II Calendar No. 89 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 550 [Report No. 112–28] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2011 Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Carper, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs June 29, 2011 Reported by Mr. Lieberman, with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To improve the provision of assistance to fire departments, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011.
2.
Amendments to definitions
(a)
In general
Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended— (1)in paragraph (3), by inserting , except as otherwise provided, after means; (2)in paragraph (4), by striking Director means and all that follows through Agency; and inserting Administrator of FEMA means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;; (3)in paragraph (5)— (A)by inserting Indian tribe, after county,; and (B)by striking and firecontrol and inserting and fire control; (4)by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively; (5)by inserting after paragraph (5), the following: (6)Indian tribe has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b) and tribal means of or pertaining to an Indian tribe; ; (6)by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10), as redesignated by paragraph (4), as paragraphs (10) and (11); (7)by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (4), the following: (9)Secretary means, except as otherwise provided, the Secretary of Homeland Security; ; and (8)by amending paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (6), to read as follows: (10)State has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101). . (b)
Conforming amendments
(1)
Administrator of FEMA
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by striking Director each place it appears and inserting Administrator of FEMA. (2)
Administrator of FEMA's Award
Section 15 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2214) is amended by striking Director's Award each place it appears and inserting Administrator's Award.
3.
Assistance to firefighter grants
Section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended to read as follows:
33.
Firefighter assistance
(a)
Definitions
In this section: (1)
Available grant funds
The term available grant funds, with respect to a fiscal year, means those funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (p)(1) for such fiscal year less any funds used for administrative costs pursuant to subsection (p)(2) in such fiscal year. (2)
Career fire department
The term career fire department means a fire department that has an all-paid force of firefighting personnel other than paid-on-call firefighters. (3)
Combination fire department
The term combination fire department means a fire department that has— (A)paid firefighting personnel; and (B)volunteer firefighting personnel. (4)
Firefighting personnel
The term firefighting personnel means individuals, including volunteers, who are firefighters, officers of fire departments, or emergency medical service personnel of fire departments. (5)
Nonaffiliated EMS organization
The term nonaffiliated EMS organization means a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services organization that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not serve a geographic area in which the Administrator of FEMA finds that emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department. (6)
Paid-on-call
The term paid-on-call with respect to firefighting personnel means firefighting personnel who are paid a stipend for each event to which they respond. (7)
Volunteer fire department
The term volunteer fire department means a fire department that has an all-volunteer force of firefighting personnel. (b)
Assistance program
(1)
Authority
In accordance with this section, the Administrator of FEMA may, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, award— (A)assistance to firefighters grants under subsection (c); and (B)fire prevention and safety grants and other assistance under subsection (d). (2)
Administrative assistance
The Administrator of FEMA shall— (A)establish specific criteria for the selection of grant recipients under this section; and (B)provide assistance with application preparation to applicants for such grants. (c)
Assistance to firefighters grants
(1)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA may, in consultation with the chief executives of the States in which the recipients are located, award grants on a competitive basis directly to— (A)fire departments, for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel throughout the United States against fire, fire-related, and other hazards; (B)nonaffiliated EMS organizations to support the provision of emergency medical services; and (C)State fire training academies for the purposes described in subparagraphs (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (3). (2)
Maximum grant amounts
(A)
Population
The Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in excess of amounts as follows: (i)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or fewer, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any fiscal year. (ii)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people but not more than 500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year. (iii)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 500,000 but not more than 1,000,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year. (iv)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 1,000,000 people but not more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $6,000,000 for any fiscal year. (v)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $9,000,000 in any fiscal year. (B)
State fire training academies
The Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection to a State fire training academy in an amount that exceeds $1,000,000 in any fiscal year. (C)
Aggregate
(i)
In general
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B) and except as provided under clause (ii), the Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in a fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the amount that is one percent of the available grant funds in such fiscal year. (ii)
Exception
The Administrator of FEMA may waive the limitation in clause (i) with respect to a grant recipient if the Administrator of FEMA determines that such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in an amount that exceeds the limit under clause (i). (3)
Use of grant funds
Each entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes: (A)To train firefighting personnel in— (i)firefighting; (ii)emergency medical services and other emergency response (including response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters); (iii)arson prevention and detection; (iv)maritime firefighting; or (v)the handling of hazardous materials. (B)To train firefighting personnel to provide any of the training described under subparagraph (A). (C)To fund the creation of rapid intervention teams to protect firefighting personnel at the scenes of fires and other emergencies. (D)To certify— (i)fire inspectors; and (ii)building inspectors— (I)whose responsibilities include fire safety inspections; and (II)who are employed by or serving as volunteers with a fire department. (E)To establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to ensure that the firefighting personnel are able to carry out their duties as firefighters. (F)To fund emergency medical services provided by fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations. (G)To acquire additional firefighting vehicles, including fire trucks and other apparatus. (H)To acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for— (i)fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water; and (ii)communications, monitoring, and response to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction. (I)To acquire personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment— (i)prescribed for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor; or (ii)for responding to a natural disaster or act of terrorism or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction. (J)To modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. (K)To educate the public about arson prevention and detection. (L)To provide incentives for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighting personnel for volunteer firefighting departments and other firefighting departments that utilize volunteers. (M)To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (d)
