S.Amdt. 2836

1. Adds TITLE II--FIRE GRANTS REAUTHORIZATION at the end of the bill

   Adds a title

   In S. 3457 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2013.

   Inserted: TITLE II--FIRE GRANTS REAUTHORIZATION

   Inserted: SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

   Inserted: This title may be cited as the "Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2012".

   Inserted: SEC. 202. AMENDMENTS TO DEFINITIONS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ", except as otherwise provided," after "means";

   Inserted: (2) in paragraph (4), by striking " 'Director' means" and all that follows through "Agency;" and inserting " 'Administrator of FEMA' means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;";

   Inserted: (3) in paragraph (5)--

   Inserted: (A) by inserting "Indian tribe," after "county,"; and

   Inserted: (B) by striking "and 'firecontrol' " and inserting "and 'fire control' ";

   Inserted: (4) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively;

   Inserted: (5) by inserting after paragraph (5), the following:

   Show 354 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: "(6) 'Indian tribe' has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b) and 'tribal' means of or pertaining to an Indian tribe;";

   Inserted: (6) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10), as redesignated by paragraph (4), as paragraphs (10) and (11);

   Inserted: (7) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (4), the following:

   Inserted: "(9) 'Secretary' means, except as otherwise provided, the Secretary of Homeland Security;"; and

   Inserted: (8) by amending paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (6), to read as follows:

   Inserted: "(10) 'State' has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101).".

   Inserted: (b) Conforming Amendments.--

   Inserted: (1) Administrator of fema.--The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by striking "Director" each place it appears and inserting "Administrator of FEMA".

   Inserted: (2) Administrator of fema's award.--Section 15 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2214) is amended by striking "Director's Award" each place it appears and inserting "Administrator's Award".

   Inserted: SEC. 203. ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS.

   Inserted: Section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "SEC. 33. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.

   Inserted: "(a) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: "(1) Administrator of fema.--The term 'Administrator of FEMA' means the Administrator of FEMA, acting through the Administrator.

   Inserted: "(2) Available grant funds.--The term 'available grant funds', with respect to a fiscal year, means those funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (q)(1) for such fiscal year less any funds used for administrative costs pursuant to subsection (q)(2) in such fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(3) Career fire department.--The term 'career fire department' means a fire department that has an all-paid force of firefighting personnel other than paid-on-call firefighters.

   Inserted: "(4) Combination fire department.--The term 'combination fire department' means a fire department that has--

   Inserted: "(A) paid firefighting personnel; and

   Inserted: "(B) volunteer firefighting personnel.

   Inserted: "(5) Firefighting personnel.--The term 'firefighting personnel' means individuals, including volunteers, who are firefighters, officers of fire departments, or emergency medical service personnel of fire departments.

   Inserted: "(6) Institution of higher education.--The term 'institution of higher education' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

   Inserted: "(7) Nonaffiliated ems organization.--The term 'nonaffiliated EMS organization' means a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services organization that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not serve a geographic area in which the Administrator of FEMA finds that emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department.

   Inserted: "(8) Paid-on-call.--The term 'paid-on-call' with respect to firefighting personnel means firefighting personnel who are paid a stipend for each event to which they respond.

   Inserted: "(9) Volunteer fire department.--The term 'volunteer fire department' means a fire department that has an all-volunteer force of firefighting personnel.

   Inserted: "(b) Assistance Program.--

   Inserted: "(1) Authority.--In accordance with this section, the Administrator of FEMA may award--

   Inserted: "(A) assistance to firefighters grants under subsection (c); and

   Inserted: "(B) fire prevention and safety grants and other assistance under subsection (d).

   Inserted: "(2) Administrative assistance.--The Administrator of FEMA shall--

   Inserted: "(A) establish specific criteria for the selection of grant recipients under this section; and

   Inserted: "(B) provide assistance with application preparation to applicants for such grants.

   Inserted: "(c) Assistance to Firefighters Grants.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA may, in consultation with the chief executives of the States in which the recipients are located, award grants on a competitive basis directly to--

   Inserted: "(A) fire departments, for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel throughout the United States against fire, fire-related, and other hazards;

   Inserted: "(B) nonaffiliated EMS organizations to support the provision of emergency medical services; and

   Inserted: "(C) State fire training academies for the purposes described in subparagraphs (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (3).

