[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1544 Engrossed in House (EH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1544
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide faster and smarter funding for first responders, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Faster and Smarter Funding for First
Responders Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) In order to achieve its objective of preventing,
minimizing the damage from, and assisting in the recovery from
terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security must
play a leading role in assisting communities to reach the level
of preparedness they need to prevent and respond to a terrorist
attack.
(2) First responder funding is not reaching the men and
women of our Nation's first response teams quickly enough, and
sometimes not at all.
(3) To reform the current bureaucratic process so that
homeland security dollars reach the first responders who need
it most, it is necessary to clarify and consolidate the
authority and procedures of the Department of Homeland Security
that support first responders.
(4) Ensuring adequate resources for the new national
mission of homeland security, without degrading the ability to
address effectively other types of major disasters and
emergencies, requires a discrete and separate grant making
process for homeland security funds for first response to
terrorist acts, on the one hand, and for first responder
programs designed to meet pre-September 11 priorities, on the
other.
(5) While a discrete homeland security grant making process
is necessary to ensure proper focus on the unique aspects of
terrorism preparedness, it is essential that State and local
strategies for utilizing such grants be integrated, to the
greatest extent practicable, with existing State and local
emergency management plans.
(6) Homeland security grants to first responders must be
based on the best intelligence concerning the capabilities and
intentions of our terrorist enemies, and that intelligence must
be used to target resources to the Nation's greatest threats,
vulnerabilities, and consequences.
(7) The Nation's first response capabilities will be
improved by sharing resources, training, planning, personnel,
and equipment among neighboring jurisdictions through mutual
aid agreements and regional cooperation. Such regional
cooperation should be supported, where appropriate, through
direct grants from the Department of Homeland Security.
(8) An essential prerequisite to achieving the Nation's
homeland security objectives for first responders is the
establishment of well-defined national goals for terrorism
preparedness. These goals should delineate the essential
capabilities that every jurisdiction in the United States
should possess or to which it should have access.
(9) A national determination of essential capabilities is
needed to identify levels of State and local government
terrorism preparedness, to determine the nature and extent of
State and local first responder needs, to identify the human
and financial resources required to fulfill them, to direct
funding to meet those needs, and to measure preparedness levels
on a national scale.
(10) To facilitate progress in achieving, maintaining, and
enhancing essential capabilities for State and local first
responders, the Department of Homeland Security should seek to
allocate homeland security funding for first responders to meet
nationwide needs.
(11) Private sector resources and citizen volunteers can
perform critical functions in assisting in preventing and
responding to terrorist attacks, and should be integrated into
State and local planning efforts to ensure that their
capabilities and roles are understood, so as to provide
enhanced State and local operational capability and surge
capacity.
(12) Public-private partnerships, such as the partnerships
between the Business Executives for National Security and the
States of New Jersey and Georgia, can be useful to identify and
coordinate private sector support for State and local first
responders. Such models should be expanded to cover all States
and territories.
(13) An important aspect of terrorism preparedness is
measurability, so that it is possible to determine how prepared
a State or local government is now, and what additional steps
it needs to take, in order to prevent, prepare for, respond to,
mitigate against, and recover from acts of terrorism.
(14) The Department of Homeland Security should establish,
publish, and regularly update national voluntary consensus
standards for both equipment and training, in cooperation with
both public and private sector standard setting organizations,
to assist State and local governments in obtaining the
equipment and training to attain the essential capabilities for
first response to acts of terrorism, and to ensure that first
responder funds are spent wisely.
SEC. 3. FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
(a) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-
296; 6 U.S.C. 361 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 1(b) in the table of contents by adding at
the end the following:
``TITLE XVIII--FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
``Sec. 1801. Definitions.
``Sec. 1802. Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders.
``Sec. 1803. Covered grant eligibility and criteria.
``Sec. 1804. Risk-based evaluation and prioritization.
``Sec. 1805. Task Force on Terrorism Preparedness for First Responders.
``Sec. 1806. Use of funds and accountability requirements.
``Sec. 1807. National standards for first responder equipment and
training.''.
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``TITLE XVIII--FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
``SEC. 1801. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Board.--The term `Board' means the First Responder
Grants Board established under section 1804.
``(2) Covered grant.--The term `covered grant' means any
grant to which this title applies under section 1802.
``(3) Directly eligible tribe.--The term `directly eligible
tribe' means any Indian tribe or consortium of Indian tribes
that--
``(A) meets the criteria for inclusion in the
qualified applicant pool for Self-Governance that are
set forth in section 402(c) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
458bb(c));
``(B) employs at least 10 full-time personnel in a
law enforcement or emergency response agency with the
capacity to respond to calls for law enforcement or
emergency services; and
``(C)(i) is located on, or within 5 miles of, an
international border or waterway;
``(ii) is located within 5 miles of a facility
designated as high-risk critical infrastructure by the
Secretary;
``(iii) is located within or contiguous to one of
the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the
United States; or
``(iv) has more than 1,000 square miles of Indian
country, as that term is defined in section 1151 of
title 18, United States Code.
``(4) Elevations in the threat alert level.--The term
`elevations in the threat alert level' means any designation
(including those that are less than national in scope) that
raises the homeland security threat level to either the highest
or second highest threat level under the Homeland Security
Advisory System referred to in section 201(d)(7).
``(5) Emergency preparedness.--The term `emergency
preparedness' shall have the same meaning that term has under
section 602 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195a).
``(6) Essential capabilities.--The term `essential
capabilities' means the levels, availability, and competence of
emergency personnel, planning, training, and equipment across a
variety of disciplines needed to effectively and efficiently
prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of
terrorism consistent with established practices.
``(7) First responder.--The term `first responder' shall
have the same meaning as the term `emergency response
provider'.
``(8) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means any
Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or
community, including any Alaskan Native village or regional or
village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to
the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs
and services provided by the United States to Indians because
of their status as Indians.