Fire prevention and safety grants
(1)
In general
For the purpose of assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development, the Administrator of FEMA may, on a competitive basis— (A)award grants to fire departments; (B)award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, national, State, local, tribal, or nonprofit organizations that are not fire departments and that are recognized for their experience and expertise with respect to fire prevention or fire safety programs and activities and firefighter research and development programs, for the purpose of carrying out— (i)fire prevention programs; and (ii)research to improve firefighter health and life safety; and (C)award grants to, or enter into contracts with, regionally accredited institutions of higher education and national fire service organizations or national fire safety organizations to support joint programs focused on reducing firefighter fatalities and non-fatal injuries, including programs for establishing fire safety research centers as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (2)
Maximum grant amount
A grant awarded under this subsection may not exceed $1,500,000 for a fiscal year. (3)
Use of grant funds
Each entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes: (A)To enforce fire codes and promote compliance with fire safety standards. (B)To fund fire prevention programs. (C)To fund wildland fire prevention programs, including education, awareness, and mitigation programs that protect lives, property, and natural resources from fire in the wildland-urban interface. (D)In the case of a grant awarded under paragraph (1)(C), to fund the establishment or operation of— (i)a fire safety research center; or (ii)a program at such a center. (E)To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (e)
Applications for grants
(1)
In general
An entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application therefor in such form and in such manner as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (2)
Elements
Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A)A description of the financial need of the applicant for the grant. (B)An analysis of the costs and benefits, with respect to public safety, of the use for which a grant is requested. (C)An agreement to provide information to the national fire incident reporting system for the period covered by the grant. (D)A list of other sources of funding received by the applicant— (i)for the same purpose for which the application for a grant under this section was submitted; or (ii)from the Federal Government for other fire-related purposes. (E)Such other information as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (3)
Joint or regional applications
(A)
In general
Two or more entities may submit an application under paragraph (1) for a grant under this section to fund a joint program or initiative, including acquisition of shared equipment or vehicles. (B)
Nonexclusivity
Applications under this paragraph may be submitted instead of or in addition to any other application submitted under paragraph (1). (C)
Guidance
The Administrator of FEMA shall— (i)publish guidance on applying for and administering grants awarded for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A); and (ii)encourage applicants to apply for grants for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A) as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate to achieve greater cost effectiveness and regional efficiency. (f)
Peer review of grant applications
(1)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall, after consultation with national fire service and emergency medical services organizations, appoint fire service personnel and personnel from nonaffiliated EMS organizations to conduct peer reviews of applications received under subsection (e)(1). (2)
Assignment of reviews
In administering the peer review process under paragraph (1), the Administrator of FEMA shall ensure that— (A)applications submitted by career fire departments are reviewed primarily by personnel from career fire departments; (B)applications submitted by volunteer fire departments are reviewed primarily by personnel from volunteer fire departments; (C)applications submitted by combination fire departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel are reviewed primarily by personnel from such fire departments; and (D)applications for grants to fund emergency medical services pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(F) are reviewed primarily by emergency medical services personnel, including— (i)emergency medical service personnel affiliated with fire departments; and (ii)personnel from nonaffiliated EMS organizations. (3)
Review of applications for fire prevention and safety grants submitted by nonprofit organizations that are not fire departments
In conducting a review of an application submitted under subsection (e)(1) by a nonprofit organization described in subsection (d)(1)(B), a peer reviewer may not recommend the applicant for a grant under subsection (d) unless such applicant is recognized for its experience and expertise with respect to— (A)fire prevention or safety programs and activities; or (B)firefighter research and development programs. (4)
Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities carried out pursuant to this subsection. (g)
Prioritization and allocation of grant awards
In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall— (1)consider the findings and recommendations of the peer reviews carried out under subsection (f); (2)consider the degree to which an award will reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage by reducing the risks associated with fire-related and other hazards; (3)consider the extent of the need of an applicant for a grant under this section and the need to protect the United States as a whole; (4)consider the number of calls requesting or requiring a fire fighting or emergency medical response received by an applicant; and (5)ensure that of the available grant funds— (A)not less than 25 percent are awarded to career fire departments; (B)not less than 25 percent are awarded to volunteer fire departments; and (C)not less than 25 percent are awarded to combination fire departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel. (h)
Additional requirements and limitations
(1)
Funding for emergency medical services
Not less than 3.5 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under this section for purposes described in subsection (c)(3)(F). (2)
Grant awards to nonaffiliated EMS organizations
Not more than 2 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under this section to nonaffiliated EMS organizations. (3)
Funding for fire prevention and safety grants
For each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent of the aggregate of grant amounts under this section in that fiscal year shall be awarded under subsection (d). (4)
State fire training academies
Not more than 3 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under subsection (c)(1)(C). (5)
Amounts for purchasing firefighting vehicles
Not more than 25 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year may be used to assist grant recipients to purchase vehicles pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(G). (i)
Further considerations
(1)
Assistance to firefighters grants to fire departments
In considering applications for grants under subsection (c)(1)(A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the extent to which the grant would enhance the daily operations of the applicant and the impact of such a grant on the protection of lives and property. (2)
Applications from nonaffiliated EMS organizations
In the case of an application submitted under subsection (e)(1) by a nonaffiliated EMS organization, the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the extent to which other sources of Federal funding are available to the applicant to provide the assistance requested in such application. (3)
Awarding fire prevention and safety grants to certain organizations that are not fire departments
In the case of applicants for grants under this section who are described in subsection (d)(1)(B), the Administrator of FEMA shall give priority to applicants who focus on— (A)prevention of injuries to high risk groups from fire; and (B)research programs that demonstrate a potential to improve firefighter safety. (4)
Avoiding duplication