   Inserted: "(2) Maximum grant amounts.--

   Inserted: "(A) Population.--The Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in excess of amounts as follows:

   Inserted: "(i) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or fewer, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(ii) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people but not more than 500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(iii) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 500,000 but not more than 1,000,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(iv) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 1,000,000 people but not more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $6,000,000 for any fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(v) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $9,000,000 in any fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(B) Aggregate.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B) and except as provided under clause (ii), the Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in a fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the amount that is one percent of the available grant funds in such fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(ii) Exception.--The Administrator of FEMA may waive the limitation in clause (i) with respect to a grant recipient if the Administrator of FEMA determines that such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in an amount that exceeds the limit under clause (i).

   Inserted: "(3) Use of grant funds.--Each entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes:

   Inserted: "(A) To train firefighting personnel in--

   Inserted: "(i) firefighting;

   Inserted: "(ii) emergency medical services and other emergency response (including response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters);

   Inserted: "(iii) arson prevention and detection;

   Inserted: "(iv) maritime firefighting; or

   Inserted: "(v) the handling of hazardous materials.

   Inserted: "(B) To train firefighting personnel to provide any of the training described under subparagraph (A).

   Inserted: "(C) To fund the creation of rapid intervention teams to protect firefighting personnel at the scenes of fires and other emergencies.

   Inserted: "(D) To certify--

   Inserted: "(i) fire inspectors; and

   Inserted: "(ii) building inspectors--

   Inserted: "(I) whose responsibilities include fire safety inspections; and

   Inserted: "(II) who are employed by or serving as volunteers with a fire department.

   Inserted: "(E) To establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to ensure that the firefighting personnel are able to carry out their duties as firefighters, including programs dedicated to raising awareness of, and prevention of, job-related mental health issues.

   Inserted: "(F) To fund emergency medical services provided by fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations.

   Inserted: "(G) To acquire additional firefighting vehicles, including fire trucks and other apparatus.

   Inserted: "(H) To acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for--

   Inserted: "(i) fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water; and

   Inserted: "(ii) communications, monitoring, and response to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

   Inserted: "(I) To acquire personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment--

   Inserted: "(i) prescribed for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor; or

   Inserted: "(ii) for responding to a natural disaster or act of terrorism or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

   Inserted: "(J) To modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel.

   Inserted: "(K) To educate the public about arson prevention and detection.

   Inserted: "(L) To provide incentives for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighting personnel for volunteer firefighting departments and other firefighting departments that utilize volunteers.

   Inserted: "(M) To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

   Inserted: "(d) Fire Prevention and Safety Grants.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--For the purpose of assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development, the Administrator of FEMA may, on a competitive basis--

   Inserted: "(A) award grants to fire departments;

   Inserted: "(B) award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, national, State, local, tribal, or nonprofit organizations that are not fire departments and that are recognized for their experience and expertise with respect to fire prevention or fire safety programs and activities and firefighter research and development programs, for the purpose of carrying out--

   Inserted: "(i) fire prevention programs; and

   Inserted: "(ii) research to improve firefighter health and life safety; and

   Inserted: "(C) award grants to institutions of higher education, national fire service organizations, or national fire safety organizations to establish and operate fire safety research centers.

   Inserted: "(2) Maximum grant amount.--A grant awarded under this subsection may not exceed $1,500,000 for a fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(3) Use of grant funds.--Each entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes:

   Inserted: "(A) To enforce fire codes and promote compliance with fire safety standards.

   Inserted: "(B) To fund fire prevention programs, including programs that educate the public about arson prevention and detection.

   Inserted: "(C) To fund wildland fire prevention programs, including education, awareness, and mitigation programs that protect lives, property, and natural resources from fire in the wildland-urban interface.

   Inserted: "(D) In the case of a grant awarded under paragraph (1)(C), to fund the establishment or operation of a fire safety research center for the purpose of significantly reducing the number of fire-related deaths and injuries among firefighters and the general public through research, development, and technology transfer activities.

   Inserted: "(E) To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

   Inserted: "(4) Limitation.--None of the funds made available under this subsection may be provided to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations.

