Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act

Bill: 113-hr-2166
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Heck, Joseph J. [R-NV-3]
Introduced: 2013-05-23
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
Latest action: action_date: 2014-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-05-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p> 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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p>

action_date: 2014-01-23
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment, Part I
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</b></p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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, <times/> <times/> and (2) expedite and accelerate mission efforts for missing individuals on such lands. </p> <p>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. </p>

action_date: 2014-01-27
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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, <times/> <times/> and (2) expedite and accelerate mission efforts for missing individuals on such lands. </p> <p>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. </p>

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 247 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2166 [Report No. 113–331, Part I] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2013 Mr. Heck of Nevada (for himself and Mr. Amodei ) introduced the following bill; which was 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 January 23 (legislative day, January 21), 2014 Additional sponsors: Mr. Moran and Mr. McDermott January 23 (legislative day, January 21), 2014 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources January 23 (legislative day, January 21), 2014 The Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to expedite access to certain Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of each Secretary for good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act of 2013 . 2. Expedited access to certain Federal lands (a) In general The Secretary shall develop and implement a process to expedite access to Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for eligible organizations and eligible individuals to request access to Federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. The process developed and implemented pursuant to this subsection shall include provisions that clarify that— (1) an eligible organization or eligible individual granted access under this section shall be acting for private purposes and shall not be considered a Federal volunteer; (2) an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section shall not be considered a volunteer under section 3 of the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969 ( 16 U.S.C. 18i ); (3) the Federal Torts Claim Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual carrying out a privately requested good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section; and (4) the Federal Employee Compensation Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section and such activities shall not constitute civilian employment. (b) Release of the federal government from liability The Secretary shall not require an eligible organization or an eligible individual to have liability insurance as a condition of accessing Federal lands under this section if the eligible organization or eligible individual— (1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to the provisions listed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a); and (2) signs a waiver releasing the Federal Government from all liability related to the access granted under this section. (c) Approval and denial of requests (1) In general The Secretary shall notify an eligible organization and eligible individual of the approval or denial of a request by that eligible organization and eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section not more than 48 hours after the request is made. (2) Denials If the Secretary denies a request from an eligible organization or eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section, the Secretary shall notify the eligible organization or eligible individual of— (A) the reason for the denial request; and (B) any actions that eligible organization or eligible individual can take to meet the requirements for the request to be approved. (d) Partnerships The Secretary shall develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to— (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary; and (2) expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary. (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a joint report to Congress describing— (1) plans to develop partnerships described in subsection (d)(1); and (2) efforts being taken to expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary pursuant to subsection (d)(2). (f) Definitions For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Eligible organization and eligible individual The terms eligible organization and eligible individual means an organization or individual, respectively, that— (A) is acting in a not-for-profit capacity; and (B) is certificated in training that meets or exceeds standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials. (2) Good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission The term good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission means a search for one or more missing individuals believed to be deceased at the time that the search is initiated. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.

