A little-noticed section of Delaware's fiscal 2027 budget bill shifts a compliance cost away from volunteer fire companies—and it matters to manufacturers who rely on emergency response.
Most Delaware manufacturers don't realize that a provision buried deep in SB337 affects the operational stability of the volunteer fire companies that protect their facilities and employees.
Here's what's happening: Delaware's legislature has appropriated $240,000 to the State Fire Prevention Commission specifically to cover the cost of mandatory IdentoGO criminal background check processing fees for fire company volunteers. This is a real, direct cost that would otherwise come out of the pockets of volunteer-staffed fire organizations—many of which operate as small nonprofits with tight budgets.
Fire companies are required to conduct criminal background checks on volunteers as part of state compliance. The IdentoGO system processes these checks, and there's a fee attached. For a small volunteer organization, these fees add up quickly. By having the state cover these costs instead, the bill removes a financial burden that could otherwise force volunteer companies to cut services, delay recruitment, or ask volunteers to pay out of pocket.
For manufacturers—especially those in areas served primarily by volunteer fire departments—this matters because it helps keep those departments staffed and operational. Understaffed or underfunded fire services can mean slower response times, reduced capacity, and complications for emergency planning and insurance.
The provision is found in Section 23 on Page 29 of SB337, titled "An Act Making Appropriations For Certain Grants-in-aid For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2027." The $240,000 appropriation covers the mandatory background check processing fees for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
This is not a permanent fix—it's a one-year appropriation tied to the 2027 fiscal budget. If the state wants to continue covering these costs beyond that date, it would need to appropriate funds again in future budget cycles.
The background check requirement itself remains in place. Volunteer fire companies still must conduct these checks; the state is simply paying the processing fee rather than requiring the organizations to do so. This is a cost-shifting measure, not a regulatory change.
If your facility depends on volunteer fire response, this provision helps ensure those organizations can continue operating without diverting limited funds away from equipment, training, and staffing. It's a modest but meaningful investment in the infrastructure that supports business continuity and employee safety in Delaware's manufacturing communities.
Source: SB337, Section 23, Page 29; Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission appropriations for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2027.