   Inserted: "(e) Applications for Grants.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--An entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application therefor in such form and in such manner as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

   Inserted: "(2) Elements.--Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

   Inserted: "(A) A description of the financial need of the applicant for the grant.

   Inserted: "(B) An analysis of the costs and benefits, with respect to public safety, of the use for which a grant is requested.

   Inserted: "(C) An agreement to provide information to the national fire incident reporting system for the period covered by the grant.

   Inserted: "(D) A list of other sources of funding received by the applicant--

   Inserted: "(i) for the same purpose for which the application for a grant under this section was submitted; or

   Inserted: "(ii) from the Federal Government for other fire-related purposes.

   Inserted: "(E) Such other information as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

   Inserted: "(3) Joint or regional applications.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--Two or more entities may submit an application under paragraph (1) for a grant under this section to fund a joint program or initiative, including acquisition of shared equipment or vehicles.

   Inserted: "(B) Nonexclusivity.--Applications under this paragraph may be submitted instead of or in addition to any other application submitted under paragraph (1).

   Inserted: "(C) Guidance.--The Administrator of FEMA shall--

   Inserted: "(i) publish guidance on applying for and administering grants awarded for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A); and

   Inserted: "(ii) encourage applicants to apply for grants for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A) as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate to achieve greater cost effectiveness and regional efficiency.

   Inserted: "(f) Peer Review of Grant Applications.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA shall, after consultation with national fire service and emergency medical services organizations, appoint fire service personnel to conduct peer reviews of applications received under subsection (e)(1).

   Inserted: "(2) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities carried out pursuant to this subsection.

   Inserted: "(g) Prioritization of Grant Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the following:

   Inserted: "(1) The findings and recommendations of the peer reviews carried out under subsection (f).

   Inserted: "(2) The degree to which an award will reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage by reducing the risks associated with fire-related and other hazards.

   Inserted: "(3) The extent of the need of an applicant for a grant under this section and the need to protect the United States as a whole.

   Inserted: "(4) The number of calls requesting or requiring a fire fighting or emergency medical response received by an applicant.

   Inserted: "(h) Allocation of Grant Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall ensure that of the available grant funds in each fiscal year--

   Inserted: "(1) not less than 25 percent are awarded under subsection (c) to career fire departments;

   Inserted: "(2) not less than 25 percent are awarded under subsection (c) to volunteer fire departments;

   Inserted: "(3) not less than 25 percent are awarded under subsection (c) to combination fire departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel;

   Inserted: "(4) not less than 10 percent are available for open competition among career fire departments, volunteer fire departments, combination fire departments, and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel for grants awarded under subsection (c);

   Inserted: "(5) not less than 10 percent are awarded under subsection (d); and

   Inserted: "(6) not more than 2 percent are awarded under this section to nonaffiliated EMS organizations described in subsection (c)(1)(B).

   Inserted: "(i) Additional Requirements and Limitations.--

   Inserted: "(1) Funding for emergency medical services.--Not less than 3.5 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under this section for purposes described in subsection (c)(3)(F).

   Inserted: "(2) State fire training academies.--

   Inserted: "(A) Maximum share.--Not more than 3 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year may be awarded under subsection (c)(1)(C).

   Inserted: "(B) Maximum grant amount.--The Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under subsection (c)(1)(C) to a State fire training academy in an amount that exceeds $1,000,000 in any fiscal year.

   Inserted: "(3) Amounts for purchasing firefighting vehicles.--Not more than 25 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year may be used to assist grant recipients to purchase vehicles pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(G).

   Inserted: "(j) Further Considerations.--

   Inserted: "(1) Assistance to firefighters grants to fire departments.--In considering applications for grants under subsection (c)(1)(A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider--

   Inserted: "(A) the extent to which the grant would enhance the daily operations of the applicant and the impact of such a grant on the protection of lives and property; and

   Inserted: "(B) a broad range of factors important to the applicant's ability to respond to fires and related hazards, such as the following:

   Inserted: "(i) Population served.

   Inserted: "(ii) Geographic response area.

   Inserted: "(iii) Hazards vulnerability.

   Inserted: "(iv) Call volume.

