USC Subchapter III

in effect

16 U.S.C. § 7141 Definitions

In this subchapter: (1) County fundsThe term “county funds” means all funds an eligible county elects under section 7112(d) of this title to reserve for expenditure in accordance with this subchapter. (2) Participating countyThe term “participating county” means an eligible county that elects under section 7112(d) of this title to expend a portion of the Federal funds received under section 7112 of this title in accordance with this subchapter.

16 U.S.C. § 7142 Use

(a) Authorized usesA participating county, including any applicable agencies of the participating county, shall use county funds, in accordance with this subchapter, only—(1) to carry out activities under the Firewise Communities program to provide to homeowners in fire-sensitive ecosystems education on, and assistance with implementing, techniques in home siting, home construction, and home landscaping that can increase the protection of people and property from wildfires; (2) to reimburse the participating county for search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting and law enforcement patrols, that are—(A) performed on Federal land after the date on which the use was approved under subsection (b); and (B) paid for by the participating county; (3) to cover training costs and equipment purchases directly related to the emergency services described in paragraph (2); (4) to develop and carry out community wildfire protection plans in coordination with the appropriate Secretary concerned; and (5) to provide or expand access to—(A) broadband telecommunications services at local schools; or (B) the technology and connectivity necessary for students to use a digital learning tool at or outside of a local school campus. (b) ProposalsA participating county shall use county funds for a use described in subsection (a) only after a 45-day public comment period, at the beginning of which the participating county shall—(1) publish in any publications of local record a proposal that describes the proposed use of the county funds; and (2) submit the proposal to any resource advisory committee established under section 7125 of this title for the participating county.

16 U.S.C. § 7143 Certification

(a) In generalNot later than February 1 of the year after the year in which any county funds were expended by a participating county, the appropriate official of the participating county shall submit to the Secretary concerned a certification that the county funds expended in the applicable year have been used for the uses authorized under section 7142(a) of this title, including a description of the amounts expended and the uses for which the amounts were expended. (b) ReviewThe Secretary concerned shall review the certifications submitted under subsection (a) as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate.

16 U.S.C. § 7143a Amounts obligated but unspent; prohibition on use of funds

(a) Amounts obligated but unspentAny county funds that were obligated by the applicable participating county before October 1, 2017, but are unspent on October 1, 2020—(1) may, at the option of the participating county, be deemed to have been reserved by the participating county on October 1, 2020, for expenditure in accordance with this subchapter; and (2)(A) may be used by the participating county for any authorized use under section 7142(a) of this title; and (B) on a determination by the participating county under subparagraph (A) to use the county funds, shall be available for projects initiated after October 1, 2020, subject to section 7144 of this title. (b) Prohibition on use of fundsNotwithstanding any other provision of law, effective beginning on November 15, 2021, no county funds made available under this subchapter may be used by any participating county for any lobbying activity, regardless of the purpose for which the funds are obligated on or before that date.

16 U.S.C. § 7144 Termination of authority

(a) In generalThe authority to initiate projects under this subchapter terminates on September 30, 2028. (b) AvailabilityAny county funds not obligated by September 30, 2029, shall be returned to the Treasury of the United States.