S. 2520 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2520 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 26, 2023Mr. Luján introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To require the standardization of reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023. 2. Requirements relating to certain fire suppression cost share agreements (a) 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. (b) Establishment of standard operating procedures Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall— (1) establish standard operating procedures relating to 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 agreement; and (B) modify each agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures required under paragraph (1). (c) Alignment of fire suppression cost share agreements with cooperative fire protection agreements The standard operating procedures required under subsection (b)(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 the fire suppression cost share agreement. (d) Second-Level review The standard operating procedures required under subsection (b)(1) shall include— (1) a requirement that the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, complete reviews, including second-level reviews of a fire suppression cost share agreement, as soon as practicable after a wildfire relating to the area covered by the fire suppression cost share agreement is contained; and (2) a requirement that in completing the reviews under paragraph (1), the Secretaries consult with State and local fire suppression organizations.