I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4104 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 18, 2009 Mr. Ellsworth introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish and carry out a highway emergency responders safety grant program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Emergency Responders Highway Safety Act of 2009.

2.

Highway emergency responders safety grant program

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and carry out a highway emergency responders safety grant program (in this section referred to as the program). (b)

Grant authority

In carrying out the program, the Secretary is authorized to make grants to nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations (including organizations partnered with local government entities) for projects and activities— (1)to increase awareness of State laws that require a motorist to change lanes or reduce speed if passing a highway emergency responder, including the penalties for noncompliance with such laws; and (2)to provide highway emergency responders with training on the prevention of injuries and fatalities resulting from roadside collisions. (c)

Advisory group

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall establish a multidisciplinary advisory group to make recommendations relating to program implementation, including recommendations with respect to the criteria for awarding grants under the program. The advisory group shall include, at a minimum, a member from a national organization representing each employment category specified in subsection (e). (d)

Incident tracking and report to Congress

(1)

Incident tracking

The Secretary shall establish and administer an incident reporting system to compile information with respect to roadside collisions throughout the United States involving highway emergency responders. (2)

Report to Congress

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the number of highway emergency responders injured or killed in roadside collisions in each State during the year preceding such report and on the status and content of State laws relating to highway emergency responder safety. (e)

Highway emergency responder defined

In this section, the term highway emergency responder means an individual who is any of the following: (1)A law enforcement officer. (2)A firefighter. (3)An emergency medical service provider. (4)A maintenance and operations worker. (5)A tow truck or recovery operator. (f)

Funding

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015. (2)

Contract authority

Funds made available to carry out this section shall be available for obligation and administered in the same manner as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code.