The Administrator of FEMA shall review lists submitted by applicants pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(D) and take such actions as the Administrator of FEMA considers necessary to prevent unnecessary duplication of grant awards. (j)
Matching and maintenance of expenditure requirements
(1)
Matching requirement for assistance to firefighters grants
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to carry out such activity in an amount equal to not less than 15 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection. (B)
Exception for entities serving small communities
In the case that an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) serves a jurisdiction of— (i)more than 20,000 residents but not more than 50,000 residents, the applicant shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the grant award to such applicant under such subsection; or (ii)20,000 residents or fewer, the applicant shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection. (2)
Matching requirement for fire prevention and safety grants
(A)
In general
An applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (d) shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to carry out such activity in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection. (B)
Means of matching
An applicant for a grant under subsection (d) may meet the matching requirement under subparagraph (A) through direct funding, funding of complementary activities, or the provision of staff, facilities, services, material, or equipment. (3)
Maintenance of expenditures
An applicant seeking a grant under subsection (c) or (d) shall agree to maintain during the term of the grant the applicant's aggregate expenditures relating to the uses described in subsections (c)(3) and (d)(3) at not less than 80 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the 2 fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant amounts are received. (4)
Waiver
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii), the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) in cases of demonstrated economic hardship. (B)
Guidelines
(i)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for purposes of this paragraph. (ii)
Considerations
In developing guidelines under clause (i), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following: (I)Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years. (II)Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded the annual national average rates of unemployment. (III)Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years. (IV)Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate. (C)
Certain applicants for fire prevention and safety grants
The authority under subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a nonprofit organization that— (i)is described in subsection (d)(1)(B); and (ii)is not a fire department or emergency medical services organization. (k)
Grant guidelines
(1)
Guidelines
For each fiscal year, prior to awarding any grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall publish in the Federal Register— (A)guidelines that describe— (i)the process for applying for grants under this section; and (ii)the criteria that will be used for selecting grant recipients; and (B)an explanation of any differences between such guidelines and the recommendations obtained under paragraph (2). (2)
Annual meeting to obtain recommendations
(A)
In general
For each fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA shall convene a meeting of qualified members of national fire service organizations and qualified members of emergency medical service organizations to obtain recommendations regarding the following: (i)Criteria for the awarding of grants under this section. (ii)Administrative changes to the assistance program established under subsection (b). (B)
Qualified members
For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified member of an organization is a member who— (i)is recognized for expertise in firefighting or emergency medical services; (ii)is not an employee of the Federal Government; and (iii)in the case of a member of an emergency medical service organization, is a member of an organization that represents— (I)providers of emergency medical services that are affiliated with fire departments; or (II)nonaffiliated EMS providers. (3)
Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities carried out pursuant to this subsection. (l)
Accounting determination
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, equipment costs shall include all costs attributable to any design, purchase of components, assembly, manufacture, and transportation of equipment not otherwise commercially available. (m)
Eligible grantee on behalf of Alaska native villages
The Alaska Village Initiatives, a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Alaska, shall be eligible to apply for and receive a grant or other assistance under this section on behalf of Alaska Native villages. (n)
Training standards
If an applicant for a grant under this section is applying for such grant to purchase training that does not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards developed under section 647 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 747), the applicant shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an explanation of the reasons that the training proposed to be purchased will serve the needs of the applicant better than training that meets or exceeds such standards. (o)
Ensuring effective use of grants
(1)
Audits
The Administrator of FEMA may audit a recipient of a grant awarded under this section to ensure that— (A)the grant amounts are expended for the intended purposes; and (B)the grant recipient complies with the requirements of subsection (j). (2)
Performance assessment
(A)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall develop and implement a performance assessment system, including quantifiable performance metrics, to evaluate the extent to which grants awarded under this section are furthering the purposes of this section, including protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards. (B)
Consultation
The Administrator of FEMA shall consult with fire service representatives and with the Comptroller General of the United States in developing the assessment system required by subparagraph (A). (3)
Annual reports to Administrator of FEMA
The recipient of a grant awarded under this section shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an annual report describing how the recipient used the grant amounts. (4)
Annual reports to Congress
(A)
In general
Not later than September 30, 2012, and each year thereafter through 2016, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that provides— (i)information on the performance assessment system developed under paragraph (2); and (ii)using the performance metrics developed under such paragraph, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grants awarded under this section. (B)
Additional information
The report due under subparagraph (A) on September 30, 2015, shall also include recommendations for legislative changes to improve grants under this section, including recommendations as to whether the provisions described in section 5(a) of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011 should be extended to apply on and after the date described in such section. (p)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (A)$950,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and (B)for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, an amount equal to the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage by which— (i)the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the previous fiscal year, exceeds (ii)the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year described in clause (i). (2)
Administrative expenses
Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA may use not more than 5 percent of such amounts for salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator of FEMA in the course of awarding grants and providing assistance under this section. (3)
Congressionally directed spending
Consistent with the requirements in subsections (c)(1) and (d)(1) that grants under those subsections be awarded on a competitive basis, none of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may be used for any congressionally directed spending item (as such term is defined in paragraph 5(a) of rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate).
