,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cfji ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #h 7legislative day1 ,january #g71 #bjbf ,mr4 ,padilla 7for himself and ,mr4 ,sheehy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish a community protection and wildfire resilience grant program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,community ,protection and ,wildfire ,resilience ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#b7 ,chief ,the term ,chief means the ,chief of the ,forest ,service4 7#c7 ,community protection and wildfire resilience plan ,the term community protection and wildfire resilience plan means a plan that-- 7,a7 is developed by an eligible entity in coordination with-- 7i7 the local community and government2 7ii7 local ,indian ,tribes2 7iii7 local law enforcement1 firefighters1 first responders1 fire managers1 and utilities2 7iv7 non-governmental organizations carrying out relevant projects or relevant operations locally2 and 7v7 ,state agencies responsible for-- 7,i7 fire prevention and emergency response2 7,,ii7 other emergency response2 7,,iii7 public safety2 7,,iv7 environmental protection2 and 7,v7 forest management2 7,b7 includes strategies and activities relating to-- 7i7 improving early detection technology1 public outreach and education1 alerts and warnings1 evacuation planning1 evacuation execution1 and access for first responders2 7ii7 addressing vulnerable populations1 including the elderly1 children1 individuals with disabilities1 and homeless individuals2 7iii7 hardening and increasing the resiliency of critical infrastructure and homes1 including through incentive programs2 7iv7 applying community-scale defensible space projects1 developed collaboratively with the entities described in clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a71 across contiguous areas2 7v7 building local capacity to implement and oversee the plan2 7vi7 implementing strategic land use planning2 7vii7 educating community members about ways to improve community resilience2 7viii7 coordinating any existing wildfire plans1 such as a community wildfire protection plan or a community emergency evacuation plan2 and 7ix7 incorporating information from a map generated pursuant to section #baj7;a7 of division ,o of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjah 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feja note2 ,public ,law #aae-ada72 and 7,c7 may consist of existing plans or other efforts1 provided that any such plan complies with subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b74 7#d7 ,critical infrastructure ,the term critical infrastructure means any public safety1 health1 education1 transportation1 communications1 or water or power utility infrastructure or any private infrastructure necessary to preserve community safety1 resilience1 or continuity of operation of such infrastructure with respect to a wildfire threat4 7#e7 ,defensible space project ,the term defensible space project-- 7,a7 means a project that is conducted within a radius of not more than #ajj feet around a home1 business1 or administrative facility1 and is comprised of vegetation pruning1 such as annual removal of tree seedlings and saplings1 lower limbs of mature trees1 cutting of grasses and reducing density and continuity of shrubs1 and removal of most small twigs and leaves2 or 7,b7 at the discretion of the ,administrator1 if a project funded under the program is being carried out in a ,state that has established1 by law1 a more restrictive definition of the term1 has the meaning given the term in ,state law4 7#f7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 an ,indian ,tribe2 7,c7 a unit of general local or regional government1 including a fire protection district or a municipal fire department2 7,d7 a volunteer fire department2 or 7,e7 a collaborative effort of not less than #b entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d74 7#g7 ,program ,the term program means the grant program established under section #c7;a74 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state means a ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,guam1 ,puerto ,rico1 the ,virgin ,islands1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 and any other territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,community protection and wildfire resilience grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 acting through the ,united ,states ,fire ,administrator and in coordination with the ,chief1 shall establish a program1 which shall be separate from the program established under section #bjc of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eacc71 under which the ,administrator shall award grants to eligible entities to-- 7#a7 in the case of an eligible entity that has a community protection and wildfire resilience plan1 carry out projects described in the community protection and wildfire resilience plan of the eligible entity in accordance with subsection 7c72 or 7#b7 in the case of an eligible entity that does not have a community protection and wildfire resilience plan1 develop a community protection and wildfire resilience plan in accordance with subsection 7d74 7b7 ,criteria for grants 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 acting through the ,united ,states ,fire ,administrator and in coordination with the ,chief1 shall establish criteria to award grants under the program4 7#b7 ,communities ,amounts provided under the program shall be used to conduct projects and activities only in communities in existence on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,administrator shall give priority to eligible entities that will carry out projects or plans supporting a community located in an area with a high risk for fire or wildfire1 as evidenced by a ,state wildfire hazard map or a map generated pursuant to section #baj7;a7 of division ,o of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjah 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feja note2 ,public ,law #aae-ada74 7c7 ,community protection and wildfire resilience grants 7#a7 ,use of grant funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the program to carry out projects shall use grant funds to carry out projects that support a diverse portfolio of community protection and wildfire resilience strategies described in the community protection and wildfire resilience plan of the eligible entity4 7#b7 ,grant amounts ,a grant under this subsection shall be for not more than #aj1jjj1jjj4 7d7 ,community protection and wildfire resilience plan development grants 7#a7 ,use of grant funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the program to develop a plan