[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.