(A) Title. This section shall be known as the “Township Emergency Service Cost Reimbursement Ordinance.”
(B) Authority, findings and purpose.
(1) Authority. Under § 1803(b) of the Second Class Township Code, 53 P.S. § 66803(b), the township has the authority to make rules and regulation for the government of fire companies located within the township.
(2) Findings. The township recognizes that the duties of volunteer fire companies require specialized emergency rescue tools and equipment, emergency rescue materials, hazardous material abatement equipment and hazardous abatement materials during emergency responses. The township recognizes that such tools and equipment place a financial burden on volunteer fire companies, and the replacement of such materials and specialized training add to the additional financial burden for volunteer fire companies.
(3) Purpose. To grant any fire company operating in the township (“Fire Departments”) the authority to seek reimbursement for the reasonable cost of responding to such incidents, either directly or in coordination with the Office of Emergency Management, as provided below.
(C) Recovery of costs.
(1) The township authorizes the Fire Departments to recover the reasonable cost of emergency rescue tools, equipment and materials; hazardous material abatement tools, equipment and materials; and personnel hours involving any hazardous material, environmental, fire safety and/or rescue incident or operation, including vehicular accidents.
(2) The reasonable costs outlined above may be recovered directly by the Fire Departments or through a third party billing service as an authorized agent for the collection of such costs.
(3) The Fire Departments or third party billing service shall only have the authority to recovery the aforementioned costs from the applicable insurance company/carrier.
(4) The reimbursement rates for the aforementioned tools, equipment and materials shall be set by the Fire Departments from time to time and shall be only applied to the recovery of costs arising out of incidents that occurred subsequent to the setting of the rates. These rates shall be approved by the township and be kept on file in the Township Building.
(5) In addition to the aforementioned reasonable costs, the Fire Departments or third party billing service shall be authorized to collect reasonable interest, as well as a reasonable administrative fee for collecting the same, and any and all additional fees as may be authorized by the Hazardous Material and Emergency Planning and Response Act or authorized by any other statute or law.
(D) Responsibility of the township. The township shall not be responsible for any aspect of the recovery of costs under this section. The township shall not take any steps to assist the Fire Departments or any third party billing service in recovery of costs under this section.
(E) Revocation of grant of authority. Any attempt by a Fire Department or third party billing service to recover costs from any individual/entity other than the appropriate insurance company/carrier shall result in the immediate revocation of the authority to recover such costs granted under this section.
(Ord. 184, passed 6-13-2007)