   Inserted: "(v) Financial situation, including unemployment rate of the area being served.

   Inserted: "(vi) Need for training or equipment.

   Inserted: "(2) Applications from nonaffiliated ems organizations.--In the case of an application submitted under subsection (e)(1) by a nonaffiliated EMS organization, the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the extent to which other sources of Federal funding are available to the applicant to provide the assistance requested in such application.

   Inserted: "(3) Awarding fire prevention and safety grants to certain organizations that are not fire departments.--In the case of applicants for grants under this section who are described in subsection (d)(1)(B), the Administrator of FEMA shall give priority to applicants who focus on--

   Inserted: "(A) prevention of injuries to high risk groups from fire; and

   Inserted: "(B) research programs that demonstrate a potential to improve firefighter safety.

   Inserted: "(4) Awarding grants for fire safety research centers.--

   Inserted: "(A) Considerations.--In awarding grants under subsection (d)(1)(C), the Administrator of FEMA shall--

   Inserted: "(i) select each grant recipient on--

   Inserted: "(I) the demonstrated research and extension resources available to the recipient to carry out the research, development, and technology transfer activities;

   Inserted: "(II) the capability of the recipient to provide leadership in making national contributions to fire safety;

   Inserted: "(III) the recipient's ability to disseminate the results of fire safety research; and

   Inserted: "(IV) the strategic plan the recipient proposes to carry out under the grant;

   Inserted: "(ii) give special consideration in selecting recipients under subparagraph (A) to an applicant for a grant that consists of a partnership between--

   Inserted: "(I) a national fire service organization or a national fire safety organization; and

   Inserted: "(II) an institution of higher education, including a minority-serving institution (as described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))); and

   Inserted: "(iii) consider the research needs identified and prioritized through the workshop required by subparagraph (B)(i).

   Inserted: "(B) Research needs.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2012, the Administrator of FEMA shall convene a workshop of the fire safety research community, fire service organizations, and other appropriate stakeholders to identify and prioritize fire safety research needs.

   Inserted: "(ii) Publication.--The Administrator of FEMA shall ensure that the results of the workshop are made available to the public.

   Inserted: "(C) Limitations on grants for fire safety research centers.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA may award grants under subsection (d) to establish not more than 3 fire safety research centers.

   Inserted: "(ii) Recipients.--An institution of higher education, a national fire service organization, and a national fire safety organization may not directly receive a grant under subsection (d) for a fiscal year for more than 1 fire safety research center.

   Inserted: "(5) Avoiding duplication.--The Administrator of FEMA shall review lists submitted by applicants pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(D) and take such actions as the Administrator of FEMA considers necessary to prevent unnecessary duplication of grant awards.

   Inserted: "(k) Matching and Maintenance of Expenditure Requirements.--

   Inserted: "(1) Matching requirement for assistance to firefighters grants.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to carry out such activity in an amount equal to not less than 15 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection.

   Inserted: "(B) Exception for entities serving small communities.--In the case that an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) serves a jurisdiction of--

   Inserted: "(i) more than 20,000 residents but not more than 1,000,000 residents, the application shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection; and

   Inserted: "(ii) 20,000 residents or fewer, the applicant shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection.

   Inserted: "(2) Matching requirement for fire prevention and safety grants.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--An applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (d) shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to carry out such activity in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection.

   Inserted: "(B) Means of matching.--An applicant for a grant under subsection (d) may meet the matching requirement under subparagraph (A) through direct funding, funding of complementary activities, or the provision of staff, facilities, services, material, or equipment.

   Inserted: "(3) Maintenance of expenditures.--An applicant seeking a grant under subsection (c) or (d) shall agree to maintain during the term of the grant the applicant's aggregate expenditures relating to the uses described in subsections (c)(3) and (d)(3) at not less than 80 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the 2 fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant amounts are received.

   Inserted: "(4) Waiver.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii), the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) in cases of demonstrated economic hardship.

   Inserted: "(B) Guidelines.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for purposes of this paragraph.

   Inserted: "(ii) Consultation.--In developing guidelines under clause (i), the Administrator of FEMA shall consult with individuals who are--

   Inserted: "(I) recognized for expertise in firefighting, emergency medical services provided by fire services, or the economic affairs of State and local governments; and

   Inserted: "(II) members of national fire service organizations or national organizations representing the interests of State and local governments.