``(9) Region.--The term `region' means--
``(A) any geographic area consisting of all or
parts of 2 or more contiguous States, counties,
municipalities, or other local governments that have a
combined population of at least 1,650,000 or have an
area of not less than 20,000 square miles, and that,
for purposes of an application for a covered grant, is
represented by 1 or more governments or governmental
agencies within such geographic area, and that is
established by law or by agreement of 2 or more such
governments or governmental agencies in a mutual aid
agreement; or
``(B) any other combination of contiguous local
government units (including such a combination
established by law or agreement of two or more
governments or governmental agencies in a mutual aid
agreement) that is formally certified by the Secretary
as a region for purposes of this Act with the consent
of--
``(i) the State or States in which they are
located, including a multi-State entity
established by a compact between two or more
States; and
``(ii) the incorporated municipalities,
counties, and parishes that they encompass.
``(10) Task force.--The term `Task Force' means the Task
Force on Terrorism Preparedness for First Responders
established under section 1805.
``(11) Terrorism preparedness.--The term `terrorism
preparedness' means any activity designed to improve the
ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate against,
or recover from threatened or actual terrorist attacks.
``SEC. 1802. FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
``(a) Covered Grants.--This title applies to grants provided by the
Department to States, regions, or directly eligible tribes for the
primary purpose of improving the ability of first responders to
prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate against, or recover from
threatened or actual terrorist attacks, especially those involving
weapons of mass destruction, administered under the following:
``(1) State homeland security grant program.--The State
Homeland Security Grant Program of the Department, or any
successor to such grant program.
``(2) Urban area security initiative.--The Urban Area
Security Initiative of the Department, or any successor to such
grant program.
``(3) Law enforcement terrorism prevention program.--The
Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program of the Department,
or any successor to such grant program.
``(b) Excluded Programs.--This title does not apply to or otherwise
affect the following Federal grant programs or any grant under such a
program:
``(1) Nondepartment programs.--Any Federal grant program
that is not administered by the Department.
``(2) Fire grant programs.--The fire grant programs
authorized by sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229, 2229a).
``(3) Emergency management planning and assistance account
grants.--The Emergency Management Performance Grant program and
the Urban Search and Rescue Grants program authorized by title
VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195 et seq.); the Departments of
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (113 Stat. 1047
et seq.); and the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42
U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
``SEC. 1803. COVERED GRANT ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA.
``(a) Grant Eligibility.--Any State, region, or directly eligible
tribe shall be eligible to apply for a covered grant.
``(b) Grant Criteria.--The Secretary shall award covered grants to
assist States and local governments in achieving, maintaining, and
enhancing the essential capabilities for terrorism preparedness
established by the Secretary.
``(c) State Homeland Security Plans.--
``(1) Submission of plans.--The Secretary shall require
that any State applying to the Secretary for a covered grant
must submit to the Secretary a 3-year State homeland security
plan that--
``(A) describes the essential capabilities that
communities within the State should possess, or to
which they should have access, based upon the terrorism
risk factors relevant to such communities, in order to
meet the Department's goals for terrorism preparedness;
``(B) demonstrates the extent to which the State
has achieved the essential capabilities that apply to
the State;
``(C) demonstrates the needs of the State necessary
to achieve, maintain, or enhance the essential
capabilities that apply to the State;
``(D) includes a prioritization of such needs based
on threat, vulnerability, and consequence assessment
factors applicable to the State;
``(E) describes how the State intends--
``(i) to address such needs at the city,
county, regional, tribal, State, and interstate
level, including a precise description of any
regional structure the State has established
for the purpose of organizing homeland security
preparedness activities funded by covered
grants;
``(ii) to use all Federal, State, and local
resources available for the purpose of
addressing such needs; and
``(iii) to give particular emphasis to
regional planning and cooperation, including
the activities of multijurisdictional planning
agencies governed by local officials, both
within its jurisdictional borders and with
neighboring States;
``(F) with respect to the emergency preparedness of
first responders, addresses the unique aspects of
terrorism as part of a comprehensive State emergency
management plan; and
``(G) provides for coordination of response and
recovery efforts at the local level, including
procedures for effective incident command in
conformance with the National Incident Management
System.
``(2) Consultation.--The State plan submitted under
paragraph (1) shall be developed in consultation with and
subject to appropriate comment by local governments and first
responders within the State.
``(3) Approval by secretary.--The Secretary may not award
any covered grant to a State unless the Secretary has approved
the applicable State homeland security plan.
``(4) Revisions.--A State may revise the applicable State
homeland security plan approved by the Secretary under this
subsection, subject to approval of the revision by the
Secretary.
``(d) Consistency With State Plans.--The Secretary shall ensure
that each covered grant is used to supplement and support, in a
consistent and coordinated manner, the applicable State homeland
security plan or plans.
``(e) Application for Grant.--
``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, any State, region, or directly eligible tribe may
apply for a covered grant by submitting to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as is required under this subsection, or as the
Secretary may reasonably require.
``(2) Deadlines for applications and awards.--All
applications for covered grants must be submitted at such time
as the Secretary may reasonably require for the fiscal year for
which they are submitted. The Secretary shall award covered
grants pursuant to all approved applications for such fiscal
year as soon as practicable, but not later than March 1 of such
year.
``(3) Availability of funds.--All funds awarded by the
Secretary under covered grants in a fiscal year shall be
available for obligation through the end of the subsequent
fiscal year.
