II
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1508
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 29, 2017
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Risch, Mr. Hatch, and Mrs. Murray) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
A BILL
To amend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to modify the authorized uses of certain county funds and to extend the deadline for participating counties to initiate projects and obligate funds.
Authorized uses of county funds
In general
Section 302(a) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7142(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:
to reimburse the participating county for—
search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting, law enforcement patrols, and evacuations, that are—
performed on Federal land after the date on which the use was approved under subsection (b); and
paid for by the participating county;
search and rescue preparedness training; and
capital equipment, equipment maintenance, and other purchases relating to carrying out search and rescue and other emergency services; and
to develop and implement community wildfire protection plans in coordination with the appropriate Secretary concerned.
.
Availability of funds
Definitions
In this subsection:
Approved county funds
The term approved county funds means county funds (as defined in section 301 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7141)) the use of which, as of the date of enactment of this Act, has been approved under section 302(b) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 7142(b)) for an authorized use described in section 302(a) of that Act (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act).
New authorized use
The term new authorized use means—
a law enforcement patrol or evacuation authorized under subparagraph (A) of section 302(a)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7142(a)(2)) (as amended by subsection (a)); and
any other authorized use described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 302(a)(2) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 7142(a)(2)) (as so amended).
Participating county
The term participating county has the meaning given the term in section 301 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7141).
New authorized uses
Notwithstanding section 302(b) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7142(b)), effective beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a participating county may use any approved county funds for a new authorized use.
Reallocation of county funds
Section 302 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7142) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Reallocation of county funds
In general
A participating county may reallocate county funds that have been allocated for a use described in subsection (a) for a different use described in subsection (a).
Proposals
A participating county may reallocate county funds under paragraph (1) only after a 45-day public comment period, at the beginning of which the participating county shall publish in any publications of local record a proposal that describes the proposed use of the county funds to be reallocated.
.
Termination of authority
Section 304 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7144) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking 2017
and inserting 2019
; and
by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
Availability
County funds shall remain available until expended.
.