   Inserted: "(iii) Considerations.--In developing guidelines under clause (i), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following:

   Inserted: "(I) Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years.

   Inserted: "(II) Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded the annual national average rates of unemployment.

   Inserted: "(III) Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years.

   Inserted: "(IV) Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate.

   Inserted: "(C) Certain applicants for fire prevention and safety grants.--The authority under subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a nonprofit organization that--

   Inserted: "(i) is described in subsection (d)(1)(B); and

   Inserted: "(ii) is not a fire department or emergency medical services organization.

   Inserted: "(l) Grant Guidelines.--

   Inserted: "(1) Guidelines.--For each fiscal year, prior to awarding any grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall publish in the Federal Register--

   Inserted: "(A) guidelines that describe--

   Inserted: "(i) the process for applying for grants under this section; and

   Inserted: "(ii) the criteria that will be used for selecting grant recipients; and

   Inserted: "(B) an explanation of any differences between such guidelines and the recommendations obtained under paragraph (2).

   Inserted: "(2) Annual meeting to obtain recommendations.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--For each fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA shall convene a meeting of qualified members of national fire service organizations and, at the discretion of the Administrator of FEMA, qualified members of emergency medical service organizations to obtain recommendations regarding the following:

   Inserted: "(i) Criteria for the awarding of grants under this section.

   Inserted: "(ii) Administrative changes to the assistance program established under subsection (b).

   Inserted: "(B) Qualified members.--For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified member of an organization is a member who--

   Inserted: "(i) is recognized for expertise in firefighting or emergency medical services;

   Inserted: "(ii) is not an employee of the Federal Government; and

   Inserted: "(iii) in the case of a member of an emergency medical service organization, is a member of an organization that represents--

   Inserted: "(I) providers of emergency medical services that are affiliated with fire departments; or

   Inserted: "(II) nonaffiliated EMS providers.

   Inserted: "(3) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities carried out under this subsection.

   Inserted: "(m) Accounting Determination.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, equipment costs shall include all costs attributable to any design, purchase of components, assembly, manufacture, and transportation of equipment not otherwise commercially available.

   Inserted: "(n) Eligible Grantee on Behalf of Alaska Native Villages.--The Alaska Village Initiatives, a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Alaska, shall be eligible to apply for and receive a grant or other assistance under this section on behalf of Alaska Native villages.

   Inserted: "(o) Training Standards.--If an applicant for a grant under this section is applying for such grant to purchase training that does not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards, including those developed under section 647 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 747), the applicant shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an explanation of the reasons that the training proposed to be purchased will serve the needs of the applicant better than training that meets or exceeds such standards.

   Inserted: "(p) Ensuring Effective Use of Grants.--

   Inserted: "(1) Audits.--The Administrator of FEMA may audit a recipient of a grant awarded under this section to ensure that--

   Inserted: "(A) the grant amounts are expended for the intended purposes; and

   Inserted: "(B) the grant recipient complies with the requirements of subsection (k).

   Inserted: "(2) Performance assessment.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA shall develop and implement a performance assessment system, including quantifiable performance metrics, to evaluate the extent to which grants awarded under this section are furthering the purposes of this section, including protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards.

   Inserted: "(B) Consultation.--The Administrator of FEMA shall consult with fire service representatives and with the Comptroller General of the United States in developing the assessment system required by subparagraph (A).

   Inserted: "(3) Annual reports to administrator of fema.--Not less frequently than once each year during the term of a grant awarded under this section, the recipient of the grant shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an annual report describing how the recipient used the grant amounts.

   Inserted: "(4) Annual reports to congress.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--Not later than September 30, 2013, and each year thereafter through 2017, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that provides--

   Inserted: "(i) information on the performance assessment system developed under paragraph (2); and

   Inserted: "(ii) using the performance metrics developed under such paragraph, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grants awarded under this section.

   Inserted: "(B) Additional information.--The report due under subparagraph (A) on September 30, 2016, shall also include recommendations for legislative changes to improve grants under this section.