``(4) Minimum contents of application.--The Secretary shall
require that each applicant include in its application, at a
minimum--
``(A) the purpose for which the applicant seeks
covered grant funds and the reasons why the applicant
needs the covered grant to meet the essential
capabilities for terrorism preparedness within the
State, region, or directly eligible tribe to which the
application pertains;
``(B) a description of how, by reference to the
applicable State homeland security plan or plans under
subsection (c), the allocation of grant funding
proposed in the application, including, where
applicable, the amount not passed through under section
1806(g)(1), would assist in fulfilling the essential
capabilities for terrorism preparedness specified in
such plan or plans;
``(C) a statement of whether a mutual aid agreement
applies to the use of all or any portion of the covered
grant funds;
``(D) if the applicant is a State, a description of
how the State plans to allocate the covered grant funds
to regions, local governments, and Indian tribes;
``(E) if the applicant is a region--
``(i) a precise geographical description of
the region and a specification of all
participating and nonparticipating local
governments within the geographical area
comprising that region;
``(ii) a specification of what governmental
entity within the region will administer the
expenditure of funds under the covered grant;
and
``(iii) a designation of a specific
individual to serve as regional liaison;
``(F) a capital budget showing how the applicant
intends to allocate and expend the covered grant funds;
``(G) if the applicant is a directly eligible
tribe, a designation of a specific individual to serve
as the tribal liaison; and
``(H) a statement of how the applicant intends to
meet the matching requirement, if any, that applies
under section 1806(g)(2).
``(5) Regional applications.--
``(A) Relationship to state applications.--A
regional application--
``(i) shall be coordinated with an
application submitted by the State or States of
which such region is a part;
``(ii) shall supplement and avoid
duplication with such State application; and
``(iii) shall address the unique regional
aspects of such region's terrorism preparedness
needs beyond those provided for in the
application of such State or States.
``(B) State review and submission.--To ensure the
consistency required under subsection (d) and the
coordination required under subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph, an applicant that is a region must submit
its application to each State of which any part is
included in the region for review and concurrence prior
to the submission of such application to the Secretary.
The regional application shall be transmitted to the
Secretary through each such State within 30 days of its
receipt, unless the Governor of such a State notifies
the Secretary, in writing, that such regional
application is inconsistent with the State's homeland
security plan and provides an explanation of the
reasons therefor.
``(C) Distribution of regional awards.--If the
Secretary approves a regional application, then the
Secretary shall distribute a regional award to the
State or States submitting the applicable regional
application under subparagraph (B), and each such State
shall, not later than the end of the 45-day period
beginning on the date after receiving a regional award,
pass through to the region all covered grant funds or
resources purchased with such funds, except those funds
necessary for the State to carry out its
responsibilities with respect to such regional
application: Provided, That in no such case shall the
State or States pass through to the region less than 80
percent of the regional award.
``(D) Certifications regarding distribution of
grant funds to regions.--Any State that receives a
regional award under subparagraph (C) shall certify to
the Secretary, by not later than 30 days after the
expiration of the period described in subparagraph (C)
with respect to the grant, that the State has made
available to the region the required funds and
resources in accordance with subparagraph (C).
``(E) Direct payments to regions.--If any State
fails to pass through a regional award to a region as
required by subparagraph (C) within 45 days after
receiving such award and does not request or receive an
extension of such period under section 1806(h)(2), the
region may petition the Secretary to receive directly
the portion of the regional award that is required to
be passed through to such region under subparagraph
(C).
``(F) Regional liaisons.--A regional liaison
designated under paragraph (4)(E)(iii) shall--
``(i) coordinate with Federal, State,
local, regional, and private officials within
the region concerning terrorism preparedness;
``(ii) develop a process for receiving
input from Federal, State, local, regional, and
private sector officials within the region to
assist in the development of the regional
application and to improve the region's access
to covered grants; and
``(iii) administer, in consultation with
State, local, regional, and private officials
within the region, covered grants awarded to
the region.
``(6) Tribal applications.--
``(A) Submission to the state or states.--To ensure
the consistency required under subsection (d), an
applicant that is a directly eligible tribe must submit
its application to each State within the boundaries of
which any part of such tribe is located for direct
submission to the Department along with the application
of such State or States.
``(B) Opportunity for state comment.--Before
awarding any covered grant to a directly eligible
tribe, the Secretary shall provide an opportunity to
each State within the boundaries of which any part of
such tribe is located to comment to the Secretary on
the consistency of the tribe's application with the
State's homeland security plan. Any such comments shall
be submitted to the Secretary concurrently with the
submission of the State and tribal applications.
``(C) Final authority.--The Secretary shall have
final authority to determine the consistency of any
application of a directly eligible tribe with the
applicable State homeland security plan or plans, and
to approve any application of such tribe. The Secretary
shall notify each State within the boundaries of which
any part of such tribe is located of the approval of an
application by such tribe.
``(D) Tribal liaison.--A tribal liaison designated
under paragraph (4)(G) shall--
``(i) coordinate with Federal, State,
local, regional, and private officials
concerning terrorism preparedness;
``(ii) develop a process for receiving
input from Federal, State, local, regional, and
private sector officials to assist in the
development of the application of such tribe
and to improve the tribe's access to covered
grants; and
``(iii) administer, in consultation with
State, local, regional, and private officials,
covered grants awarded to such tribe.
``(E) Limitation on the number of direct grants.--
The Secretary may make covered grants directly to not
more than 20 directly eligible tribes per fiscal year.
``(F) Tribes not receiving direct grants.--An
Indian tribe that does not receive a grant directly
under this section is eligible to receive funds under a
covered grant from the State or States within the
boundaries of which any part of such tribe is located,
consistent with the homeland security plan of the State
as described in subsection (c). If a State fails to
comply with section 1806(g)(1), the tribe may request
payment under section 1806(h)(3) in the same manner as
a local government.
``(7) Equipment standards.--If an applicant for a covered
grant proposes to upgrade or purchase, with assistance provided
under the grant, new equipment or systems that do not meet or
exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards
established by the Secretary, the applicant shall include in
the application an explanation of why such equipment or systems
will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or
systems that meet or exceed such standards.
``SEC. 1804. RISK-BASED EVALUATION AND PRIORITIZATION.
