High Risk Rural Roads Safety Act of 2021
Bill: S.1763 | Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark (D-AZ)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
High Risk Rural Roads Safety Act of 2021
This bill establishes a high-risk rural roads safety program to support safety improvements for roads in rural and tribal communities.
Specifically, the bill directs Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide grants to Indian tribes to improve safety on high risk rural roads.
It also requires DOT to set aside specified funds for Indian tribes and states. Funds apportioned to a state must be obligated in areas of the state in which the population is not more than 50,000.
The federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the bill may be up to 100%.

To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a high risk rural 
             roads safety program, and for other purposes.

    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 ``High Risk Rural Roads Safety Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. HIGH RISK RURAL ROADS SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 148 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(l) High Risk Rural Roads Program Set-aside.--
            ``(1) Definition of indian tribe.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the term 
                `Indian Tribe' has the meaning given the term in 
                section 207(m)(1).
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--In this subsection, the term 
                `Indian Tribe' includes a Native village and a Native 
                Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 3 of 
                the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
                1602)).
            ``(2) Reservation of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the funds apportioned to a 
                State under section 104(b)(3) for each fiscal year, the 
                Secretary shall reserve an amount such that the 
                Secretary reserves a total under this subsection of 
                $750,000,000, of which--
                            ``(i) $150,000,000 shall be for grants to 
                        Indian Tribes under paragraph (3); and
                            ``(ii) $600,000,000 shall be apportioned to 
                        States in accordance with paragraph (4).
                    ``(B) Not transferable.--Amounts reserved under 
                this paragraph shall not be transferable.
            ``(3) Tribal grant program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish a 
                program to provide grants to Indian Tribes to improve 
                safety on high risk rural roads.
                    ``(B) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under the program, an Indian Tribe shall submit 
                to the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
                manner, and containing such information as the 
                Secretary may require.
                    ``(C) Use of funds.--An Indian Tribe may use funds 
                from a grant under this paragraph only for a highway 
                safety improvement project on a high risk rural road.
                    ``(D) State strategic highway safety plan.--A 
                project carried out under this paragraph shall not be 
                required to be included in a State strategic highway 
                safety plan.
                    ``(E) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost 
                of a project carried out with a grant under the program 
                may be up to 100 percent.
            ``(4) State apportionment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall apportion 
                amounts under paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to States based on 
                the proportion that--
                            ``(i) the amount apportioned to the State 
                        under section 104(b)(3) for the fiscal year; 
                        bears to
                            ``(ii) the amount apportioned to all States 
                        under section 104(b)(3) for the fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Allocation within a state.--Funds apportioned 
                to a State under this paragraph shall be obligated in 
                areas of the State in which the population is not more 
                than 50,000, based on the proportion that--
                            ``(i) the population of the applicable area 
                        of the State; bears to
                            ``(ii) the total population of all areas of 
                        the State with a population of not more than 
                        50,000.
                    ``(C) Reservation.--For each fiscal year, a State 
                may reserve not more than 2 percent of the funds 
                apportioned to a State under this paragraph to provide 
                technical assistance to assist areas of the State 
                described in subparagraph (B) in carrying out an 
                eligible project under subparagraph (D).
                    ``(D) Eligible projects.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A State may use amounts 
                        apportioned under this paragraph only for a 
                        highway safety improvement project on a high 
                        risk rural road.
                            ``(ii) Selection.--To the maximum extent 
                        practicable, in selecting projects to carry out 
                        under this paragraph, a State shall consult 
                        with the unit of local government representing 
                        the area in which the project will be carried 
                        out.
                    ``(E) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost 
                of a project carried out under this paragraph shall be 
                100 percent.''.
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