(a) The director shall seek funding for the program from the private sector, grant programs, and other appropriate sources.

(b) The director, after consultation with the advisory commission, shall distribute equipment purchased under the program in order to maximize its utilization by firefighters based on consideration of the following factors:

(1) Ability to share or move the equipment to fire locations.

(2) Availability of existing thermal imaging equipment.

(3) Geography.

(4) Need based on frequency of fires.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 158. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)