.
4.
Staffing for adequate fire and emergency response
(a)
Improvements to hiring grants
(1)
Term of grants
Subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is amended by striking 4 years and inserting 3 years. (2)
Limitation on portion of costs of hiring firefighters
Subsection (a)(1)(E) of such section 34 is amended by striking not exceed— and all that follows through the period and inserting not exceed 75 percent in any fiscal year.. (b)
Clarification regarding eligible entities for recruitment and retention grants
The second sentence of subsection (a)(2) of such section 34 is amended by striking organizations on a local or statewide basis and inserting national, State, local, or tribal organizations. (c)
Maximum amount for hiring firefighter
Paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of such section 34 is amended to read as follows: (4)The amount of funding provided under this section to a recipient fire department for hiring a firefighter in any fiscal year may not exceed 75 percent of the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in that department at the time the grant application was submitted. . (d)
Waivers
Such section 34 is further amended— (1)by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as subsection (e) through (j), respectively; and (2)by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d)
Waivers
(1)
In general
In a case of demonstrated economic hardship, the Administrator of FEMA may— (A)waive the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii) or subsection (c)(1); or (B)waive or reduce the requirements in subsection (a)(1)(E) or subsection (c)(2). (2)
Guidelines
(A)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for purposes of paragraph (1). (B)
Considerations
In developing guidelines under subparagraph (A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following: (i)Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years. (ii)Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded the annual national average rates of unemployment. (iii)Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years. (iv)Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate. . (e)
Improvements to performance evaluation requirements
Subsection (e) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by inserting before the first sentence the following: (1)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish a performance assessment system, including quantifiable performance metrics, to evaluate the extent to which grants awarded under this section are furthering the purposes of this section. (2)
Submission of information
. (f)
Report
(1)
In general
Subsection (f) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by striking The authority and all that follows through Congress concerning and inserting the following: Not later than September 30, 2015, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on. (2)
Conforming amendment
The heading for such subsection (f) is amended by striking Sunset and reports and inserting Report. (g)
Additional definitions
(1)
In general
Subsection (i) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended— (A)in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking In this section, the term— and inserting In this section:; (B)in paragraph (1)— (i)by inserting The term before firefighter has; and (ii)by striking ; and and inserting a period; (C)by striking paragraph (2); and (D)by inserting at the end the following: (2)The terms career fire department, combination fire department, and volunteer fire department have the meaning given such terms in section 33(a). . (2)
Conforming amendment
Subsection (a)(1)(A) of such section 34 is amended by striking career, volunteer, and combination fire departments and inserting career fire departments, combination fire departments, and volunteer fire departments. (h)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
Subsection (j) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended— (A)in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (B)in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following: (8)$950,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and (9)for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, an amount equal to the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage by which— (A)the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the previous fiscal year, exceeds (B)the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A). . (2)
Administrative expenses
Such subsection (j) is further amended— (A)in paragraph (9), as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving the left margin of such clauses, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right; (B)by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively, and moving the left margin of such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right; (C)by striking There are and inserting the following: (1)
In general
There are ; and (D)by adding at the end the following: (2)
Administrative expenses
Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA may use not more than 5 percent of such amounts to cover salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator of FEMA to make grants and provide assistance under this section. . (3)
Congressionally directed spending
Such subsection (j) is further amended by adding at the end the following: (3)
Congressionally directed spending
Consistent with the requirement in subsection (a) that grants under this section be awarded on a competitive basis, none of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may be used for any congressionally direct spending item (as defined in paragraph 5(a) of Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate). . (i)
Technical amendment
Such section 34 is amended— (1)in subsection (a), in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2), by striking Administrator shall and inserting Administrator of FEMA shall, in consultation with the Administrator,; and (2)by striking Administrator each place it appears, other than in subsection (a)(1)(A) and (a)(2), and inserting Administrator of FEMA. (j)
Clerical amendment
Section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is amended by striking Expansion of pre-September 11, 2001, fire grant program and inserting the following: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response.
5.
Sunset and prior provisions
(a)
Sunset
Section 3 and subsections (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of section 4, and the amendments made by such section and subsections shall not apply on or after October 1, 2016. (b)
Application of prior law
On and after October 1, 2016, sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a) are amended to read as such sections read on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, except that the amendments made by subsections (b), (i), and (j) of section 4 shall continue to apply to such section 34.
6.
Report
Not later than September 30, 2015, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this Act. Such report shall include the following: (1)An assessment of the effect of the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 on the effectiveness, relative allocation, accountability, and administration of the grants awarded under sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a) after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2)An evaluation of the extent to which the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 have enabled recipients of grants awarded under such sections 33 and 34 after the date of the enactment of this Act to mitigate fire and fire-related and other hazards more effectively.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011.
2.
