Strengthening Community Safety Act of 2011 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make a grant to an eligible first responder agency for the additional costs incurred as a direct result of one or more of its employees who are reservists being placed on active duty. Defines "eligible first responder agency" as one for which the cost of personnel has increased by not less than 5% as a direct result of such employees being placed on active duty and which is not a for-profit organization.
Prohibits the Administrator from making a grant for costs relating to an employee being placed on active duty if federal funds are used for that employee's pay or benefits. Limits the total amount of grants made to an eligible first responder agency in any fiscal year to $100,000. Terminates the Administrator's authority to make grants three years after this Act's enactment.
Authorizes the use of grant funds for: (1) pay or benefits for an individual hired to replace such an employee that are in addition to any pay and benefits that would have been provided to the deployed employee, (2) overtime expenses for an individual who performs tasks that would have been performed by such an employee, and (3) the costs associated with filling a vacancy created by an employee being placed on active duty. Allows a recipient to use grant funds to cover expenses incurred beginning 90 days before deployment until the date the employee returns to fully paid employment status.
Amends the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to reduce funding for FY2011 for grants to private operators providing transportation by an over-the-road bus for security improvements.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3260 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3260
To establish a pilot grant program for first responder agencies that
experience an extraordinary financial burden resulting from the
deployment of employees.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 25, 2011
Mr. Ross of Arkansas introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition
to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Homeland
Security, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a pilot grant program for first responder agencies that
experience an extraordinary financial burden resulting from the
deployment of employees.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Community Safety Act
of 2011''.
SEC. 2. FIRST RESPONDER AGENCY GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle C--Other Assistance
``SEC. 2041. FIRST RESPONDER AGENCY GRANTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `active duty' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code;
``(2) the term `eligible first responder agency' means a
first responder agency for which the cost of personnel of the
agency has increased by not less than 5 percent as a direct
result of 1 or more employees of the agency who are reservists
being placed on active duty;
``(3) the term `first responder agency'--
``(A) means--
``(i) a law enforcement agency or fire
service (as defined in section 4 of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15
U.S.C. 2203)) of a State or local government;
or
``(ii) a publicly or privately operated
ambulance service that is--
``(I) authorized or licensed by a
State to engage in rescue activity or
to provide emergency medical services;
and
``(II) designated by a State as a
prehospital emergency medical response
agency; and
``(B) shall not include a for-profit organization;
and
``(4) the term `reservist' means a member of a reserve
component of the Armed Forces, as defined in section 10101 of
title 10, United States Code.
``(b) Grants Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
Administrator may make a grant to an eligible first responder
agency for the additional costs incurred by the eligible first
responder agency as a direct result of 1 or more employees of
the agency or service who are reservists being placed on active
duty.
``(2) Limitation for federally funded positions.--The
Administrator may not make a grant under this section for costs
relating to an employee being placed on active duty if Federal
funds are used, in whole or in part, for the pay or benefits of
the employee.
``(3) Maximum amount.--The total amount of all grants made
under this section to an eligible first responder agency in any
fiscal year may not exceed $100,000.
``(4) Termination of grant authority.--The authority of the
Administrator to make a grant under this section shall
terminate 3 years after the date of enactment of this section.
``(c) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section may be used
for--
``(A) pay and benefits for an individual hired to
replace an employee placed on active duty that are in
addition to any pay and benefits that would have been
provided to the deployed employee;
``(B) overtime expenses for an employee who
performs tasks that would have been performed by an
employee placed on active duty; and
``(C) the costs associated with filling a vacancy
created by an employee placed on active duty, including
costs for advertising, interviewing, performing
background investigations, employment training, and
hiring bonuses and incentives.
``(2) Time period for reimbursable expenses.--An eligible
first responder agency that receives a grant under this section
may use the grant funds to cover expenses incurred during the
period that begins 90 days before the deployment of an employee
of the agency and ends on the date on which the employee
returns to fully paid employment status.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible first responder agency
desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application
to the Administrator at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Administrator may
reasonably require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall--
``(A) describe the activities for which assistance
under this section is sought; and
``(B) provide documentation that demonstrates that
the first responder agency meets the requirements in
subsection (a)(2).
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $5,000,000 to carry out this section
for fiscal years 2012 through 2014.''.
(b) Reporting.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection, the terms ``active
duty'', ``first responder agency'', and ``reservist'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 2041 of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a).
(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress a report
regarding the placing on active duty of employees of first
responder agencies that are reservists, including an evaluation
of--
(A) the effects, including financial effects, of
placing the employees on active duty on--
(i) the operation of the first responder
agencies; and
(ii) the services the first responder
agencies provide to the communities served by
the first responder agencies; and
(B) first responder agency grants under section
2041 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by
subsection (a), including the effect of the grants on--
(i) the operation of the first responder
agencies; and
(ii) the services the first responder
agencies provide to the communities served by
the first responder agencies.
(c) Offset.--Section 1532(k)(1)(D) of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C.
1182(k)(1)(D)) is amended by striking ``$25,000,000'' and inserting
``$20,000,000''.
(d) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle C--Other Assistance
``Sec. 2041. First responder agency grants.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Homeland Security, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Homeland Security, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Homeland Security, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Homeland Security, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications.