Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2403 is enacted to read:

§2403.__Thermal Imaging Camera Program

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Safety.

B.__"Fund" means the Thermal Imaging Camera Fund established in this section.

2. Program established.__The commissioner, with the advice of the State Fire Marshal, shall oversee the Thermal Imaging Camera Program to provide low-interest loans for the purchase or to allow the purchase of thermal imaging cameras by local fire- fighting units and local law enforcement agencies.__The State Fire Marshal shall determine how many thermal imaging cameras local fire-fighting units and local law enforcement agencies wish to purchase and shall negotiate a bulk purchase price for the total number of the cameras.

3.__Fund established.__The Thermal Imaging Camera Fund is established from which the loans authorized under subsection 4 are made.__The fund receives money from appropriations made by the Legislature and may include money from any other public or private source including repayment of loans.__Money deposited in the fund and any earnings on that money remain in the fund to be used for loans pursuant to this section.

4. Loans and purchases authorized.__The commissioner shall make a low-interest loan to a local fire-fighting unit or local law enforcement agency, or the appropriate unit of government with jurisdiction over the unit or agency, to assist in the purchase of a thermal imaging camera or cameras for which the State Fire Marshal negotiated a price in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner for implementing this section.__ The commissioner shall also arrange for the direct purchase of a thermal imaging camera by a local fire-fighting unit or local law enforcement agency if no loan is required.__Any rules adopted to implement this section are routine technical rules pursuant to the Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

Sec. 2. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.