Amendments to definitions
(a)
In general
Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended— (1)in paragraph (3), by inserting , except as otherwise provided, after means; (2)in paragraph (4), by striking Director means and all that follows through Agency; and inserting Administrator of FEMA means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;; (3)in paragraph (5)— (A)by inserting Indian tribe, after county,; and (B)by striking and firecontrol and inserting and fire control; (4)by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively; (5)by inserting after paragraph (5), the following: (6)Indian tribe has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b) and tribal means of or pertaining to an Indian tribe; ; (6)by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10), as redesignated by paragraph (4), as paragraphs (10) and (11); (7)by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (4), the following: (9)Secretary means, except as otherwise provided, the Secretary of Homeland Security; ; and (8)by amending paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (6), to read as follows: (10)State has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101). . (b)
Conforming amendments
(1)
Administrator of FEMA
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by striking Director each place it appears and inserting Administrator of FEMA. (2)
Administrator of FEMA's Award
Section 15 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2214) is amended by striking Director's Award each place it appears and inserting Administrator's Award.
3.
Assistance to firefighter grants
Section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended to read as follows:
33.
Firefighter assistance
(a)
Definitions
In this section: (1)
Available grant funds
The term available grant funds, with respect to a fiscal year, means those funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (p)(1) for such fiscal year less any funds used for administrative costs pursuant to subsection (p)(2) in such fiscal year. (2)
Career fire department
The term career fire department means a fire department that has an all-paid force of firefighting personnel other than paid-on-call firefighters. (3)
Combination fire department
The term combination fire department means a fire department that has— (A)paid firefighting personnel; and (B)volunteer firefighting personnel. (4)
Firefighting personnel
The term firefighting personnel means individuals, including volunteers, who are firefighters, officers of fire departments, or emergency medical service personnel of fire departments. (5)
Nonaffiliated EMS organization
The term nonaffiliated EMS organization means a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services organization that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not serve a geographic area in which the Administrator of FEMA finds that emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department. (6)
Paid-on-call
The term paid-on-call with respect to firefighting personnel means firefighting personnel who are paid a stipend for each event to which they respond. (7)
Volunteer fire department
The term volunteer fire department means a fire department that has an all-volunteer force of firefighting personnel. (b)
Assistance program
(1)
Authority
In accordance with this section, the Administrator of FEMA may, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, award— (A)assistance to firefighters grants under subsection (c); and (B)fire prevention and safety grants and other assistance under subsection (d). (2)
Administrative assistance
The Administrator of FEMA shall— (A)establish specific criteria for the selection of grant recipients under this section; and (B)provide assistance with application preparation to applicants for such grants. (c)
Assistance to firefighters grants
(1)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA may, in consultation with the chief executives of the States in which the recipients are located, award grants on a competitive basis directly to— (A)fire departments, for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel throughout the United States against fire, fire-related, and other hazards; (B)nonaffiliated EMS organizations to support the provision of emergency medical services; and (C)State fire training academies for the purposes described in subparagraphs (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (3). (2)
Maximum grant amounts
(A)
Population
The Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in excess of amounts as follows: (i)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or fewer, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any fiscal year. (ii)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people but not more than 500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year. (iii)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 500,000 but not more than 1,000,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year. (iv)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 1,000,000 people but not more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $6,000,000 for any fiscal year. (v)In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $9,000,000 in any fiscal year. (B)
State fire training academies
The Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection to a State fire training academy in an amount that exceeds $1,000,000 in any fiscal year. (C)
Aggregate
(i)
In general
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B) and except as provided under clause (ii), the Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in a fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the amount that is one percent of the available grant funds in such fiscal year. (ii)
Exception
The Administrator of FEMA may waive the limitation in clause (i) with respect to a grant recipient if the Administrator of FEMA determines that such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in an amount that exceeds the limit under clause (i). (3)
Use of grant funds
Each entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes: (A)To train firefighting personnel in— (i)firefighting; (ii)emergency medical services and other emergency response (including response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters); (iii)arson prevention and detection; (iv)maritime firefighting; or (v)the handling of hazardous materials. (B)To train firefighting personnel to provide any of the training described under subparagraph (A). (C)To fund the creation of rapid intervention teams to protect firefighting personnel at the scenes of fires and other emergencies. (D)To certify— (i)fire inspectors; and (ii)building inspectors— (I)whose responsibilities include fire safety inspections; and (II)who are employed by or serving as volunteers with a fire department. (E)To establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to ensure that the firefighting personnel are able to carry out their duties as firefighters. (F)To fund emergency medical services provided by fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations. (G)To acquire additional firefighting vehicles, including fire trucks and other apparatus. (H)To acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for— (i)fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water; and (ii)communications, monitoring, and response to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction. (I)To acquire personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment— (i)prescribed for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor; or (ii)for responding to a natural disaster or act of terrorism or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction. (J)To modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. (K)To educate the public about arson prevention and detection. (L)To provide incentives for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighting personnel for volunteer firefighting departments and other firefighting departments that utilize volunteers. (M)To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (d)
Fire prevention and safety grants
(1)
In general
