Public Land Search and Rescue Act

Bill: 118-hr-9165
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2]
Introduced: 2024-07-25
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: First responders and emergency personnel

Intergovernmental relations

Missing persons

Parks, recreation areas, trails
Latest action: action_date: 2024-11-19
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9165 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2024 Ms. Maloy (for herself, Mr. Case , and Mr. Curtis ) 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 to establish a grant program to allocate resources for remote search and rescue activities conducted on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Land Search and Rescue Act . 2. Grant program for remote search and rescue activities (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to allocate resources for remote search and rescue activities conducted on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Application To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (c) Priority The Secretary shall prioritize applications from eligible recipients that serve an area with a high ratio of visitors to residents. (d) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of an eligible purpose funded under the Program shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the eligible purpose, as determined by the Secretary. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible purpose The term eligible purpose means— (A) the purchase of equipment and gear necessary for remote search and rescue activities; (B) the cost of maintenance and repair of remote search and rescue equipment owned or leased by an eligible recipient; and (C) reimbursement to an eligible recipient for remote search and rescue activities conducted on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture. (2) Eligible recipient The term eligible recipient means a State, political subdivision thereof, or their designee, that is— (A) authorized by State or Federal law to conduct remote search and rescue activities; and (B) determined by the Secretary to have the capability to carry out a project described in subsection (d). (3) Program The term Program means the program established under subsection (a). (4) Remote search and rescue activity The term remote search and rescue activity means an activity that uses, trains, or supports responders with specialized equipment to— (A) locate and recover the remains of deceased individuals in remote areas; and (B) locate, provide assistance to, and remove to safety individuals who are lost, injured, stranded, or entrapped in remote areas. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.