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(1) EXTENSION OF RECREATIONAL SEASON.— 
In the case of a unit of Federal recreational lands 
and waters managed by the Forest Service, the Bu-
reau of Land Management, or the National Park 
Service in which recreational use is highly seasonal, 
the Secretary concerned, acting through the relevant 
unit manager, may— 
(A) as appropriate, extend the recreation 
season or increase recreation use in a sustain-
able manner during the offseason; and 
(B) make information about extended sea-
son schedules and related recreational opportu-
nities available to the public and local commu-
nities. 
(2) DETERMINATION.—In determining whether 
to extend the recreation season under this sub-
section, the Secretary concerned, acting through the 
relevant unit manager, shall consider the benefits of 
extending the recreation season— 
(A) for the duration of income to gateway 
communities; and 
(B) to provide more opportunities to visit 
resources on units of Federal recreational lands 
and waters to reduce crowding during peak visi-
tation. 
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(3) CLARIFICATION.—Nothing in this sub-
section precludes the Secretary concerned, acting 
through the relevant unit manager, from providing 
for additional recreational opportunities and uses at 
times other than those described in this subsection. 
(4) INCLUSIONS.—An extension of a recreation 
season or an increase in recreation use during the 
offseason under paragraph (1) may include— 
(A) the addition of facilities that would in-
crease recreation use during the offseason; and 
(B) improvement of access to the relevant 
unit to extend the recreation season. 
(5) REQUIREMENT.—An extension of a recre-
ation season or increase in recreation use during the 
offseason under paragraph (1) shall be done in com-
pliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, 
and policies, including land use plans. 
(6) AGREEMENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
cerned may enter into agreements with busi-
nesses, local governments, or other entities to 
share the cost of additional expenses necessary 
to extend the period of time during which an 
area of, or infrastructure on, a unit of Federal 
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recreational lands and waters is made open to 
the public. 
(B) IN-KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Sec-
retary concerned may accept in-kind contribu-
tions of goods and services provided by busi-
nesses, local governments, or other entities for 
purposes of paragraph (1). 
Subtitle C—Maintenance of Public 
Land 
SEC. 341. VOLUNTEERS IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS AND 
PUBLIC LANDS ACT. 
The Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 558a et seq.) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Volunteers in the Na-
tional Forests and Public Lands Act’. 
‘‘SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
‘‘The purpose of this Act is to leverage volunteer en-
gagement to supplement projects that are carried out by 
the Secretaries to fulfill the missions of the Forest Service 
and the Bureau of Land Management and are accom-
plished with appropriated funds. 
‘‘SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF SECRETARIES. 
‘‘In this Act, the term ‘Secretaries’ means each of— 
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‘‘(1) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement. 
‘‘SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION. 
‘‘The Secretaries are authorized to recruit, train, and 
accept without regard to the civil service and classification 
laws, rules, or regulations the services of individuals with-
out compensation as volunteers for or in aid of recreation 
access, trail construction or maintenance, facility con-
struction or maintenance, educational uses (including out-
door classroom construction or maintenance), interpretive 
functions, visitor services, conservation measures and de-
velopment, or other activities in and related to areas ad-
ministered by the Secretaries. In carrying out this section, 
the Secretaries shall consider referrals of prospective vol-
unteers made by the Corporation for National and Com-
munity Service. 
‘‘SEC. 5. INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. 
‘‘The Secretaries are authorized to provide for inci-
dental expenses, such as transportation, uniforms, lodg-
ing, training, equipment, and subsistence. 
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‘‘SEC. 6. CONSIDERATION AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEE. 
‘‘(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 
volunteer shall not be deemed a Federal employee and 
shall not be subject to the provisions of law relating to 
Federal employment, including those relating to hours of 
work, rates of compensation, leave, unemployment com-
pensation, and Federal employee benefits. 
‘‘(b) For the purpose of the tort claim provisions of 
title 28, United States Code, a volunteer under this Act 
shall be considered a Federal employee. 
‘‘(c) For the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 
of title 5, United States Code, relating to compensation 
to Federal employees for work injuries, volunteers under 
this Act shall be deemed civil employees of the United 
States within the meaning of the term ‘employee’ as de-
fined in section 8101 of title 5, United States Code, and 
the provisions of that subchapter shall apply. 