   Inserted: "(q) Authorization of Appropriations.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--

   Inserted: "(A) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

   Inserted: "(B) for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2017, an amount equal to the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage by which--

   Inserted: "(i) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the previous fiscal year, exceeds

   Inserted: "(ii) the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year described in clause (i).

   Inserted: "(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA may use not more than 5 percent of such amounts for salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator of FEMA in the course of awarding grants and providing assistance under this section.

   Inserted: "(3) Congressionally directed spending.--Consistent with the requirements in subsections (c)(1) and (d)(1) that grants under those subsections be awarded on a competitive basis, none of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may be used for any congressionally directed spending item (as defined under the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives).

   Inserted: "(r) Sunset of Authorities.--The authority to award assistance and grants under this section shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2012.".

   Inserted: SEC. 204. STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

   Inserted: (a) Improvements to Hiring Grants.--

   Inserted: (1) Term of grants.--Subparagraph (B) of section 34(a)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "(B) Grants made under this paragraph shall be for 3 years and be used for programs to hire new, additional firefighters.".

   Inserted: (2) Limitation of portion of costs of hiring firefighters.--Subparagraph (E) of such section is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "(E) The portion of the costs of hiring firefighters provided by a grant under this paragraph may not exceed--

   Inserted: "(i) 75 percent in the first year of the grant;

   Inserted: "(ii) 75 percent in the second year of the grant; and

   Inserted: "(iii) 35 percent in the third year of the grant.".

   Inserted: (b) Clarification Regarding Eligible Entities for Recruitment and Retention Grants.--The second sentence of section 34(a)(2) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a(a)(2)) is amended by striking "organizations on a local or statewide basis" and inserting "national, State, local, or tribal organizations".

   Inserted: (c) Maximum Amount for Hiring a Firefighter.--Paragraph (4) of section 34(c) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a(c)) is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "(4) The amount of funding provided under this section to a recipient fire department for hiring a firefighter in any fiscal year may not exceed--

   Inserted: "(A) in the first year of the grant, 75 percent of the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in that department at the time the grant application was submitted;

   Inserted: "(B) in the second year of the grant, 75 percent of the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in that department at the time the grant application was submitted; and

   Inserted: "(C) in the third year of the grant, 35 percent of the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in that department at the time the grant application was submitted.".

   Inserted: (d) Waivers.--Section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as subsections (e) through (j), respectively; and

   Inserted: (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

   Inserted: "(d) Waivers.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--In a case of demonstrated economic hardship, the Administrator of FEMA may--

   Inserted: "(A) waive the requirements of subsection (c)(1); or

   Inserted: "(B) waive or reduce the requirements in subsection (a)(1)(E) or subsection (c)(2).

   Inserted: "(2) Guidelines.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for purposes of paragraph (1).

   Inserted: "(B) Consultation.--In developing guidelines under subparagraph (A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consult with individuals who are--

   Inserted: "(i) recognized for expertise in firefighting, emergency medical services provided by fire services, or the economic affairs of State and local governments; and

   Inserted: "(ii) members of national fire service organizations or national organizations representing the interests of State and local governments.

   Inserted: "(C) Considerations.--In developing guidelines under subparagraph (A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following:

   Inserted: "(i) Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years.

   Inserted: "(ii) Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded the annual national average rates of unemployment.

   Inserted: "(iii) Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years.

   Inserted: "(iv) Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate.".

   Inserted: (e) Improvements to Performance Evaluation Requirements.--Subsection (e) of section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a), as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by inserting before the first sentence the following:

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--The Administrator of FEMA shall establish a performance assessment system, including quantifiable performance metrics, to evaluate the extent to which grants awarded under this section are furthering the purposes of this section.

   Inserted: "(2) Submittal of information.--".

   Inserted: (f) Report.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Subsection (f) of section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a), as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by striking "The authority" and all that follows through "Congress concerning" and inserting the following: "Not later than September 30, 2014, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on".

   Inserted: (2) Conforming amendment.--The heading for subsection (f) of section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a), as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by striking "Sunset and Reports" and inserting "Report".

