By Michael V. Marzal, USCM Intern
December 8, 2003

Congress passed the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Resources) Act on November 12 as part of a larger defense department authorization bill (H.R. 1588). This act creates a new hiring grant program for firefighters. The SAFER Act of 2003 amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 that will require the establishment of an office within the United States Fire Administration to administer a hiring grant program.

Once established, this new office will make direct four-year grants to state and local career, volunteer, and combination fire departments for staff increases. This grant program is modeled after the highly successful Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) Grant Program as well as the COPS program.

According to the sponsors of the bill, the purpose of this new hiring program is to increase the number of firefighters to help communities meet minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing.

SAFER Hiring Grants would require a local match and limit federal funding per firefighter to $100,000 spread over four years. Departments must commit to retaining newly acquired firefighters for one year past the termination of the grant. Employment applications must also specify long-term plans for retaining newly attained firefighters.

The Act authorizes $1 billion for this program annually, but Congress has not yet appropriated any funding.