January 13, 2025
Mr. Harder of California (for himself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Requirements relating to certain fire suppression cost share agreements
(a) Establishment of standard operating procedures
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall—
(1)
establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost share agreements established under the Act of May 27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act
); and
(2)
with respect to each fire suppression cost share agreement in operation on such date—
(A)
review each such agreement; and
(B)
modify each agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures required under paragraph (1).
(b) Alignment of fire suppression cost share agreements with cooperative fire protection agreements
The standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement that each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned with each of the cooperative fire protection agreements applicable to the entity subject to such fire suppression cost share agreement.
(c) Payments pursuant to cost share agreements
With respect to payments made pursuant to fire suppression cost share agreements, the standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the Federal paying entity reimburse a local fire department if such fire department submits an invoice in accordance with cost settlement procedures.
(d) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreement repayments to local fire suppression organizations as soon as practicable after fire suppression occurs but not later than 1 year after fire suppression occurs.
(e) Secretaries defined
In this section, the term Secretaries means—
(1)
the Secretary of Agriculture;
(2)
the Secretary of the Interior;
(3)
the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
(4)
the Secretary of Defense.