``(a) First Responder Grants Board.--
``(1) Establishment of board.--The Secretary shall
establish a First Responder Grants Board, consisting of--
``(A) the Secretary;
``(B) the Under Secretary for Emergency
Preparedness and Response;
``(C) the Under Secretary for Border and
Transportation Security;
``(D) the Under Secretary for Information Analysis
and Infrastructure Protection;
``(E) the Under Secretary for Science and
Technology;
``(F) the Director of the Office for Domestic
Preparedness;
``(G) the Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration; and
``(H) the Administrator of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
``(2) Chairman.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall be the
Chairman of the Board.
``(B) Exercise of authorities by deputy
secretary.--The Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
may exercise the authorities of the Chairman, if the
Secretary so directs.
``(b) Functions of Under Secretaries.--The Under Secretaries
referred to in subsection (a)(1) shall seek to ensure that the relevant
expertise and input of the staff of their directorates are available to
and considered by the Board.
``(c) Prioritization of Grant Applications.--
``(1) Factors to be considered.--The Board shall evaluate
and annually prioritize all pending applications for covered
grants based upon the degree to which they would, by achieving,
maintaining, or enhancing the essential capabilities of the
applicants on a nationwide basis, lessen the threat to,
vulnerability of, and consequences for persons (including
transient commuting and tourist populations) and critical
infrastructure. Such evaluation and prioritization shall be
based upon the most current risk assessment available by the
Directorate for Information Analysis and Infrastructure
Protection of the threats of terrorism against the United
States. The Board shall coordinate with State, local, regional,
and tribal officials in establishing criteria for evaluating
and prioritizing applications for covered grants.
``(2) Critical infrastructure sectors.--The Board
specifically shall consider threats of terrorism against the
following critical infrastructure sectors in all areas of the
United States, urban and rural:
``(A) Agriculture and food.
``(B) Banking and finance.
``(C) Chemical industries.
``(D) The defense industrial base.
``(E) Emergency services.
``(F) Energy.
``(G) Government facilities.
``(H) Postal and shipping.
``(I) Public health and health care.
``(J) Information technology.
``(K) Telecommunications.
``(L) Transportation systems.
``(M) Water.
``(N) Dams.
``(O) Commercial facilities.
``(P) National monuments and icons.
The order in which the critical infrastructure sectors are
listed in this paragraph shall not be construed as an order of
priority for consideration of the importance of such sectors.
``(3) Types of threat.--The Board specifically shall
consider the following types of threat to the critical
infrastructure sectors described in paragraph (2), and to
populations in all areas of the United States, urban and rural:
``(A) Biological threats.
``(B) Nuclear threats.
``(C) Radiological threats.
``(D) Incendiary threats.
``(E) Chemical threats.
``(F) Explosives.
``(G) Suicide bombers.
``(H) Cyber threats.
``(I) Any other threats based on proximity to
specific past acts of terrorism or the known activity
of any terrorist group.
The order in which the types of threat are listed in this
paragraph shall not be construed as an order of priority for
consideration of the importance of such threats.
``(4) Consideration of additional factors.--The Board shall
take into account any other specific threat to a population
(including a transient commuting or tourist population) or
critical infrastructure sector that the Board has determined to
exist. In evaluating the threat to a population or critical
infrastructure sector, the Board shall give greater weight to
threats of terrorism based upon their specificity and
credibility, including any pattern of repetition.
``(5) Minimum amounts.--After evaluating and prioritizing
grant applications under paragraph (1), the Board shall ensure
that, for each fiscal year--
``(A) each of the States, other than the Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana
Islands, that has an approved State homeland security
plan receives no less than 0.25 percent of the funds
available for covered grants for that fiscal year for
purposes of implementing its homeland security plan in
accordance with the prioritization of needs under
section 1803(c)(1)(D);
``(B) each of the States, other than the Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana
Islands, that has an approved State homeland security
plan and that meets one or both of the additional high-
risk qualifying criteria under paragraph (6) receives
no less than 0.45 percent of the funds available for
covered grants for that fiscal year for purposes of
implementing its homeland security plan in accordance
with the prioritization of needs under section
1803(c)(1)(D);
``(C) the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and
the Northern Mariana Islands each receives no less than
0.08 percent of the funds available for covered grants
for that fiscal year for purposes of implementing its
approved State homeland security plan in accordance
with the prioritization of needs under section
1803(c)(1)(D); and
``(D) directly eligible tribes collectively receive
no less than 0.08 percent of the funds available for
covered grants for such fiscal year for purposes of
addressing the needs identified in the applications of
such tribes, consistent with the homeland security plan
of each State within the boundaries of which any part
of any such tribe is located, except that this clause
shall not apply with respect to funds available for a
fiscal year if the Secretary receives less than 5
applications for such fiscal year from such tribes
under section 1803(e)(6)(A) or does not approve at
least one such application.
``(6) Additional high-risk qualifying criteria.--For
purposes of paragraph (5)(B), additional high-risk qualifying
criteria consist of--
``(A) having a significant international land
border; or
``(B) adjoining a body of water within North
America through which an international boundary line
extends.
``(d) Effect of Regional Awards on State Minimum.--Any regional
award, or portion thereof, provided to a State under section
1803(e)(5)(C) shall not be considered in calculating the minimum State
award under subsection (c)(5) of this section.
``SEC. 1805. TASK FORCE ON TERRORISM PREPAREDNESS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
``(a) Establishment.--To assist the Secretary in updating,
revising, or replacing essential capabilities for terrorism
preparedness, the Secretary shall establish an advisory body pursuant
to section 871(a) not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, which shall be known as the Task Force on
Terrorism Preparedness for First Responders.
``(b) Update, Revise, or Replace.--The Secretary shall regularly
update, revise, or replace the essential capabilities for terrorism
preparedness as necessary, but not less than every 3 years.
