Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act

Bill: 113-hr-2166
Sponsor: Rep. Heck, Joseph J. [R-NV-3]
Introduced: 2013-05-23 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Government liability
Land use and conservation
Life, casualty, property insurance
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-23
text: 
 Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a process to provide eligible organizations and individuals expedited access to federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. 
 
Sets forth procedures for the approval or denial of requests made by eligible organizations or individuals to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to: (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on such lands, and (2) expedite and accelerate mission efforts for missing individuals on such lands. 

action_date: 2014-01-23
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a process to provide eligible organizations and individuals expedited access to federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. 
 
Requires such process to include provisions that clarify that: (1) an eligible organization or eligible individual granted access shall be acting for private purposes and shall not be considered a federal volunteer, (2) an eligible organization or eligible individual shall not be considered a volunteer under the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969, and (3) neither the Federal Torts Claim Act nor the Federal Employee Compensation Act shall apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual. 
 
Bars the Secretaries from requiring an eligible organization or eligible individual to have liability insurance as a condition of accessing federal lands under this Act if it: (1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to these clarifying provisions; and (2) signs a waiver releasing the federal government from all liability related to the access granted.
 
Sets forth procedures for the approval or denial of requests made by eligible organizations or individuals to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to: (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on such lands, and (2) expedite and accelerate mission efforts for missing individuals on such lands. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to submit a joint report to Congress that describes: (1) their plans for developing such partnerships, and (2) the efforts being taken to expedite and accelerate such mission efforts. 

action_date: 2014-01-27
text: 
Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a process to provide eligible organizations and individuals expedited access to federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. 
 
Requires such process to include provisions that clarify that: (1) an eligible organization or eligible individual granted access shall be acting for private purposes and shall not be considered a federal volunteer, (2) an eligible organization or eligible individual shall not be considered a volunteer under the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969, and (3) neither the Federal Torts Claim Act nor the Federal Employee Compensation Act shall apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual. 
 
Bars the Secretaries from requiring an eligible organization or eligible individual to have liability insurance as a condition of accessing federal lands under this Act if it: (1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to these clarifying provisions; and (2) signs a waiver releasing the federal government from all liability related to the access granted.
 
Sets forth procedures for the approval or denial of requests made by eligible organizations or individuals to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to: (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on such lands, and (2) expedite and accelerate mission efforts for missing individuals on such lands. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to submit a joint report to Congress that describes: (1) their plans for developing such partnerships, and (2) the efforts being taken to expedite and accelerate such mission efforts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
action_date: 2014-01-28
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 - 0 (Roll no. 24). (text: CR H1255)
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 - 0 (Roll no. 24).(text: CR H1255)
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1259-1260)
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2166.
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1255-1257)
action_date: 2014-01-27
text: Mrs. Lummis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2014-01-23
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 247.
action_date: 2014-01-23
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2014-01-23
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2014-01-23
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-331, Part I.
action_date: 2014-01-23
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-331, Part I.
action_date: 2013-06-12
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2013-06-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-06-12
text: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Discharged.
action_date: 2013-06-06
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.
action_date: 2013-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
action_date: 2013-05-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
action_date: 2013-05-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
action_date: 2013-05-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-05-23
text: Introduced in House