Office of Emergency Services: State Assistance for Fire Equipment Act: firefighting apparatus and equipment: sale.

Senator McGuire's proposal to modify California's State Assistance for Fire Equipment Act extends the waiting period for out-of-state sales of firefighting equipment and establishes new financing provisions for local agencies purchasing apparatus through the Office of Emergency Services (OES).

The legislation maintains the existing framework where OES can acquire and resell firefighting equipment, while adjusting the timeline before equipment can be offered to out-of-state entities. Under current law, OES must wait 90 days after notifying local agencies before selling equipment to public agencies outside California, federal agencies, or Indian tribes. The new measure extends this period to 100 days. For local agency purchases made in installments, the bill caps interest rates at one percentage point below the Pooled Money Investment Board rate and limits payment terms to five years. The measure also permits OES to provide insurance for loans that local agencies obtain from other sources to finance equipment purchases.

The sales priority system continues to place rural fire agencies first in line for equipment purchases, followed by other local agencies within California. Only after the extended 100-day notice period and documented efforts to sell to in-state agencies can OES offer remaining apparatus to out-of-state public agencies, federal entities, and tribal governments, subject to federal requirements.