NC S830

Establishes the Firefighting Foam Replacement Fund as a special fund in the Department of Environmental Quality to support replacement of Class B firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals with PFAS-free alternatives.

Defines eligible applicants as fire departments certified by the Department of Insurance that are located in development tier one counties, consist entirely of volunteer members (except up to six full-time positions), and eligible local governments that provide firefighting services.

Limits grants to a maximum of $100,000 per applicant, with a requirement that grant recipients document and report the quantity of PFAS-containing foam replaced.

Appropriates $5,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to support the grant program.

Requires the Department to submit annual reports by February 1 to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources detailing the number of applications, amounts requested and awarded, and list of recipients.

Becomes effective July 1, 2022.