``(c) Report.--
``(1) In general.--The Task Force shall submit to the
Secretary, by not later than 12 months after its establishment
by the Secretary under subsection (a) and not later than every
2 years thereafter, a report on its recommendations for
essential capabilities for terrorism preparedness.
``(2) Contents.--Each report shall--
``(A) include a priority ranking of essential
capabilities in order to provide guidance to the
Secretary and to the Congress on determining the
appropriate allocation of, and funding levels for,
first responder needs;
``(B) set forth a methodology by which any State or
local government will be able to determine the extent
to which it possesses or has access to the essential
capabilities that States and local governments having
similar risks should obtain;
``(C) describe the availability of national
voluntary consensus standards, and whether there is a
need for new national voluntary consensus standards,
with respect to first responder training and equipment;
``(D) include such additional matters as the
Secretary may specify in order to further the terrorism
preparedness capabilities of first responders; and
``(E) include such revisions to the contents of
previous reports as are necessary to take into account
changes in the most current risk assessment available
by the Directorate for Information Analysis and
Infrastructure Protection or other relevant information
as determined by the Secretary.
``(3) Consistency with federal working group.--The Task
Force shall ensure that its recommendations for essential
capabilities for terrorism preparedness are, to the extent
feasible, consistent with any preparedness goals or
recommendations of the Federal working group established under
section 319F(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d-6(a)).
``(4) Comprehensiveness.--The Task Force shall ensure that
its recommendations regarding essential capabilities for
terrorism preparedness are made within the context of a
comprehensive State emergency management system.
``(5) Prior measures.--The Task Force shall ensure that its
recommendations regarding essential capabilities for terrorism
preparedness take into account any capabilities that State or
local officials have determined to be essential and have
undertaken since September 11, 2001, to prevent, prepare for,
respond to, or recover from terrorist attacks.
``(d) Membership.--
``(1) In general.--The Task Force shall consist of 25
members appointed by the Secretary, and shall, to the extent
practicable, represent a geographic (including urban and rural)
and substantive cross section of governmental and
nongovernmental first responder disciplines from the State and
local levels, including as appropriate--
``(A) members selected from the emergency response
field, including fire service and law enforcement,
hazardous materials response, emergency medical
services, and emergency management personnel (including
public works personnel routinely engaged in emergency
response);
``(B) health scientists, emergency and inpatient
medical providers, and public health professionals,
including experts in emergency health care response to
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
terrorism, and experts in providing mental health care
during emergency response operations;
``(C) experts from Federal, State, and local
governments, and the private sector, representing
standards-setting organizations, including
representation from the voluntary consensus codes and
standards development community, particularly those
with expertise in first responder disciplines; and
``(D) State and local officials with expertise in
terrorism preparedness, subject to the condition that
if any such official is an elected official
representing one of the two major political parties, an
equal number of elected officials shall be selected
from each such party.
``(2) Coordination with the department of health and health
services.--In the selection of members of the Task Force who
are health professionals, including emergency medical
professionals, the Secretary shall coordinate such selection
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
``(3) Ex officio members.--The Secretary and the Secretary
of Health and Human Services shall each designate one or more
officers of their respective Departments to serve as ex officio
members of the Task Force. One of the ex officio members from
the Department of Homeland Security shall be the designated
officer of the Federal Government for purposes of subsection
(e) of section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 App.
U.S.C.).
``(e) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
Notwithstanding section 871(a), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
App. U.S.C.), including subsections (a), (b), and (d) of section 10 of
such Act, and section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code, shall
apply to the Task Force.
``SEC. 1806. USE OF FUNDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) In General.--A covered grant may be used for--
``(1) purchasing or upgrading equipment, including computer
software, to enhance terrorism preparedness;
``(2) exercises to strengthen terrorism preparedness;
``(3) training for prevention (including detection) of,
preparedness for, response to, or recovery from attacks
involving weapons of mass destruction, including training in
the use of equipment and computer software;
``(4) developing or updating State homeland security plans,
risk assessments, mutual aid agreements, and emergency
management plans to enhance terrorism preparedness;
``(5) establishing or enhancing mechanisms for sharing
terrorism threat information;
``(6) systems architecture and engineering, program
planning and management, strategy formulation and strategic
planning, life-cycle systems design, product and technology
evaluation, and prototype development for terrorism
preparedness purposes;
``(7) additional personnel costs resulting from--
``(A) elevations in the threat alert level of the
Homeland Security Advisory System by the Secretary, or
a similar elevation in threat alert level issued by a
State, region, or local government with the approval of
the Secretary;
``(B) travel to and participation in exercises and
training in the use of equipment and on prevention
activities; and
``(C) the temporary replacement of personnel during
any period of travel to and participation in exercises
and training in the use of equipment and on prevention
activities;
``(8) the costs of equipment (including software) required
to receive, transmit, handle, and store classified information;
``(9) protecting critical infrastructure against potential
attack by the addition of barriers, fences, gates, and other
such devices, except that the cost of such measures may not
exceed the greater of--
``(A) $1,000,000 per project; or
``(B) such greater amount as may be approved by the
Secretary, which may not exceed 10 percent of the total
amount of the covered grant;
``(10) the costs of commercially available interoperable
communications equipment (which, where applicable, is based on
national, voluntary consensus standards) that the Secretary, in
consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission, deems best suited to facilitate interoperability,
coordination, and integration between and among emergency
communications systems, and that complies with prevailing grant
guidance of the Department for interoperable communications;
``(11) educational curricula development for first
responders to ensure that they are prepared for terrorist
attacks;
``(12) training and exercises to assist public elementary
and secondary schools in developing and implementing programs
to instruct students regarding age-appropriate skills to
prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate against, or recover
from an act of terrorism;
``(13) paying of administrative expenses directly related
to administration of the grant, except that such expenses may
not exceed 3 percent of the amount of the grant;
``(14) paying for the conduct of any activity permitted
under the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, or any
such successor to such program; and
``(15) other appropriate activities as determined by the
Secretary.
