15 USC 2229 - Firefighter assistance

View all text of Chapter 49 [§ 2201 - § 2235]

§ 2229. Firefighter assistance

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Administrator of FEMA

(2) Available grant funds

(3) Career fire department

(4) Combination fire departmentThe term “combination fire department” means a fire department that has—

(A) paid firefighting personnel; and

(B) volunteer firefighting personnel.

(5) Firefighting personnel

(6) Institution of higher education

(7) Nonaffiliated EMS organization

(8) Paid-on-call

(9) Volunteer fire department

(b) Assistance program

(1) AuthorityIn accordance with this section, the Administrator of FEMA may award—

(A) assistance to firefighters grants under subsection (c); and

(B) fire prevention and safety grants and other assistance under subsection (d).

(2) Administrative assistanceThe Administrator of FEMA shall—

(A) establish specific criteria for the selection of grant recipients under this section; and

(B) provide assistance with application preparation to applicants for such grants.

(1) In generalThe Administrator of FEMA may, in consultation with the chief executives of the States in which the recipients are located, award grants on a competitive basis directly to—

(A) fire departments, for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel throughout the United States against fire, fire-related, and other hazards;

(B) nonaffiliated EMS organizations to support the provision of emergency medical services; and

State fire training academies for the purposes described in subparagraphs (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (3).

(2) Maximum grant amounts

(A) PopulationThe Administrator of FEMA may not award a grant under this subsection in excess of amounts as follows:

(i) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or fewer, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any fiscal year.

(ii) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people but not more than 500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year.

(iii) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 500,000 but not more than 1,000,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year.

(iv) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 1,000,000 people but not more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $6,000,000 for any fiscal year.

(v) In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $9,000,000 in any fiscal year.

(B) Aggregate

(i) In general

(ii) Exception

(3) Use of grant fundsEach entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes:

(A) To train firefighting personnel in—

(i) firefighting;

(ii) emergency medical services and other emergency response (including response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters);

(iii) arson prevention and detection;

(iv) maritime firefighting; or

(v) the handling of hazardous materials.

(B) To train firefighting personnel to provide any of the training described under subparagraph (A).

(C) To fund the creation of rapid intervention teams to protect firefighting personnel at the scenes of fires and other emergencies.

(D) To certify—

(i) fire inspectors; and

(ii) building inspectors—(I) whose responsibilities include fire safety inspections; and(II) who are employed by or serving as volunteers with a fire department.

(E) To establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to ensure that the firefighting personnel are able to carry out their duties as firefighters, including programs dedicated to raising awareness of, and prevention of, job-related mental health issues.

(F) To fund emergency medical services provided by fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations.

(G) To acquire additional firefighting vehicles, including fire trucks and other apparatus.

(H) To acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for—

(i) fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water; and

(ii) communications, monitoring, and response to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

(I) To acquire personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment—

(i) prescribed for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor; or

(ii) for responding to a natural disaster or act of terrorism or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

(J) To modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel.

(K) To educate the public about arson prevention and detection.

(L) To provide incentives for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighting personnel for volunteer firefighting departments and other firefighting departments that utilize volunteers.

(M) To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

(N) To provide specialized training to firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical service workers, and other first responders to recognize individuals who have mental illness and how to properly intervene with individuals with mental illness, including strategies for verbal de-escalation of crisis.

(d) Fire prevention and safety grants

(1) In generalFor the purpose of assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development, the Administrator of FEMA may, on a competitive basis—

(A) award grants to fire departments;

(B) award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, national, State, local, tribal, or nonprofit organizations that are not fire departments and that are recognized for their experience and expertise with respect to fire prevention or fire safety programs and activities and firefighter research and development programs, for the purpose of carrying out—

(i) fire prevention programs; and

(ii) research to improve firefighter health and life safety; and

(C) award grants to institutions of higher education, national fire service organizations, or national fire safety organizations to establish and operate fire safety research centers.

(2) Maximum grant amount

(3) Use of grant fundsEach entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes:

(A) To enforce fire codes and promote compliance with fire safety standards.

(B) To fund fire prevention programs, including programs that educate the public about arson prevention and detection.

(C) To fund wildland fire prevention programs, including education, awareness, and mitigation programs that protect lives, property, and natural resources from fire in the wildland-urban interface.

