Grant program

Title II of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

205.

First responder innovation and support grant program

(a)

In general

The President may make grants to eligible entities to assist innovative natural disaster first responder programs in accordance with this section. (b)

Application

To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the President. Such application shall include, at a minimum, a description of each of the following: (1)The purpose for which the grant is sought and the reason Federal assistance is needed for such purpose. (2)The innovation with respect to natural disaster first responders to be achieved with the grant. (3)The plans, if any, of the eligible entity to allocate amounts from the grant to local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes. (4)A budget for the expected expenditure of the grant amounts. (c)

Selection criteria

The President shall issue regulations establishing selection criteria for making grants under this section. Such criteria shall include consideration of the following: (1)The severity and frequency of natural disasters that affect the eligible entity applying for the grant. (2)Whether existing natural disaster first responder systems would be improved by the grant. (3)Whether the grant would provide natural disaster first responder support for special populations, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the disabled. (4)Whether the activity assisted by the grant is sustainable with non-Federal amounts after such grant is made. (d)

Timing and number of grants

The President shall make grants under this section annually and an eligible entity may apply for multiple grants under this section each year. An eligible entity is not limited in the number of grants such entity may receive under this section. (e)

Competitive basis

The President shall make grants under this section on a competitive basis subject to the requirements of this section. (f)

Regulations

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall issue regulations necessary to carry out this section. (g)

Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply: (1)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, any federally recognized Indian tribe, and any territory or possession of the United States that has an approved mitigation plan under section 322. (2)

First responder

The term first responder means an individual who in the early stages of an incident is responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment, including emergency response providers (as such term is defined under section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101)) and emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled support personnel, including equipment operators, that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations. (3)

Natural Disaster

The term natural disaster has the meaning given such term under section 602. (4)

President

The term President means the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (h)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015. Such sums shall remain available until expended.