shall use grant funds to develop a community protection and wildfire resilience plan for the eligible entity4 7#b7 ,grant amounts ,an award under this subsection shall be for not more than #bej1jjj4 7e7 ,preference for local contractors and labor ,in carrying out a project using a grant awarded under the program1 the grant recipient shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 give preference to contracting with entities1 and hiring individuals1 from the area in which the project is being carried out1 including by partnering with local corps groups1 such as ,ameri,corps or a conservation corps4 7f7 ,cost-,sharing 7#a7 ,non-,federal share requirement ,the non-,federal share of the cost 7including the administrative cost7 of carrying out a project using funds from a grant awarded under the program-- 7,a7 7i7 shall be not less than #be percent of the cost of the project to be carried out using grant funds in accordance with subsection 7c72 and 7ii7 shall be #j percent of the cost of the project to be carried out using grant funds in accordance with subsection 7d72 7,b7 may be provided by-- 7i7 a ,state1 a unit of local government1 an ,indian ,tribe1 a nonprofit organization1 private industry1 or a combination of those entities2 or 7ii7 volunteer hours and in-kind donations2 and 7,c7 may1 in the case of a project that serves a low-income community1 be in the form of a low-interest ,federal loan to the eligible entity carrying out the project through the ,community ,disaster ,loan program authorized under section #dag of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eahd74 7#b7 ,waiver2 reduction ,in carrying out the program1 the ,administrator may waive or reduce the non-,federal share amount required under paragraph 7#a74 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4 #d4 ,government ,accountability ,office report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall publish a report-- 7#a7 on authorities and programs of the ,federal ,government that are available to protect communities from wildfires2 and 7#b7 that includes an assessment of the ,comptroller ,general with respect to impediments to the implementation of such programs1 including gaps in funding4 #e4 ,government ,accountability ,office study ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall publish a study that includes-- 7#a7 an assessment of the ,comptroller ,general with respect to-- 7,a7 the potential for a community protection and wildfire resilience plan to qualify for a certification identifying a level of wildfire survivability and resilience2 and 7,b7 methods that could be used by the ,federal ,government to incentivize insurance companies to accept a certification described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7#b7 an identification of any metrics that could be provided to insurance companies as assurance that a community has wildfire resilience measures in place4 #f4 ,updating list of at-risk communities 7a7 ,in general ,subparagraph 7,a7 of section #aja7a7 of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feaa7a77;,a77 is amended to read as follows3 7,a7 that is comprised of a group of homes and other structures with basic infrastructure and services 7such as utilities and collectively maintained transportation routes7 within or adjacent to ,federal land2 4 7b7 ,map ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,administrator1 acting through the ,united ,states ,fire ,administrator and in coordination with the ,chief1 shall develop and publish a map depicting at-risk communities 7as defined in section #aja of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feaa71 as amended by this section71 including ,tribal at-risk communities4 #g4 ,report on radio communications 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 acting through the ,united ,states ,fire ,administrator and in coordination with the ,chief1 shall prepare a report relating to insufficient radio frequencies1 barriers to interoperability of radio frequencies1 and available products and technologies for overcoming barriers to interoperability for wildfire management4 7b7 ,cooperation ,in preparing the report under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall coordinate with-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7#b7 agencies responsible for the management of ,federal land2 7#c7 ,state fire marshals2 7#d7 ,state and local emergency response agencies2 7#e7 ,tribal fire departments and emergency managers2 and 7#f7 municipal fire departments1 fire protection districts1 and volunteer fire departments in relevant communities4 7c7 ,compatibility2 additional frequencies ,the report under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 a determination on whether the entities described in subsection 7b7 have the ability to communicate by way of radio during a potential fire suppression effort for a community conflagration2 7#b7 a determination on whether-- 7,a7 the reserved radio frequencies are sufficient for wildfire management2 or 7,b7 additional frequencies1 listed by type and location1 are recommended to be reserved or obtained2 7#c7 an analysis of commercially available technology and products to enable radios from multiple agencies operating on different radio frequencies to be interoperable2 and 7#d7 if the ,administrator determines under paragraph 7#a7 that any entities do not have the ability to communicate1 a plan for ensuring such entities would be able to communicate adequately during a fire suppression effort for a community conflagration4 #h4 ,amendment to community wildfire defense grant program to allow structure hardening ,section #djhjc7;f7 of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feib7;f77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 by striking projects and inserting projects 7including projects described in paragraph 7#c77;,d772 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,projects described ,a project referred to in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 is a project for any of the following3 7i7 ,the construction1 modification1 or maintenance of a structure to make the structure resistant to the intrusion of flames or embers4 7ii7 ,the modification of a structure or an area adjacent to a structure 7including vegetation and miscellaneous structures1 such as garages1 sheds1 and fencing7 if such modification is carried out-- 7,i7 to reduce the exposure of the structure to direct contact from flames1 radiation1 or embers from wildfire2 and 7,,ii7 with consideration for the potential effects on the structure of nearby combustible features 7including vegetation1 vehicles1 and miscellaneous structures1 such as garages1 sheds1 and fencing74 4