the investment of amounts credited to the fund. Any unexpended balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent fiscal year. Amounts credited to the fund may be expended, without further appropriation, by the secretary on related programs, grants and costs. Such fund shall be used to support the development, testing and purchasing of a PFAS-free Firefighter Turnout Gear moisture barrier material and design that meet or exceed current NFPA standards without compromising protection or performance and the development and testing of other new materials and designs for turnout gear that reduce the inherent dangers firefighters face, including but not limited to, enhanced protection against primary and secondary exposure to particulates and byproducts of combustion and reduced maintenance that includes contamination resistance and greater ease of cleaning for any new technical fabrics or designs.”