January 23 (legislative day, January 21), 2014 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources January 23 (legislative day, January 21), 2014 The Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2166 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2013 Mr. Heck of Nevada (for himself and Mr. Amodei ) introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to expedite access to certain Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of each Secretary for good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act of 2013 . 2. Expedited access to certain Federal lands (a) In general The Secretary shall develop and implement a process to expedite access to Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for eligible organizations and eligible individuals to request access to Federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. The process developed and implemented pursuant to this subsection shall include provisions that clarify that— (1) an eligible organization or eligible individual granted access under this section shall be acting for private purposes and shall not be considered a Federal volunteer; (2) an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section shall not be considered a volunteer under section 3 of the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969 ( 16 U.S.C. 18i ); (3) the Federal Torts Claim Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual carrying out a privately requested good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section; and (4) the Federal Employee Compensation Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section and such activities shall not constitute civilian employment. (b) Release of the federal government from liability The Secretary shall not require an eligible organization or an eligible individual to have liability insurance as a condition of accessing Federal lands under this section if the eligible organization or eligible individual— (1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to the provisions listed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a); and (2) signs a waiver releasing the Federal Government from all liability related to the access granted under this section. (c) Approval and denial of requests (1) In general The Secretary shall notify an eligible organization and eligible individual of the approval or denial of a request by that eligible organization and eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section not more than 48 hours after the request is made. (2) Denials If the Secretary denies a request from an eligible organization or eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section, the Secretary shall notify the eligible organization or eligible individual of— (A) the reason for the denial request; and (B) any actions that eligible organization or eligible individual can take to meet the requirements for the request to be approved. (d) Partnerships The Secretary shall develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to— (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary; and (2) expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary. (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a joint report to Congress describing— (1) plans to develop partnerships described in subsection (d)(1); and (2) efforts being taken to expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary pursuant to subsection (d)(2). (f) Definitions For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Eligible organization and eligible individual The terms eligible organization and eligible individual means an organization or individual, respectively, that— (A) is acting in a not-for-profit capacity; and (B) is certificated in training that meets or exceeds standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials. (2) Good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission The term good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission means a search for one or more missing individuals believed to be deceased at the time that the search is initiated. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2166 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to expedite access to certain Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of each Secretary for good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act . 2. Expedited access to certain Federal lands (a) In general The Secretary shall develop and implement a process to expedite access to Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for eligible organizations and eligible individuals to request access to Federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. The process developed and implemented pursuant to this subsection shall include provisions that clarify that— (1) an eligible organization or eligible individual granted access under this section shall be acting for private purposes and shall not be considered a Federal volunteer; (2) an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section shall not be considered a volunteer under section 3 of the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969 ( 16 U.S.C. 18i ); (3) the Federal Torts Claim Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual carrying out a privately requested good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section; and (4) the Federal Employee Compensation Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section and such activities shall not constitute civilian employment. (b) Release of the federal government from liability The Secretary shall not require an eligible organization or an eligible individual to have liability insurance as a condition of accessing Federal lands under this section if the eligible organization or eligible individual— (1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to the provisions listed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a); and (2) signs a waiver releasing the Federal Government from all liability related to the access granted under this section. (c) Approval and denial of requests (1) In general The Secretary shall notify an eligible organization and eligible individual of the approval or denial of a request by that eligible organization and eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section not more than 48 hours after the request is made. (2) Denials If the Secretary denies a request from an eligible organization or eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section, the Secretary shall notify the eligible organization or eligible individual of— (A) the reason for the denial request; and (B) any actions that eligible organization or eligible individual can take to meet the requirements for the request to be approved. (d) Partnerships The Secretary shall develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to— (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary; and (2) expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary. (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a joint report to Congress describing— (1) plans to develop partnerships described in subsection (d)(1); and (2) efforts being taken to expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary pursuant to subsection (d)(2). (f) Definitions For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Eligible organization and eligible individual The terms eligible organization and eligible individual means an organization or individual, respectively, that— (A) is acting in a not-for-profit capacity; and (B) is certificated in training that meets or exceeds standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials. (2) Good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission The term good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission means a search for one or more missing individuals believed to be deceased at the time that the search is initiated. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.

Passed the House of Representatives January 27, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2166 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 28, 2014 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources AN ACT To direct the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to expedite access to certain Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of each Secretary for good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act . 2. Expedited access to certain Federal lands (a) In general The Secretary shall develop and implement a process to expedite access to Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for eligible organizations and eligible individuals to request access to Federal lands to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. The process developed and implemented pursuant to this subsection shall include provisions that clarify that— (1) an eligible organization or eligible individual granted access under this section shall be acting for private purposes and shall not be considered a Federal volunteer; (2) an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section shall not be considered a volunteer under section 3 of the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969 ( 16 U.S.C. 18i ); (3) the Federal Torts Claim Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual carrying out a privately requested good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section; and (4) the Federal Employee Compensation Act shall not apply to an eligible organization or eligible individual conducting good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section and such activities shall not constitute civilian employment. (b) Release of the federal government from liability The Secretary shall not require an eligible organization or an eligible individual to have liability insurance as a condition of accessing Federal lands under this section if the eligible organization or eligible individual— (1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to the provisions listed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a); and (2) signs a waiver releasing the Federal Government from all liability related to the access granted under this section. (c) Approval and denial of requests (1) In general The Secretary shall notify an eligible organization and eligible individual of the approval or denial of a request by that eligible organization and eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section not more than 48 hours after the request is made. (2) Denials If the Secretary denies a request from an eligible organization or eligible individual to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section, the Secretary shall notify the eligible organization or eligible individual of— (A) the reason for the denial request; and (B) any actions that eligible organization or eligible individual can take to meet the requirements for the request to be approved. (d) Partnerships The Secretary shall develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to— (1) coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary; and (2) expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary. (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a joint report to Congress describing— (1) plans to develop partnerships described in subsection (d)(1); and (2) efforts being taken to expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary pursuant to subsection (d)(2). (f) Definitions For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Eligible organization and eligible individual The terms eligible organization and eligible individual means an organization or individual, respectively, that— (A) is acting in a not-for-profit capacity; and (B) is certificated in training that meets or exceeds standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials. (2) Good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission The term good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission means a search for one or more missing individuals believed to be deceased at the time that the search is initiated. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.

Passed the House of Representatives January 27, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk