II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3719 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 5, 2010 Mrs. Lincoln (for herself and Mr. Conrad) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To establish a grant program for first responder agencies that experience an extraordinary financial burden resulting from the deployment of employees.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Community Safety Act of 2010.
2.
First responder agency grants
(a)
In general
Title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: C
Other assistance
2041.
First responder agency grants
(a)
Definitions
In this section— (1)the term active duty has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code; (2)the term eligible first responder agency means a first responder agency for which the cost of operating the first responder agency has increased by not less than 5 percent as a direct result of 1 or more employees of the first responder agency who are reservists being placed on active duty; (3)the term first responder agency means— (A)a law enforcement agency or fire service (as defined in section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203)) of a State or local government; or (B)a publicly or privately operated ambulance service that is— (i)authorized or licensed by a State to engage in rescue activity or to provide emergency medical services; and (ii)designated by a State as a prehospital emergency medical response agency; and (4)the term reservist means a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, as defined in section 10101 of title 10, United States Code. (b)
Authorization
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Administrator may make a grant to an eligible first responder agency for the additional costs incurred by the eligible first responder agency as a direct result of 1 or more employees of the agency or service who are reservists being placed on active duty. (2)
Limitation for federally funded positions
The Administrator may not make a grant under this section for costs relating to an employee being placed on active duty if Federal funds are used, in whole or in part, for the pay or benefits of the employee. (c)
Use of funds
A grant under this section may be used for— (1)pay and benefits for an individual hired to replace an employee placed on active duty; (2)overtime expenses for an employee that performs tasks that would have been performed by an employee placed on active duty; and (3)the cost of equipment, maintenance, or other activities— (A)the eligible first responder agency was unable to acquire or perform because of the cost of replacing an employee placed on active duty; or (B)the need for which was caused by an employee being placed on active duty. (d)
Period of grant
A grant under this section shall be for a period of 6 months.
. (b)
Reporting
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection, the terms active duty, first responder agency, and reservist have the meanings given those terms in section 2041 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a). (2)
Report
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress a report regarding the placing on active duty of employees of first responder agencies that are reservists, including an evaluation of— (A)the effects, including financial effects, of placing the employees on active duty on— (i)the operation of the first responder agencies; and (ii)the services the first responder agencies provide to the communities served by the first responder agencies; and (B)first responder agency grants under section 2041 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), including the effect of the grants on— (i)the operation of the first responder agencies; and (ii)the services the first responder agencies provide to the communities served by the first responder agencies. (c)
Technical and conforming amendment
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: Subtitle C—Other assistance Sec. 2041. First responder agency grants. .