Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023

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) 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 fire suppression cost share agreements established under the Act of May 27, 1955 ( 42 U.S.C. 1856a Reciprocal Fire Protection Act (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) Second-Level review The standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(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 such fire suppression cost share agreement is contained; and (2) a requirement that in completing such reviews, the Secretaries consults with State and local fire suppression organizations. (d) Secretaries defined In this section, the term Secretaries (1) the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) the Secretary of the Interior; (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (4) the Secretary of Defense.

Summary: Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023 This bill requires standard operating procedures for reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements. The Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense shall establish standard operating procedures relating to fire suppression cost share agreements established under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act; and with respect to each agreement in operation on one year after enactment of this bill, review each agreement and modify it as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures. The standard operating procedures 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. The standard operating procedures shall also include a requirement that the departments, 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 related to the area covered by such cost share agreement is contained; and a requirement that in completing such reviews, the department concerned consults with state and local fire suppression organizations.