   Inserted: (g) Additional Definitions.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Subsection (i) of section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a), as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended--

   Inserted: (A) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking "In this section, the term--" and inserting "In this section:";

   Inserted: (B) in paragraph (1)--

   Inserted: (i) by inserting "The term" before " 'firefighter' has"; and

   Inserted: (ii) by striking "; and" and inserting a period;

   Inserted: (C) by striking paragraph (2); and

   Inserted: (D) by inserting at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(2) The terms 'Administrator of FEMA', 'career fire department', 'combination fire department', and 'volunteer fire department' have the meanings given such terms in section 33(a).".

   Inserted: (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 34(a)(1)(A) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking "career, volunteer, and combination fire departments" and inserting "career fire departments, combination fire departments, and volunteer fire departments".

   Inserted: (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Subsection (j) of section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a), as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended--

   Inserted: (A) in paragraph (6), by striking "and" at the end;

   Inserted: (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; and"; and

   Inserted: (C) by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(8) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

   Inserted: "(9) for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2017, an amount equal to the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage by which--

   Inserted: "(A) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the previous fiscal year, exceeds

   Inserted: "(B) the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A).".

   Inserted: (2) Administrative expenses.--Such subsection (j) is further amended--

   Inserted: (A) in paragraph (9), as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving the left margin of such clauses, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right;

   Inserted: (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively, and moving the left margin of such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right;

   Inserted: (C) by striking "There are" and inserting the following:

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--There are"; and

   Inserted: (D) by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA may use not more than 5 percent of such amounts to cover salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator of FEMA to make grants and provide assistance under this section.".

   Inserted: (3) Congressionally directed spending.--Such subsection (j) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(3) Congressionally directed spending.--Consistent with the requirement in subsection (a) that grants under this section be awarded on a competitive basis, none of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may be used for any congressionally direct spending item (as defined under the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives).".

   Inserted: (i) Technical Amendment.--Section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is amended by striking "Administrator" each place it appears and inserting "Administrator of FEMA".

   Inserted: (j) Clerical Amendment.--Such section is further amended in the heading by striking "expansion of pre-september 11, 2001, fire grant program" and inserting the following: "staffing for adequate fire and emergency response".

   Inserted: (k) Sunset of Authority to Award Hiring Grants.--Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(k) Sunset of Authorities.--The authority to award assistance and grants under this section shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2012.".

   Inserted: SEC. 205. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON VALUE AND FUNDING OF ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS AND STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS.

   Inserted: It is the sense of Congress that--

   Inserted: (1) the grants and assistance awarded under sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a) have proven equally valuable in protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel throughout the United States against fire and fire-related hazards; and

   Inserted: (2) providing parity in funding for the awarding of grants and assistance under both such sections will ensure that the grant and assistance programs under such sections can continue to serve their complementary purposes.

   Inserted: SEC. 206. REPORT ON AMENDMENTS TO ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS AND STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2016, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this title.

   Inserted: (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) An assessment of the effect of the amendments made by sections 203 and 204 on the effectiveness, relative allocation, accountability, and administration of the grants and assistance awarded under sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a) after the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (2) An evaluation of the extent to which the amendments made by sections 203 and 204 have enabled recipients of grants and assistance awarded under such sections 33 and 34 after the date of the enactment of this Act to mitigate fire and fire-related and other hazards more effectively.

   Inserted: SEC. 207. STUDIES AND REPORTS ON THE STATE OF FIRE SERVICES.

   Inserted: (a) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: (1) Administrator.--The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.

   Inserted: (2) Career fire department, combination fire department, volunteer fire department.--The terms "career fire department", "combination fire department", and "volunteer fire department" have the meanings given such terms in section 33(a) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229(a)), as amended by section 203.

   Inserted: (3) Fire service.--The term "fire service" has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203).

   Inserted: (b) Study and Report on Compliance With Staffing Standards.--

   Inserted: (1) Study.--The Administrator shall conduct a study on the level of compliance with national voluntary consensus standards for staffing, training, safe operations, personal protective equipment, and fitness among the fire services of the United States.

   Inserted: (2) Survey.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--In carrying out the study required by paragraph (1), the Administrator shall carry out a survey of fire services to assess the level of compliance of such fire services with the standards described in such paragraph.