‘‘(d) For the purposes of claims relating to damage 
to, or loss of, personal property of a volunteer incident 
to volunteer service, a volunteer under this Act shall be 
considered a Federal employee, and the provisions of sec-
tion 3721 of title 31, United States Code, shall apply. 
‘‘(e) For the purposes of subsections (b), (c), and (d), 
the term ‘volunteer’ includes a person providing volunteer 
services to either of the Secretaries who— 
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‘‘(1) is recruited, trained, and supported by a 
cooperator under a mutual benefit agreement or co-
operative agreement with either of the Secretaries; 
and 
‘‘(2) performs such volunteer services under the 
supervision of the cooperator as directed by either of 
the Secretaries in the mutual benefit agreement or 
cooperative agreement in the mutual benefit agree-
ment, including direction that specifies— 
‘‘(A) the volunteer services, including the 
geographic boundaries of the work to be per-
formed by the volunteers, and the supervision 
to be provided by the cooperator; 
‘‘(B) the applicable project safety stand-
ards and protocols to be adhered to by the vol-
unteers and enforced by the cooperator; 
‘‘(C) the on-site visits to be made by either 
of the Secretaries, if feasible and only if nec-
essary to verify that volunteers are performing 
the volunteer services and the cooperator is pro-
viding the supervision agreed upon; 
‘‘(D) the equipment the volunteers are au-
thorized to use; 
‘‘(E) the training the volunteers are re-
quired to complete; 
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‘‘(F) the actions the volunteers are author-
ized to take; and 
‘‘(G) any other terms and conditions that 
are determined to be necessary by the applica-
ble Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 7. PROMOTION OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. 
‘‘The Secretaries shall promote volunteer opportuni-
ties in areas administered by the Secretaries. 
‘‘SEC. 8. LIABILITY INSURANCE. 
‘‘The Secretaries shall not require a cooperator or 
volunteer (as those terms are used in section 6) to have 
liability insurance to provide the volunteer services author-
ized under this Act.’’. 
SEC. 342. REFERENCE. 
Any reference to the Volunteers in the National For-
ests Act of 1972 in any law, regulation, map, document, 
record, or other paper of the United States shall be 
deemed to be a reference to the Volunteers in the National 
Forests and Public Land Act. 
Subtitle D—Recreation Not Red 
Tape 
SEC. 351. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY FOR RECREATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AUTHORIZED RECREATION SERVICES.—The 
term ‘‘authorized recreation services’’ means similar 
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and complementary recreation enhancement or im-
provement services carried out— 
(A) on Federal land, non-Federal land, or 
land owned by an Indian Tribe; and 
(B) by either the Secretary or a Governor, 
Indian Tribe, or county, as applicable, pursuant 
to a good neighbor agreement. 
(2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘county’’ means— 
(A) the appropriate executive official of an 
affected county; or 
(B) in any case in which multiple counties 
are affected, the appropriate executive official 
of a compact of the affected counties. 
(3) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 
means land that is— 
(A) owned and administered by the United 
States as a part of— 
(i) the National Forest System; or 
(ii) the National Park System; or 
(B) public lands (as defined in section 103 
of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)). 
(4) RECREATION ENHANCEMENT OR IMPROVE-
MENT
SERVICES.—The term ‘‘recreation enhance-
ment or improvement services’’ means— 
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(A) establishing, repairing, restoring, im-
proving, relocating, constructing, or recon-
structing new or existing— 
(i) trails or trailheads; 
(ii) campgrounds and camping areas; 
(iii) cabins; 
(iv) picnic areas or other day use 
areas; 
(v) shooting ranges; 
(vi) restroom or shower facilities; 
(vii) paved or permanent roads or 
parking areas that serve existing recreation 
facilities or areas; 
(viii) fishing piers, wildlife viewing 
platforms, docks, or other constructed fea-
tures at a recreation site; 
(ix) boat landings; 
(x) hunting or fishing sites; 
(xi) infrastructure within ski areas; or 
(xii) visitor centers or other interpre-
tative sites; and 
(B) activities that create, improve, or re-
store access to existing recreation facilities or 
areas. 
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(5) GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT.—The term 
‘‘good neighbor agreement’’ means a cooperative 
agreement or contract (including a sole source con-
tract) entered into between the Secretary and a Gov-
ernor, Indian Tribe, or county, as applicable, to 
carry out authorized recreation services under this 
title. 