(D) In the case of a grant awarded under paragraph (1)(C), to fund the establishment or operation of a fire safety research center for the purpose of significantly reducing the number of fire-related deaths and injuries among firefighters and the general public through research, development, and technology transfer activities.

(E) To support such other activities, consistent with the purposes of this subsection, as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

(4) Limitation

(e) Applications for grants

(1) In general

(2) ElementsEach application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) A description of the financial need of the applicant for the grant.

(B) An analysis of the costs and benefits, with respect to public safety, of the use for which a grant is requested.

(C) An agreement to provide information to the national fire incident reporting system for the period covered by the grant.

(D) A list of other sources of funding received by the applicant—

(i) for the same purpose for which the application for a grant under this section was submitted; or

(ii) from the Federal Government for other fire-related purposes.

(E) Such other information as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate.

(3) Joint or regional applications

(A) In general

(B) Nonexclusivity

(i) publish guidance on applying for and administering grants awarded for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii) encourage applicants to apply for grants for joint programs and initiatives described in subparagraph (A) as the Administrator of FEMA determines appropriate to achieve greater cost effectiveness and regional efficiency.

(f) Peer review of grant applications

(1) In general

(2) Applicability of chapter 10 of title 5

(g) Prioritization of grant awardsIn awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall consider the following:

(1) The findings and recommendations of the peer reviews carried out under subsection (f).

(2) The degree to which an award will reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage by reducing the risks associated with fire-related and other hazards.

(3) The extent of the need of an applicant for a grant under this section and the need to protect the United States as a whole.

(4) The number of calls requesting or requiring a fire fighting or emergency medical response received by an applicant.

(h) Allocation of grant awardsIn awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall ensure that of the available grant funds in each fiscal year—

(1) not less than 25 percent are awarded under subsection (c) to career fire departments;

(2) not less than 25 percent are awarded under subsection (c) to volunteer fire departments;

(3) not less than 25 percent are awarded under subsection (c) to combination fire departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel;

(4) not less than 10 percent are available for open competition among career fire departments, volunteer fire departments, combination fire departments, and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting personnel for grants awarded under subsection (c);

(5) not less than 10 percent are awarded under subsection (d); and

(6) not more than 2 percent are awarded under this section to nonaffiliated EMS organizations described in subsection (c)(1)(B).

(i) Additional requirements and limitations

(1) Funding for emergency medical services

(2) State fire training academies

(A) Maximum share

(B) Maximum grant amount

(3) Amounts for purchasing firefighting vehicles

(j) Further considerations

(1) Assistance to firefighters grants to fire departmentsIn considering applications for grants under subsection (c)(1)(A), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider—

(A) the extent to which the grant would enhance the daily operations of the applicant and the impact of such a grant on the protection of lives and property; and

(B) a broad range of factors important to the applicant’s ability to respond to fires and related hazards, such as the following:

(i) Population served.

(ii) Geographic response area.

(iii) Hazards vulnerability.

(iv) Call volume.

(v) Financial situation, including unemployment rate of the area being served.

(vi) Need for training or equipment.

(2) Applications from nonaffiliated EMS organizations

(3) Awarding fire prevention and safety grants to certain organizations that are not fire departmentsIn the case of applicants for grants under this section who are described in subsection (d)(1)(B), the Administrator of FEMA shall give priority to applicants who focus on—

(A) prevention of injuries to high risk groups from fire; and

(B) research programs that demonstrate a potential to improve firefighter safety.

(4) Awarding grants for fire safety research centers

(A) ConsiderationsIn awarding grants under subsection (d)(1)(C), the Administrator of FEMA shall—

(i) select each grant recipient on—(I) the demonstrated research and extension resources available to the recipient to carry out the research, development, and technology transfer activities;(II) the capability of the recipient to provide leadership in making national contributions to fire safety;(III) the recipient’s ability to disseminate the results of fire safety research; and(IV) the strategic plan the recipient proposes to carry out under the grant;

(ii) give special consideration in selecting recipients under subparagraph (A) 2

2 So in original. Probably should be “clause (i)”.

to an applicant for a grant that consists of a partnership between—(I) a national fire service organization or a national fire safety organization; and(II) an institution of higher education, including a minority-serving institution (as described in section 1067q(a) of title 20); and

(iii) consider the research needs identified and prioritized through the workshop required by subparagraph (B)(i).

