,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbjj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bf 7legislative day1 ,june #bd71 #bjbe,mr4 ,gallego introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish a law enforcement grant program to help law enforcement agencies respond to rapid increases in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,first ,responders ,emergency ,assistance ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#b7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,d7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state1 ,tribal1 territorial1 or local law enforcement agency2 7,b7 an emergency operations center2 or 7,c7 another ,state1 ,tribal1 territorial1 or local first responder agency4 7#d7 ,emergency operation center ,the term emergency operation center means a physical or virtual location from which leaders of a jurisdiction or organization coordinate and provide policy direction related to an emergency1 including-- 7,a7 coordinating information and resources to support resource needs and requests1 including allocation and tracking2 7,b7 collecting1 analyzing1 and sharing information2 and 7,c7 coordinating plans and determining current and future needs4 7#e7 ,firefighter ,the term firefighter has the meaning given the term employee in fire protection activities under section #c7y7 of the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act of #aich 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bjc7y774 7#f7 ,first responder ,the term first responder includes a firefighter1 law enforcement officer1 paramedic1 emergency medical technician1 or other individual 7including an employee of a legally organized and recognized volunteer organization1 whether or not compensated71 who-- 7,a7 in the course of his or her professional duties1 responds to fire1 medical1 hazardous material1 or similar emergencies2 and 7,b7 is an employee of a ,state1 ,indian ,tribe1 or unit of local government4 7#g7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given such term in section #d7;e7 of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;e774 7#h7 ,law enforcement officer ,the term law enforcement officer means an employee of a governmental or public agency who is authorized by law-- 7,a7 to engage in or supervise the prevention1 detection1 or investigation of any criminal violation of law2 or 7,b7 to engage in or supervise the detention or incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law4 7#i7 ,recently ,the term recently means during the #d-year period immediately preceding the public release of a ,notice of ,funding ,opportunity4 7#aj7 ,state ,the term ,state means any ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,virgin ,islands1 ,american ,samoa1 ,guam1 and the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 7#aa7 ,unit of local government ,the term unit of local government means any city1 county1 township1 town1 borough1 parish village1 special district1 fire authority1 county improvement district1 or other general purpose political subdivision of a ,state1 and any entity jointly created by #b or more public employers4 #c4 ,first responders grant program 7a7 ,authorization ,the ,administrator may award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of funding direct costs associated with responding to a substantial and rapid increase in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,permitted uses ,funds received under the grant program authorized by this section may be used by an eligible entity for-- 7#a7 equipment1 including maintenance and sustainment costs2 7#b7 allowable and approved personnel costs1 including salaries1 overtime pay1 fringe benefits1 and backfill positions for law enforcement and first responder personnel2 and 7#c7 any other appropriate activity or cost that was incurred in the eligible entity's jurisdiction1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 to respond directly to a substantial and rapid increase in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,geographic distribution ,the ,administrator shall award not less than #be percent of the funds appropriated for grants under this section to eligible entities located in ,states that share a border with ,canada or with ,mexico4 7d7 ,collection of information ,for each fiscal year during which grants are awarded pursuant to this section that begins on or after the date that is #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall separately collect and maintain financial information with respect to grants awarded under this section1 including-- 7#a7 the amount of such awards2 7#b7 the amount obligated for such awards2 7#c7 the amount of outlays expended for such awards2 7#d7 financial plans with respect to the use of such awards2 7#e7 any funding transfers or reallocations related to such awards2 and 7#f7 any adjustments to spending plans or reprogramming related to such awards4 7e7 ,administrator oversight 7#a7 ,guidelines ,the ,administrator shall establish and implement guidelines that-- 7,a7 ensure amounts made available for grants under this section are used in accordance with grant guidance and applicable laws2 7,b7 increase the proportion of each grant made under this section that is used for operational expenses by the ultimate grantee2 7,c7 improve program performance reporting and program performance measurements to facilitate designing1 implementing1 and enforcing procedures under this section2 and 7,d7 require the recording of standardized performance data regarding program output4 7#b7 ,submission ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit the guidelines established pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 to the appropriate congressional committees4 7f7 ,reports and briefings ,during the #e-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,commissioner of ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection and the ,director of ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,immigration ,enforcement1 shall submit an annual report and provide an annual briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that includes1 for the period covered by each such report-- 7#a7 information regarding how each recipient of grant funds under this section expended amounts received under such grant2 7#b7 information regarding the nature of operations carried out using such grant funds2 and 7#c7 with respect to the first report submitted pursuant to this subsection-- 7,a7 an examination of the effects that changing the grant program established under this section to award multi-year grants would have on its mission2 and 7,b7 any findings and recommendations regarding changes that could improve the grant program1 which may include feedback from grant recipients4 #d4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary to carry out this ,act4 7b7 ,limitation ,amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection 7a7 may not be expended to reimburse eligible entities for costs relating to the enforcement of ,federal immigration laws4