HR5777-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Fire Academy Reimbursement for Emergency Service Course Unavailability and Expenses Act or the National Fire Academy RESCUE Act.

2. Reimbursement of certain expenses during a lapse in appropriations for the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control Section 7 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206) is amended— by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and by inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection: With respect to a covered course or activity that is cancelled during a period in which there is a lapse in appropriations, or as a result of such a lapse, for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator of FEMA, subject to paragraph (2), shall reimburse a fire department for any covered expense related to such covered course or activity not later than 90 days after the later of— the date such period ends, if applicable; or the date the Administrator of FEMA receives an itemization under paragraph (3) from such fire department relating to such covered course or activity. A reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a covered course or activity that is cancelled if such covered course or activity is cancelled for good cause. Not later than 30 days after the date on which a lapse in appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency ends, the fire chief or other appropriate head of a fire department affected by a covered course or activity that is cancelled during any such period, or as a result of any such lapse, may submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application for reimbursement that includes an itemization of each covered expense incurred by such fire department. In this subsection: The term backfill expense means an expense incurred for the following: Staffing adjustments. Overtime compensation. The term covered course or activity means— a course or program that is offered by the Academy— in-person and on-campus; in-person and off-campus; or through synchronous or asynchronous virtual instruction; or a conference or symposium that is offered by the Academy in-person and on-campus. The term covered expense means any expense that a fire department incurred for the planned participation of the personnel of such fire department in a covered course or activity, including the following: Any travel expense. Any backfill expense. The term good cause includes the following: The closure of a facility of the Academy for any reason other than a lapse in appropriations. The illness or unavailability of an instructor of the Academy. A national emergency that impedes access to a facility of the Academy by a student or faculty member of the Academy. (n)Reimbursement of certain expenses (1)In generalWith respect to a covered course or activity that is cancelled during a period in which there is a lapse in appropriations, or as a result of such a lapse, for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator of FEMA, subject to paragraph (2), shall reimburse a fire department for any covered expense related to such covered course or activity not later than 90 days after the later of— (A)the date such period ends, if applicable; or (B)the date the Administrator of FEMA receives an itemization under paragraph (3) from such fire department relating to such covered course or activity. (2)Good causeA reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a covered course or activity that is cancelled if such covered course or activity is cancelled for good cause. (3)Itemization of expensesNot later than 30 days after the date on which a lapse in appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency ends, the fire chief or other appropriate head of a fire department affected by a covered course or activity that is cancelled during any such period, or as a result of any such lapse, may submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application for reimbursement that includes an itemization of each covered expense incurred by such fire department. (4)DefinitionsIn this subsection: (A)Backfill expenseThe term backfill expense means an expense incurred for the following: (i)Staffing adjustments. (ii)Overtime compensation. (B)Covered course or activityThe term covered course or activity means— (i)a course or program that is offered by the Academy— (I)in-person and on-campus; (II)in-person and off-campus; or (III)through synchronous or asynchronous virtual instruction; or (ii)a conference or symposium that is offered by the Academy in-person and on-campus. (C)Covered expenseThe term covered expense means any expense that a fire department incurred for the planned participation of the personnel of such fire department in a covered course or activity, including the following: (i)Any travel expense. (ii)Any backfill expense. (D)Good causeThe term good cause includes the following: (i)The closure of a facility of the Academy for any reason other than a lapse in appropriations. (ii)The illness or unavailability of an instructor of the Academy. (iii)A national emergency that impedes access to a facility of the Academy by a student or faculty member of the Academy. .