(B) Research needs

(i) In general

(ii) Publication

(i) In general

(ii) Recipients

(5) Avoiding duplication

(k) Matching and maintenance of expenditure requirements

(1) Matching requirement for assistance to firefighters grants

(A) In general

(B) Exception for entities serving small communitiesIn the case that an applicant seeking a grant to carry out an activity under subsection (c) serves a jurisdiction of—

(i) more than 20,000 residents but not more than 1,000,000 residents, the application 3

3 So in original. Probably should be “applicant”.

shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection; and

(ii) 20,000 residents or fewer, the applicant shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded to such applicant under such subsection.

(2) Matching requirement for fire prevention and safety grants

(A) In general

(B) Means of matching

(3) Maintenance of expenditures

(4) Waiver

(A) In general

(B) Guidelines

(i) In general

(ii) ConsultationIn developing guidelines under clause (i), the Administrator of FEMA shall consult with individuals who are—(I) recognized for expertise in firefighting, emergency medical services provided by fire services, or the economic affairs of State and local governments; and(II) members of national fire service organizations or national organizations representing the interests of State and local governments.

(iii) ConsiderationsIn developing guidelines under clause (i), the Administrator of FEMA shall consider, with respect to relevant communities, the following:(I) Changes in rates of unemployment from previous years.(II) Whether the rates of unemployment of the relevant communities are currently and have consistently exceeded 4

4 So in original. Probably should be “are currently exceeding and have consistently exceeded”.

the annual national average rates of unemployment.(III) Changes in percentages of individuals eligible to receive food stamps from previous years.(IV) Such other factors as the Administrator of FEMA considers appropriate.

(C) Certain applicants for fire prevention and safety grantsThe authority under subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a nonprofit organization that—

(i) is described in subsection (d)(1)(B); and

(ii) is not a fire department or emergency medical services organization.

(l) Grant guidelines

(1) GuidelinesFor each fiscal year, prior to awarding any grants under this section, the Administrator of FEMA shall publish in the Federal Register—

(A) guidelines that describe—

(i) the process for applying for grants under this section; and

(ii) the criteria that will be used for selecting grant recipients; and

(B) an explanation of any differences between such guidelines and the recommendations obtained under paragraph (2).

(2) Annual meeting to obtain recommendations

(A) In generalFor each fiscal year, the Administrator of FEMA shall convene a meeting of qualified members of national fire service organizations and, at the discretion of the Administrator of FEMA, qualified members of emergency medical service organizations to obtain recommendations regarding the following:

(i) Criteria for the awarding of grants under this section.

(ii) Administrative changes to the assistance program established under subsection (b).

(B) Qualified membersFor purposes of this paragraph, a qualified member of an organization is a member who—

(i) is recognized for expertise in firefighting or emergency medical services;

(ii) is not an employee of the Federal Government; and

(iii) in the case of a member of an emergency medical service organization, is a member of an organization that represents—(I) providers of emergency medical services that are affiliated with fire departments; or(II) nonaffiliated EMS providers.

(3) Applicability of chapter 10 of title 5

(m) Accounting determination

(n) Eligible grantee on behalf of Alaska Native villages

(o) Training standards

(p) Ensuring effective use of grants

(1) AuditsThe Administrator of FEMA may audit a recipient of a grant awarded under this section to ensure that—

(A) the grant amounts are expended for the intended purposes; and

(B) the grant recipient complies with the requirements of subsection (k).

(2) Performance assessment

(A) In general

(B) Consultation

(3) Annual reports to Administrator of FEMA

(4) Annual reports to Congress

(A) In generalNot later than September 30, 2013, and each year thereafter through 2017, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that provides—

(i) information on the performance assessment system developed under paragraph (2); and

(ii) using the performance metrics developed under such paragraph, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grants awarded under this section.

(B) Additional information

(q) Authorization of appropriations

(1) In general

(2) Administrative expenses

(3) Congressionally directed spending

(r) Sunset of authorities

(Pub. L. 93–498, § 33, as added Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title XVII, § 1701(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–360; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1061, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1231; Pub. L. 108–7, div. K, title IV, § 421, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 526; Pub. L. 108–169, title II, § 205, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2040; Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXVI, § 3602, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2195; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title XVIII, § 1803, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2100; Pub. L. 115–98, § 3, Jan. 3, 2018, 131 Stat. 2239; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(68), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4313; Pub. L. 118–67, div. A, § 3, July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1447.)