For the purpose of assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development, the Administrator of FEMA may, on a competitive basis— (A)award grants to fire departments; (B)award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, national, State, local, tribal, or nonprofit organizations that are not fire departments and that are recognized for their experience and expertise with respect to fire prevention or fire safety programs and activities and firefighter research and development programs, for the purpose of carrying out— (i)fire prevention programs; and (ii)research to improve firefighter health and life safety; and (C)award grants to, or enter into contracts with, regionally accredited institutions of higher education and national fire service organizations or national fire safety organizations to support joint programs focused on reducing firefighter fatalities and non-fatal injuries, including programs for establishing fire safety research centers as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (2)
Maximum grant amount
A grant awarded under this subsection may not exceed $1,500,000 for a fiscal year. (3)
Use of grant funds
Each entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes: (A)To enforce fire codes and promote compliance with fire safety standards. (B)To fund fire prevention programs. (C)To fund wildland fire prevention programs, including education, awareness, and mitigation programs that protect lives, property, and natural resources from fire in the wildland-urban interface. (D)In the case of a grant awarded under paragraph (1)(C), to fund the establishment or operation of— (i)a fire safety research center; or (ii)a program at such a center. (E)To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (e)
Applications for grants
(1)
In general
An entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application therefor in such form and in such manner as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (2)
Elements
Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A)A description of the financial need of the applicant for the grant. (B)An analysis of the costs and benefits, with respect to public safety, of the use for which a grant is requested. (C)An agreement to provide information to the national fire incident reporting system for the period covered by the grant. (D)A list of other sources of funding received by the applicant— (i)for the same purpose for which the application for a grant under this section was submitted; or (ii)from the Federal Government for other fire-related purposes. (E)Such other information as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate. (3)
Joint or regional applications
(A)
In general
Two or more entities may submit an application under paragraph (1) for a grant under this section to fund a joint program or initiative, including acquisition of shared equipment or vehicles. (B)
Nonexclusivity
Applications under this paragraph may be submitted instead of or in addition to any other application submitted under paragraph (1). (C)
Guidance
The Administrator of FEMA shall— (i)publish guidance on applying for and administering grants awarded for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A); and (ii)encourage applicants to apply for grants for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A) as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate to achieve greater cost effectiveness and regional efficiency. (f)
Peer review of grant applications
(1)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall, after consultation with national fire service and emergency medical services organizations, appoint fire service personnel and personnel from nonaffiliated EMS organizations to conduct peer reviews of applications received under subsection (e)(1). (2)
Assignment of reviews
In administering the peer review process under paragraph (1), the Administrator of FEMA shall ensure that— (A)applications submitted by career fire departments are reviewed primarily by personnel from career fire departments; (B)applications submitted by volunteer fire departments are reviewed primarily by personnel from volunteer fire departments; (C)applications submitted by combination fire departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel are reviewed primarily by personnel from such fire departments; and (D)applications for grants to fund emergency medical services pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(F) are reviewed primarily by emergency medical services personnel, including— (i)emergency medical service personnel affiliated with fire departments; and (ii)personnel from nonaffiliated EMS organizations. (3)
Review of applications for fire prevention and safety grants submitted by nonprofit organizations that are not fire departments
In conducting a review of an application submitted under subsection (e)(1) by a nonprofit organization described in subsection (d)(1)(B), a peer reviewer may not recommend the applicant for a grant under subsection (d) unless such applicant is recognized for its experience and expertise with respect to— (A)fire prevention or safety programs and activities; or (B)firefighter research and development programs. (4)
Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities carried out pursuant to this subsection. (g)
Prioritization and allocation of grant awards
In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall— (1)consider the findings and recommendations of the peer reviews carried out under subsection (f); (2)consider the degree to which an award will reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage by reducing the risks associated with fire-related and other hazards; (3)consider the extent of the need of an applicant for a grant under this section and the need to protect the United States as a whole; (4)consider the number of calls requesting or requiring a fire fighting or emergency medical response received by an applicant; and (5)ensure that of the available grant funds— (A)not less than 25 percent are awarded to career fire departments; (B)not less than 25 percent are awarded to volunteer fire departments; and (C)not less than 25 percent are awarded to combination fire departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel. (h)
Additional requirements and limitations
(1)
Funding for emergency medical services
Not less than 3.5 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under this section for purposes described in subsection (c)(3)(F). (2)
Grant awards to nonaffiliated EMS organizations
Not more than 2 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under this section to nonaffiliated EMS organizations. (3)
Funding for fire prevention and safety grants
For each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent of the aggregate of grant amounts under this section in that fiscal year shall be awarded under subsection (d). (4)
State fire training academies
Not more than 3 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year shall be awarded under subsection (c)(1)(C). (5)
Amounts for purchasing firefighting vehicles
Not more than 25 percent of the available grant funds for a fiscal year may be used to assist grant recipients to purchase vehicles pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(G). (i)
Further considerations
(1)
Assistance to firefighters grants to fire departments
In considering applications for grants under subsection (c)(1)(A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the extent to which the grant would enhance the daily operations of the applicant and the impact of such a grant on the protection of lives and property. (2)
Applications from nonaffiliated EMS organizations
In the case of an application submitted under subsection (e)(1) by a nonaffiliated EMS organization, the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the extent to which other sources of Federal funding are available to the applicant to provide the assistance requested in such application. (3)
Awarding fire prevention and safety grants to certain organizations that are not fire departments
In the case of applicants for grants under this section who are described in subsection (d)(1)(B), the Administrator of FEMA shall give priority to applicants who focus on— (A)prevention of injuries to high risk groups from fire; and (B)research programs that demonstrate a potential to improve firefighter safety. (4)
Avoiding duplication
The Administrator of FEMA shall review lists submitted by applicants pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(D) and take such actions as the Administrator of FEMA considers necessary to prevent unnecessary duplication of grant awards. (j)
