Section 291.50  Grant Application Review Committee

a)         The State Fire Marshal shall appoint a Grant Review Committee to determine the eligibility of grant applicants, the amounts of individual grants, and the priority of each grant application.  If, for any reason, a successful applicant is unable to fulfill the terms of the grant or withdraws the request after it has been approved, the application's priority shall be used to determine which of the unsuccessful applicants will be next to be offered a grant in place of the withdrawing department.

b)         The Committee shall consist of the following seven members:

1)         The State Fire Marshal, as chairman;

2)         Three Fire Chiefs (one each from a volunteer department, a combination department and a career/municipal department);

3)         One representative from the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois;

4)         One member who is a volunteer firefighter; and

5)         One member from the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts.

c)         The six members referenced in subsections (b)(2)-(5) shall be the same individuals who are appointed to represent those organizations on the Loan Application Review Committee established under 41 Ill. Adm. Code 290.40.

d)         Members shall serve without salary, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses by the Office from appropriations for that purpose.

e)         All members shall have one vote, except that the State Fire Marshal shall only vote to break a tie.

f)          Members shall serve a term of four years. The members originally appointed under this Part shall serve for the remainder of their terms on the Loan Application Review Committee created by 41 Ill. Adm. Code 290.40.

g)         Upon the expiration of a member's term, the State Fire Marshal may reappoint that member or appoint a successor who is a representative of the same interests with which his or her predecessor was identified.

h)         Replacement of a Member

1)         The State Fire Marshal may, at any time, remove any of the respective appointees for inefficiency or neglect of duty in office. 

2)         All members shall serve ex officio. A member shall continue to serve only as long as he or she holds the position that made that individual eligible to serve under the criteria prescribed by subsection (b).

3)         In the instances described in subsections (b)(1) and (2), or upon the death or incapacity of a member, the State Fire Marshal shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term by appointing a member who is a representative of the same interests with which his or her predecessor was identified.

i)          Appointees shall geographically represent the State.

j)          As determined by the State Fire Marshal, the Committee shall meet and organize within 10 days after the appointment of its members and, at that meeting, shall elect a Secretary from among the members to serve a term to be fixed by the Committee.

k)         Meetings of the Committee shall occur as often as deemed necessary by the State Fire Marshal, at a date, time and place to be fixed by the Committee (or by the State Fire Marshal, should he or she call for the meeting) and at such additional times as the Committee deems necessary to consider any business as properly may come before it.