   Inserted: (B) Elements.--The survey required by subparagraph (A) shall--

   Inserted: (i) include career fire departments, volunteer fire departments, combination fire departments, and fire departments serving communities of different sizes, and such other distinguishing factors as the Administrator considers relevant;

   Inserted: (ii) employ methods to ensure that the survey accurately reflects the actual rate of compliance with the standards described in paragraph (1) among fire services; and

   Inserted: (iii) determine the extent of barriers and challenges to achieving compliance with the standards described in paragraph (1) among fire services.

   Inserted: (C) Authority to carry out survey with nonprofit.--If the Administrator determines that it will reduce the costs incurred by the United States Fire Administration in carrying out the survey required by subparagraph (A), the Administrator may carry out such survey in conjunction with a nonprofit organization that has substantial expertise and experience in the following areas:

   Inserted: (i) The fire services.

   Inserted: (ii) National voluntary consensus standards.

   Inserted: (iii) Contemporary survey methods.

   Inserted: (3) Report on findings of study.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Administrator with respect to the study required by paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (B) Contents.--The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (i) An accurate description, based on the results of the survey required by paragraph (2)(A), of the rate of compliance with the standards described in paragraph (1) among United States fire services, including a comparison of the rates of compliance among career fire departments, volunteer fire departments, combination fire departments, and fire departments serving communities of different sizes, and such other comparisons as Administrator considers relevant.

   Inserted: (ii) A description of the challenges faced by different types of fire departments and different types of communities in complying with the standards described in paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (c) Task Force to Enhance Firefighter Safety.--

   Inserted: (1) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a task force to be known as the "Task Force to Enhance Firefighter Safety" (in this subsection referred to as the "Task Force").

   Inserted: (2) Membership.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--Members of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Secretary from among the general public and shall include the following:

   Inserted: (i) Representatives of national organizations representing firefighters and fire chiefs.

   Inserted: (ii) Individuals representing standards-setting and accrediting organizations, including representatives from the voluntary consensus codes and standards development community.

   Inserted: (iii) Such other individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate.

   Inserted: (B) Representatives of other departments and agencies.--The Secretary may invite representatives of other Federal departments and agencies that have an interest in fire services to participate in the meetings and other activities of the Task Force.

   Inserted: (C) Number; terms of service; pay and allowances.--The Secretary shall determine the number, terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of the Task Force appointed by the Secretary, except that a term of service of any such member may not exceed 2 years.

   Inserted: (3) Responsibilities.--The Task Force shall--

   Inserted: (A) consult with the Secretary in the conduct of the study required by subsection (b)(1); and

   Inserted: (B) develop a plan to enhance firefighter safety by increasing fire service compliance with the standards described in subsection (b)(1), including by--

   Inserted: (i) reviewing and evaluating the report required by subsection (b)(3)(A) to determine the extent of and barriers to achieving compliance with the standards described in subsection (b)(1) among fire services; and

   Inserted: (ii) considering ways in which the Federal Government, States, and local governments can promote or encourage fire services to comply with such standards.

   Inserted: (4) Report.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required by subsection (b)(3)(A), the Task Force shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report on the activities and findings of the Task Force.

   Inserted: (B) Contents.--The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (i) The findings and recommendations of the Task Force with respect to the study carried out under subsection (b)(1).

   Inserted: (ii) The plan developed under paragraph (3)(B).

   Inserted: (d) Study and Report on the Needs of Fire Services.--

   Inserted: (1) Study.--The Administrator shall conduct a study--

   Inserted: (A) to define the current roles and activities associated with fire services on a national, State, regional, and local level;

   Inserted: (B) to identify the equipment, staffing, and training required to fulfill the roles and activities defined under subparagraph (A);

   Inserted: (C) to conduct an assessment to identify gaps between what fire services currently possess and what they require to meet the equipment, staffing, and training needs identified under subparagraph (B) on a national and State-by-State basis; and

   Inserted: (D) to measure the impact of the grant and assistance program under section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) in meeting the needs of fire services and filling the gaps identified under subparagraph (C).

   Inserted: (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Administrator with respect to the study conducted under paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section--

   Inserted: (1) $600,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

   Inserted: (2) $600,000 for fiscal year 2014.

   Original wording

   At the end, add the following:

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As printed