Matching and maintenance of expenditure requirements
(1)
Matching requirement for assistance to firefighters grants
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to carry out such activity in an amount equal to not less than 15 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection. (B)
Exception for entities serving small communities
In the case that an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) serves a jurisdiction of— (i)more than 20,000 residents but not more than 50,000 residents, the applicant shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the grant award to such applicant under such subsection; or (ii)20,000 residents or fewer, the applicant shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection. (2)
Matching requirement for fire prevention and safety grants
(A)
In general
An applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (d) shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to carry out such activity in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection. (B)
Means of matching
An applicant for a grant under subsection (d) may meet the matching requirement under subparagraph (A) through direct funding, funding of complementary activities, or the provision of staff, facilities, services, material, or equipment. (3)
Maintenance of expenditures
An applicant seeking a grant under subsection (c) or (d) shall agree to maintain during the term of the grant the applicant's aggregate expenditures relating to the uses described in subsections (c)(3) and (d)(3) at not less than 80 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the 2 fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant amounts are received. (4)
Waiver
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii), the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) in cases of demonstrated economic hardship. (B)
Guidelines
(i)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for purposes of this paragraph. (ii)
Considerations
In developing guidelines under clause (i), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following: (I)Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years. (II)Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded the annual national average rates of unemployment. (III)Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years. (IV)Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate. (C)
Certain applicants for fire prevention and safety grants
The authority under subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a nonprofit organization that— (i)is described in subsection (d)(1)(B); and (ii)is not a fire department or emergency medical services organization. (k)
Grant guidelines
(1)
Guidelines
For each fiscal year, prior to awarding any grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall publish in the Federal Register— (A)guidelines that describe— (i)the process for applying for grants under this section; and (ii)the criteria that will be used for selecting grant recipients; and (B)an explanation of any differences between such guidelines and the recommendations obtained under paragraph (2). (2)
Annual meeting to obtain recommendations
(A)
In general
For each fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA shall convene a meeting of qualified members of national fire service organizations and qualified members of emergency medical service organizations to obtain recommendations regarding the following: (i)Criteria for the awarding of grants under this section. (ii)Administrative changes to the assistance program established under subsection (b). (B)
Qualified members
For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified member of an organization is a member who— (i)is recognized for expertise in firefighting or emergency medical services; (ii)is not an employee of the Federal Government; and (iii)in the case of a member of an emergency medical service organization, is a member of an organization that represents— (I)providers of emergency medical services that are affiliated with fire departments; or (II)nonaffiliated EMS providers. (3)
Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities carried out pursuant to this subsection. (l)
Accounting determination
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, equipment costs shall include all costs attributable to any design, purchase of components, assembly, manufacture, and transportation of equipment not otherwise commercially available. (m)
Eligible grantee on behalf of Alaska native villages
The Alaska Village Initiatives, a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Alaska, shall be eligible to apply for and receive a grant or other assistance under this section on behalf of Alaska Native villages. (n)
Training standards
If an applicant for a grant under this section is applying for such grant to purchase training that does not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards developed under section 647 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 747), the applicant shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an explanation of the reasons that the training proposed to be purchased will serve the needs of the applicant better than training that meets or exceeds such standards. (o)
Ensuring effective use of grants
(1)
Audits
The Administrator of FEMA may audit a recipient of a grant awarded under this section to ensure that— (A)the grant amounts are expended for the intended purposes; and (B)the grant recipient complies with the requirements of subsection (j). (2)
Performance assessment
(A)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall develop and implement a performance assessment system, including quantifiable performance metrics, to evaluate the extent to which grants awarded under this section are furthering the purposes of this section, including protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards. (B)
Consultation
The Administrator of FEMA shall consult with fire service representatives and with the Comptroller General of the United States in developing the assessment system required by subparagraph (A). (3)
Annual reports to Administrator of FEMA
The recipient of a grant awarded under this section shall submit to the Administrator of FEMA an annual report describing how the recipient used the grant amounts. (4)
Annual reports to Congress
(A)
In general
Not later than September 30, 2012, and each year thereafter through 2016, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that provides— (i)information on the performance assessment system developed under paragraph (2); and (ii)using the performance metrics developed under such paragraph, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grants awarded under this section. (B)
Additional information
The report due under subparagraph (A) on September 30, 2015, shall also include recommendations for legislative changes to improve grants under this section, including recommendations as to whether the provisions described in section 5(a) of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011 should be extended to apply on and after the date described in such section. (p)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (A)$950,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and (B)for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, an amount equal to the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage by which— (i)the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the previous fiscal year, exceeds (ii)the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year described in clause (i). (2)
Administrative expenses
Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA may use not more than 5 percent of such amounts for salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator of FEMA in the course of awarding grants and providing assistance under this section. (3)
Congressionally directed spending
Consistent with the requirements in subsections (c)(1) and (d)(1) that grants under those subsections be awarded on a competitive basis, none of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may be used for any congressionally directed spending item (as such term is defined in paragraph 5(a) of rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate). (q)
Sunset of authorities
The authority to award assistance and grants under this section shall expire on October 1, 2016.