(6) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor or any other appropriate executive offi-
cial of an affected State or the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico. 
(7) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System land; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to National Park System land and public 
lands. 
(b) GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS
FOR RECRE-
ATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned 
may enter into a good neighbor agreement with a 
Governor, Indian Tribe, or county to carry out au-
thorized recreation services in accordance with this 
title. 
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(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall make each good neighbor agreement 
available to the public. 
(3) FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
cerned may provide financial or technical assist-
ance to a Governor, Indian Tribe, or county 
carrying out authorized recreation services. 
(B) ADDITIONAL
TREATMENTS
OF
REV-
ENUE.—Section 8206(b)(2)(C) of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(b)(2)(C)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) TREATMENT OF REVENUE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Funds received 
from the sale of timber by a Governor, In-
dian Tribe, or county under a good neigh-
bor agreement shall be retained and used 
by the Governor, Indian Tribe, or county, 
as applicable— 
‘‘(I) to carry out authorized res-
toration services on under the good 
neighbor agreement; and 
‘‘(II) if there are funds remain-
ing after carrying out clause (i), to 
carry out— 
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‘‘(aa) authorized restoration 
services under other good neigh-
bor agreements; or 
‘‘(bb) authorized recreation 
services under the Good Neighbor 
Authority for Recreation Act. 
‘‘(ii) TERMINATION
OF
EFFECTIVE-
NESS.—The authority provided under this 
subparagraph terminates effective October 
1, 2028.’’. 
(4) RETENTION OF NEPA RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
Any decision required to be made under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) with respect to any authorized recre-
ation services to be provided under this section on 
Federal land shall not be delegated to a Governor, 
Indian Tribe, or county. 
SEC. 352. PERMIT RELIEF FOR PICNIC AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary concerned does 
not require the public to obtain a permit or reservation 
to access a picnic area on Federal recreational lands and 
waters administered by the Forest Service or the Bureau 
of Land Management, the Secretary concerned shall not 
require a covered person to obtain a permit solely to access 
the picnic area. 
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(b) COVERED PERSON DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered person’’ means a person (including an 
educational group) that provides outfitting and guiding 
services to fewer than 40 customers per year at a picnic 
area described in subsection (a). 
SEC. 353. INTERAGENCY REPORT ON SPECIAL RECREATION 
PERMITS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 
(a) COVERED COMMUNITY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered community’’ means a rural or 
urban community, including an Indian Tribe, that is— 
(1) low-income or underserved; and 
(2) has been underrepresented in outdoor recre-
ation opportunities on Federal recreational lands 
and waters. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries, acting joint-
ly, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives a report that 
describes— 
(1) the estimated use of special recreation per-
mits serving covered communities; 
(2) examples of special recreation permits, part-
nerships, cooperative agreements, or other arrange-
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ments providing access to Federal recreational lands 
and waters for covered communities; 
(3) other ways covered communities are engag-
ing on Federal recreational lands and waters, includ-
ing through stewardship and conservation projects 
or activities; 
(4) any barriers for existing or prospective 
recreation service providers and holders of commer-
cial use authorizations operating within or serving a 
covered community; and 
(5) any recommendations to facilitate and in-
crease permitted access to Federal recreational lands 
and waters for covered communities. 
SEC. 354. MODERNIZING ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC LAND ACT 
AMENDMENTS. 
The Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act (16 
U.S.C. 6851 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 3(1) (16 U.S.C. 6852(1)), by 
striking ‘‘public outdoor recreational use’’ and in-
serting ‘‘recreation sites’’; 
(2) in section 5(a)(4) (16 U.S.C. 6854(a)(4)), 
by striking ‘‘permanently restricted or prohibited’’ 
and inserting ‘‘regulated or closed’’; and 
(3) in section 6(b) (16 U.S.C. 6855(b))— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the Secretary of the Inte-
rior’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretaries’’. 
SEC. 355. SAVINGS PROVISION. 
No additional Federal funds are authorized to carry 
out the requirements of this Act and the activities author-
ized by this Act are subject to the availability of appropria-
tions made in advance for such purposes. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 9, 2024. 
Attest: 
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER, 
Clerk. 
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