H.R. 3396 – Reading Mode

IIB

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 3396

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

AN ACT

To require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023.

Requirements relating to certain fire suppression cost share agreements

(a)

Establishment of standard operating procedures

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall—

(1)

establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost share agreements established under the Act of May 27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act); and

(2)

with respect to each fire suppression cost share agreement in operation on such date—

(A)

review each such agreement; and

(B)

modify each agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures required under paragraph (1).

(b)

Alignment of fire suppression cost share agreements with cooperative fire protection agreements

The standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement that each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned with each of the cooperative fire protection agreements applicable to the entity subject to such fire suppression cost share agreement.

(c)

Payments pursuant to cost share agreements

With respect to payments made pursuant to fire suppression cost share agreements, the standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the Federal paying entity reimburse a local fire department if such fire department submits an invoice in accordance with cost settlement procedures.

(d)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreement repayments to local fire suppression organizations as soon as practicable after fire suppression occurs but not later than 1 year after fire suppression occurs.

(e)

Secretaries defined

In this section, the term Secretaries means—

(1)

the Secretary of Agriculture;

(2)

the Secretary of the Interior;

(3)

the Secretary of Homeland Security; and

(4)

the Secretary of Defense.

Passed the House of Representatives December 17, 2024.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.