.
4.
Staffing for adequate fire and emergency response
(a)
Improvements to hiring grants
(1)
Term of grants
Subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is amended by striking 4 years and inserting 3 years. (2)
Limitation on portion of costs of hiring firefighters
Subsection (a)(1)(E) of such section 34 is amended by striking not exceed— and all that follows through the period and inserting not exceed 75 percent in any fiscal year.. (b)
Clarification regarding eligible entities for recruitment and retention grants
The second sentence of subsection (a)(2) of such section 34 is amended by striking organizations on a local or statewide basis and inserting national, State, local, or tribal organizations. (c)
Maximum amount for hiring firefighter
Paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of such section 34 is amended to read as follows: (4)The amount of funding provided under this section to a recipient fire department for hiring a firefighter in any fiscal year may not exceed 75 percent of the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in that department at the time the grant application was submitted. . (d)
Waivers
Such section 34 is further amended— (1)by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as subsection (e) through (j), respectively; and (2)by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d)
Waivers
(1)
In general
In a case of demonstrated economic hardship, the Administrator of FEMA may— (A)waive the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii) or subsection (c)(1); or (B)waive or reduce the requirements in subsection (a)(1)(E) or subsection (c)(2). (2)
Guidelines
(A)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for purposes of paragraph (1). (B)
Considerations
In developing guidelines under subparagraph (A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following: (i)Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years. (ii)Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded the annual national average rates of unemployment. (iii)Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years. (iv)Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate. . (e)
Improvements to performance evaluation requirements
Subsection (e) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by inserting before the first sentence the following: (1)
In general
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish a performance assessment system, including quantifiable performance metrics, to evaluate the extent to which grants awarded under this section are furthering the purposes of this section. (2)
Submission of information
. (f)
Report
(1)
In general
Subsection (f) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended by striking The authority and all that follows through Congress concerning and inserting the following: Not later than September 30, 2015, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on. (2)
Conforming amendment
The heading for such subsection (f) is amended by striking Sunset and reports and inserting Report. (g)
Additional definitions
(1)
In general
Subsection (i) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended— (A)in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking In this section, the term— and inserting In this section:; (B)in paragraph (1)— (i)by inserting The term before firefighter has; and (ii)by striking ; and and inserting a period; (C)by striking paragraph (2); and (D)by inserting at the end the following: (2)The terms career fire department, combination fire department, and volunteer fire department have the meaning given such terms in section 33(a). . (2)
Conforming amendment
Subsection (a)(1)(A) of such section 34 is amended by striking career, volunteer, and combination fire departments and inserting career fire departments, combination fire departments, and volunteer fire departments. (h)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
Subsection (j) of such section 34, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended— (A)in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (B)in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following: (8)$950,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and (9)for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, an amount equal to the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage by which— (A)the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the previous fiscal year, exceeds (B)the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A). . (2)
Administrative expenses
Such subsection (j) is further amended— (A)in paragraph (9), as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving the left margin of such clauses, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right; (B)by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively, and moving the left margin of such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right; (C)by striking There are and inserting the following: (1)
In general
There are ; and (D)by adding at the end the following: (2)
Administrative expenses
Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA may use not more than 5 percent of such amounts to cover salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator of FEMA to make grants and provide assistance under this section. . (3)
Congressionally directed spending
Such subsection (j) is further amended by adding at the end the following: (3)
Congressionally directed spending
Consistent with the requirement in subsection (a) that grants under this section be awarded on a competitive basis, none of the funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may be used for any congressionally direct spending item (as defined in paragraph 5(a) of Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate). . (i)
Technical amendment
Such section 34 is amended— (1)in subsection (a), in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2), by striking Administrator shall and inserting Administrator of FEMA shall, in consultation with the Administrator,; and (2)by striking Administrator each place it appears, other than in subsection (a)(1)(A) and (a)(2), and inserting Administrator of FEMA. (j)
Clerical amendment
Section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is amended by striking Expansion of pre-September 11, 2001, fire grant program and inserting the following: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response. (k)
Sunset of authority to award hiring grants
Section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a) is further amended by adding at the end the following: (k)
Sunset of authorities
The authority to award grants and provide technical assistance under this section shall expire on October 1, 2016. .
5.
Report
Not later than September 30, 2015, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this Act. Such report shall include the following: (1)An assessment of the effect of the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 on the effectiveness, relative allocation, accountability, and administration of the grants awarded under sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a) after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2)An evaluation of the extent to which the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 have enabled recipients of grants awarded under such sections 33 and 34 after the date of the enactment of this Act to mitigate fire and fire-related and other hazards more effectively.
6.
Report on duplication of grant programs
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to Congress a report on the grant programs administered by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (b)
Contents
The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)Whether and to what degree the grant programs described in subsection (a) provide duplicative or overlapping assistance. (2)The cost of each grant program described in subsection (a). (3)The recommendations of the Inspector General for consolidation and elimination of grant programs described in subsection (a) to reduce duplication of assistance.
June 29, 2011 Reported with an amendment