``(b) Prohibited Uses.--Funds provided as a covered grant may not
be used--
``(1) to supplant State or local funds;
``(2) to construct buildings or other physical facilities;
``(3) to acquire land; or
``(4) for any State or local government cost sharing
contribution.
``(c) Multiple-Purpose Funds.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to preclude State and local governments from using covered
grant funds in a manner that also enhances first responder preparedness
for emergencies and disasters unrelated to acts of terrorism, if such
use assists such governments in achieving essential capabilities for
terrorism preparedness established by the Secretary.
``(d) Reimbursement of Costs.--(1) In addition to the activities
described in subsection (a), a covered grant may be used to provide a
reasonable stipend to paid-on-call or volunteer first responders who
are not otherwise compensated for travel to or participation in
training covered by this section. Any such reimbursement shall not be
considered compensation for purposes of rendering such a first
responder an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29
U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
``(2) An applicant for a covered grant may petition the Secretary
for the reimbursement of the cost of any activity relating to
prevention (including detection) of, preparedness for, response to, or
recovery from acts of terrorism that is a Federal duty and usually
performed by a Federal agency, and that is being performed by a State
or local government (or both) under agreement with a Federal agency.
``(e) Assistance Requirement.--The Secretary may not require that
equipment paid for, wholly or in part, with funds provided as a covered
grant be made available for responding to emergencies in surrounding
States, regions, and localities, unless the Secretary undertakes to pay
the costs directly attributable to transporting and operating such
equipment during such response.
``(f) Flexibility in Unspent Homeland Security Grant Funds.--Upon
request by the recipient of a covered grant, the Secretary may
authorize the grantee to transfer all or part of funds provided as the
covered grant from uses specified in the grant agreement to other uses
authorized under this section, if the Secretary determines that such
transfer is in the interests of homeland security.
``(g) State, Regional, and Tribal Responsibilities.--
``(1) Pass-through.--The Secretary shall require a
recipient of a covered grant that is a State to obligate or
otherwise make available to local governments, first
responders, and other local groups, to the extent required
under the State homeland security plan or plans specified in
the application for the grant, not less than 80 percent of the
grant funds, resources purchased with the grant funds having a
value equal to at least 80 percent of the amount of the grant,
or a combination thereof, by not later than the end of the 45-
day period beginning on the date the grant recipient receives
the grant funds.
``(2) Cost sharing.--
``(A) In general.--The Federal share of the costs
of an activity carried out with a covered grant to a
State, region, or directly eligible tribe awarded after
the 2-year period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this section shall not exceed 75 percent.
``(B) Interim rule.--The Federal share of the costs
of an activity carried out with a covered grant awarded
before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this section shall be 100
percent.
``(C) In-kind matching.--Each recipient of a
covered grant may meet the matching requirement under
subparagraph (A) by making in-kind contributions of
goods or services that are directly linked with the
purpose for which the grant is made, including, but not
limited to, any necessary personnel overtime,
contractor services, administrative costs, equipment
fuel and maintenance, and rental space.
``(3) Certifications regarding distribution of grant funds
to local governments.--Any State that receives a covered grant
shall certify to the Secretary, by not later than 30 days after
the expiration of the period described in paragraph (1) with
respect to the grant, that the State has made available for
expenditure by local governments, first responders, and other
local groups the required amount of grant funds pursuant to
paragraph (1).
``(4) Quarterly report on homeland security spending.--The
Federal share described in paragraph (2)(A) may be increased by
up to 2 percent for any State, region, or directly eligible
tribe that, not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal
quarter, submits to the Secretary a report on that fiscal
quarter. Each such report must include, for each recipient of a
covered grant or a pass-through under paragraph (1)--
``(A) the amount obligated to that recipient in
that quarter;
``(B) the amount expended by that recipient in that
quarter; and
``(C) a summary description of the items purchased
by such recipient with such amount.
``(5) Annual report on homeland security spending.--Each
recipient of a covered grant shall submit an annual report to
the Secretary not later than 60 days after the end of each
Federal fiscal year. Each recipient of a covered grant that is
a region must simultaneously submit its report to each State of
which any part is included in the region. Each recipient of a
covered grant that is a directly eligible tribe must
simultaneously submit its report to each State within the
boundaries of which any part of such tribe is located. Each
report must include the following:
``(A) The amount, ultimate recipients, and dates of
receipt of all funds received under the grant during
the previous fiscal year.
``(B) The amount and the dates of disbursements of
all such funds expended in compliance with paragraph
(1) or pursuant to mutual aid agreements or other
sharing arrangements that apply within the State,
region, or directly eligible tribe, as applicable,
during the previous fiscal year.
``(C) How the funds were utilized by each ultimate
recipient or beneficiary during the preceding fiscal
year.
``(D) The extent to which essential capabilities
identified in the applicable State homeland security
plan or plans were achieved, maintained, or enhanced as
the result of the expenditure of grant funds during the
preceding fiscal year.
``(E) The extent to which essential capabilities
identified in the applicable State homeland security
plan or plans remain unmet.
``(6) Inclusion of restricted annexes.--A recipient of a
covered grant may submit to the Secretary an annex to the
annual report under paragraph (5) that is subject to
appropriate handling restrictions, if the recipient believes
that discussion in the report of unmet needs would reveal
sensitive but unclassified information.
``(7) Provision of reports.--The Secretary shall ensure
that each annual report under paragraph (5) is provided to the
Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response and the
Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness.
