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S 762 111th Congress Senate Emergency Management Administrative law and regulatory procedures Department of Homeland Security Fires Forests, forestry, trees State and local government operations

Fire Safe Communities Act of 2009

Introduced: April 1, 2009 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 1, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Apr 1, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4175-4177)
Apr 1, 2009
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fire-Safe Communities Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reduce the amount of the share of nonfederal funds required by the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program to 10% of the grant amount for a municipality at risk if such municipality has adopted: (1) a national wildland fire code, standard, or ordinance; or (2) a local ordinance, standard, or code that requires the retrofit of existing construction that provides for increased protection for the municipality from the threat of wildfire, such as a requirement to replace combustible roofing material used in existing structures.

Directs the Under Secretary to award grants to municipalities at risk to: (1) encourage responsible development in such municipalities; (2) mitigate the catastrophic effects of fires; and (3) encourage the retrofit of existing wildfire-prone structures. Limits grant awards to $1 million. Directs the Under Secretary to require that a person awarded a grant provide nonfederal funds equal to 25% of the grant amount for the purpose of the award.

Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to: (1) include as a purpose of the Community and Private Land Fire Assistance Program to enhance the capacity of local governments to integrate fire-resistant community and home design into local planning, zoning, building codes, property maintenance codes, and brush clearing ordinances; and (2) authorize a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of awarding grants to fire-safe communities located near federal land to assist in federal efforts to prevent and manage fires.

What's happening now April 1, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1