``(h) Incentives to Efficient Administration of Homeland Security
Grants.--
``(1) Penalties for delay in passing through local share.--
If a recipient of a covered grant that is a State fails to pass
through to local governments, first responders, and other local
groups funds or resources required by subsection (g)(1) within
45 days after receiving funds under the grant, the Secretary
may--
``(A) reduce grant payments to the grant recipient
from the portion of grant funds that is not required to
be passed through under subsection (g)(1);
``(B) terminate payment of funds under the grant to
the recipient, and transfer the appropriate portion of
those funds directly to local first responders that
were intended to receive funding under that grant; or
``(C) impose additional restrictions or burdens on
the recipient's use of funds under the grant, which may
include--
``(i) prohibiting use of such funds to pay
the grant recipient's grant-related overtime or
other expenses;
``(ii) requiring the grant recipient to
distribute to local government beneficiaries
all or a portion of grant funds that are not
required to be passed through under subsection
(g)(1); or
``(iii) for each day that the grant
recipient fails to pass through funds or
resources in accordance with subsection (g)(1),
reducing grant payments to the grant recipient
from the portion of grant funds that is not
required to be passed through under subsection
(g)(1), except that the total amount of such
reduction may not exceed 20 percent of the
total amount of the grant.
``(2) Extension of period.--The Governor of a State may
request in writing that the Secretary extend the 45-day period
under section 1803(e)(5)(E) or paragraph (1) for an additional
15-day period. The Secretary may approve such a request, and
may extend such period for additional 15-day periods, if the
Secretary determines that the resulting delay in providing
grant funding to the local government entities that will
receive funding under the grant will not have a significant
detrimental impact on such entities' terrorism preparedness
efforts.
``(3) Provision of non-local share to local government.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may upon request
by a local government pay to the local government a
portion of the amount of a covered grant awarded to a
State in which the local government is located, if--
``(i) the local government will use the
amount paid to expedite planned enhancements to
its terrorism preparedness as described in any
applicable State homeland security plan or
plans;
``(ii) the State has failed to pass through
funds or resources in accordance with
subsection (g)(1); and
``(iii) the local government complies with
subparagraphs (B) and (C).
``(B) Showing required.--To receive a payment under
this paragraph, a local government must demonstrate
that--
``(i) it is identified explicitly as an
ultimate recipient or intended beneficiary in
the approved grant application;
``(ii) it was intended by the grantee to
receive a severable portion of the overall
grant for a specific purpose that is identified
in the grant application;
``(iii) it petitioned the grantee for the
funds or resources after expiration of the
period within which the funds or resources were
required to be passed through under subsection
(g)(1); and
``(iv) it did not receive the portion of
the overall grant that was earmarked or
designated for its use or benefit.
``(C) Effect of payment.--Payment of grant funds to
a local government under this paragraph--
``(i) shall not affect any payment to
another local government under this paragraph;
and
``(ii) shall not prejudice consideration of
a request for payment under this paragraph that
is submitted by another local government.
``(D) Deadline for action by secretary.--The
Secretary shall approve or disapprove each request for
payment under this paragraph by not later than 15 days
after the date the request is received by the
Department.
``(i) Reports to Congress.--The Secretary shall submit an annual
report to the Congress by January 31 of each year covering the
preceding fiscal year--
``(1) describing in detail the amount of Federal funds
provided as covered grants that were directed to each State,
region, and directly eligible tribe in the preceding fiscal
year;
``(2) containing information on the use of such grant funds
by grantees; and
``(3) describing--
``(A) the Nation's progress in achieving,
maintaining, and enhancing the essential capabilities
established by the Secretary as a result of the
expenditure of covered grant funds during the preceding
fiscal year; and
``(B) an estimate of the amount of expenditures
required to attain across the United States the
essential capabilities established by the Secretary.
``SEC. 1807. NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FIRST RESPONDER EQUIPMENT AND
TRAINING.
``(a) Equipment Standards.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Under Secretaries for Emergency Preparedness and Response and
Science and Technology and the Director of the Office for
Domestic Preparedness, shall, not later than 6 months after the
date of enactment of this section, support the development of,
promulgate, and update as necessary national voluntary
consensus standards for the performance, use, and validation of
first responder equipment for purposes of section 1805(e)(7).
Such standards--
``(A) shall be, to the maximum extent practicable,
consistent with any existing voluntary consensus
standards;
``(B) shall take into account, as appropriate, new
types of terrorism threats that may not have been
contemplated when such existing standards were
developed;
``(C) shall be focused on maximizing
interoperability, interchangeability, durability,
flexibility, efficiency, efficacy, portability,
sustainability, and safety; and
``(D) shall cover all appropriate uses of the
equipment.
``(2) Required categories.--In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall specifically consider the following
categories of first responder equipment:
``(A) Thermal imaging equipment.
``(B) Radiation detection and analysis equipment.
``(C) Biological detection and analysis equipment.
``(D) Chemical detection and analysis equipment.
``(E) Decontamination and sterilization equipment.
``(F) Personal protective equipment, including
garments, boots, gloves, and hoods and other protective
clothing.
``(G) Respiratory protection equipment.
``(H) Interoperable communications, including
wireless and wireline voice, video, and data networks.
``(I) Explosive mitigation devices and explosive
detection and analysis equipment.
``(J) Containment vessels.
``(K) Contaminant-resistant vehicles.
``(L) Such other equipment for which the Secretary
determines that national voluntary consensus standards
would be appropriate.
``(b) Training Standards.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Under Secretaries for Emergency Preparedness and Response and
Science and Technology and the Director of the Office for
Domestic Preparedness, shall support the development of,
promulgate, and regularly update as necessary national
voluntary consensus standards for first responder training
carried out with amounts provided under covered grant programs,
that will enable State and local government first responders to
achieve optimal levels of terrorism preparedness as quickly as
practicable. Such standards shall give priority to providing
training to--
``(A) enable first responders to prevent, prepare
for, respond to, mitigate against, and recover from
terrorist threats, including threats from chemical,
biological, nuclear, and radiological weapons and
explosive devices capable of inflicting significant
human casualties; and
``(B) familiarize first responders with the proper
use of equipment, including software, developed
pursuant to the standards established under subsection
(a).
``(2) Required categories.--In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Secretary specifically shall include the following
categories of first responder activities:
``(A) Regional planning.
``(B) Joint exercises.
``(C) Intelligence collection, analysis, and
sharing.
``(D) Emergency notification of affected
populations.
``(E) Detection of biological, nuclear,
radiological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction.
``(F) Such other activities for which the Secretary
determines that national voluntary consensus training
standards would be appropriate.
``(3) Consistency.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall ensure that such training standards are
consistent with the principles of emergency preparedness for
all hazards.
``(c) Consultation With Standards Organizations.--In establishing
national voluntary consensus standards for first responder equipment
and training under this section, the Secretary shall consult with
relevant public and private sector groups, including--
``(1) the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
``(2) the National Fire Protection Association;
``(3) the National Association of County and City Health
Officials;
``(4) the Association of State and Territorial Health
Officials;
``(5) the American National Standards Institute;
``(6) the National Institute of Justice;
``(7) the Inter-Agency Board for Equipment Standardization
and Interoperability;
``(8) the National Public Health Performance Standards
Program;
``(9) the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health;
``(10) ASTM International;
``(11) the International Safety Equipment Association;
``(12) the Emergency Management Accreditation Program; and
``(13) to the extent the Secretary considers appropriate,
other national voluntary consensus standards development
organizations, other interested Federal, State, and local
agencies, and other interested persons.
``(d) Coordination With Secretary of HHS.--In establishing any
national voluntary consensus standards under this section for first
responder equipment or training that involve or relate to health
professionals, including emergency medical professionals, the Secretary
shall coordinate activities under this section with the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.''.
(b) Definition of Emergency Response Providers.--Paragraph (6) of
section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296; 6
U.S.C. 101(6)) is amended by striking ``includes'' and all that follows
and inserting ``includes Federal, State, and local governmental and
nongovernmental emergency public safety, law enforcement, fire,
emergency response, emergency medical (including hospital emergency
facilities), and related personnel, organizations, agencies, and
authorities.''.
SEC. 4. SUPERSEDED PROVISION.
This Act supersedes section 1014(c)(3) of Public Law 107-56.
SEC. 5. OVERSIGHT.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish within the
Office for Domestic Preparedness an Office of the Comptroller to
oversee the grants distribution process and the financial management of
the Office for Domestic Preparedness.
SEC. 6. GAO REPORT ON AN INVENTORY AND STATUS OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
report to the Congress in accordance with this section--
(1) on the overall inventory and status of first responder
training programs of the Department of Homeland Security and
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government; and
(2) the extent to which such programs are coordinated.
(b) Contents of Reports.--The reports under this section shall
include--
(1) an assessment of the effectiveness of the structure and
organization of such training programs;
(2) recommendations to--
(A) improve the coordination, structure, and
organization of such training programs; and
(B) increase the availability of training to first
responders who are not able to attend centralized
training programs;
(3) the structure and organizational effectiveness of such
programs for first responders in rural communities;
(4) identification of any duplication or redundancy among
such programs;
(5) a description of the use of State and local training
institutions, universities, centers, and the National Domestic
Preparedness Consortium in designing and providing training;
(6) a cost-benefit analysis of the costs and time required
for first responders to participate in training courses at
Federal institutions;
(7) an assessment of the approval process for certifying
non-Department of Homeland Security training courses that are
useful for anti-terrorism purposes as eligible for grants
awarded by the Department;
(8) a description of the use of Department of Homeland
Security grant funds by States and local governments to acquire
training;
(9) an analysis of the feasibility of Federal, State, and
local personnel to receive the training that is necessary to
adopt the National Response Plan and the National Incident
Management System; and
(10) the role of each first responder training institution
within the Department of Homeland Security in the design and
implementation of terrorism preparedness and related training
courses for first responders.
(c) Deadlines.--The Comptroller General shall--
(1) submit a report under subsection (a)(1) by not later
than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) submit a report on the remainder of the topics required
by this section by not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 7. REMOVAL OF CIVIL LIABILITY BARRIERS THAT DISCOURAGE THE
DONATION OF FIRE EQUIPMENT TO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES.
(a) Liability Protection.--A person who donates fire control or
fire rescue equipment to a volunteer fire company shall not be liable
for civil damages under any State or Federal law for personal injuries,
property damage or loss, or death caused by the equipment after the
donation.
(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to a person if--
(1) the person's act or omission causing the injury,
damage, loss, or death constitutes gross negligence or
intentional misconduct; or
(2) the person is the manufacturer of the fire control or
fire rescue equipment.
(c) Preemption.--This Act preempts the laws of any State to the
extent that such laws are inconsistent with this Act, except that
notwithstanding subsection (b) this Act shall not preempt any State law
that provides additional protection from liability for a person who
donates fire control or fire rescue equipment to a volunteer fire
company.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Person.--The term ``person'' includes any governmental
or other entity.
(2) Fire control or rescue equipment.--The term ``fire
control or fire rescue equipment'' includes any fire vehicle,
fire fighting tool, communications equipment, protective gear,
fire hose, or breathing apparatus.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' includes the several States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa,
Guam, the Virgin Islands, any other territory or possession of
the United States, and any political subdivision of any such
State, territory, or possession.
(4) Volunteer fire company.--The term ``volunteer fire
company'' means an association of individuals who provide fire
protection and other emergency services, where at least 30
percent of the individuals receive little or no compensation
compared with an entry level full-time paid individual in that
association or in the nearest such association with an entry
level full-time paid individual.
(e) Effective Date.--This Act applies only to liability for injury,
damage, loss, or death caused by equipment that, for purposes of
subsection (a), is donated on or after the date that is 30 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives May 12, 2005.
Attest:
Clerk.
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1544
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide faster and smarter funding for first responders, and for
other purposes.