Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§7142 Use

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 90— - SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - COUNTY FUNDS › § 7142

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A county that takes part must only spend county money on specific wildfire safety and school internet needs. Allowed uses include: teaching and helping homeowners in fire-prone areas about where to place homes, how to build them, and how to landscape to reduce wildfire risk; reimbursing the county for search, rescue, firefighting, and patrols done on Federal land after the county’s use was approved and already paid for by the county; paying for training and equipment tied to those emergency services; making and carrying out community wildfire protection plans with the appropriate Secretary; and providing or expanding broadband at local schools or the devices and internet students need to use digital learning tools. The county may spend money for these things only after a 45-day public comment period. At the start of that period the county must publish the proposal in local publications and send it to any resource advisory committee set up under section 7125 for the county.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §7142

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A 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)A 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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 302 of Pub. L. 106–393 was set out in a note under section 500 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3893.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–58 added par. (5). 2018—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(1), inserted “and law

Enforcement

patrols” after “including firefighting” in introductory provisions and struck out “and” at end of subpar. (B). Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(4), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(2), inserted “and carry out” after “develop”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4). 2012—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 112–141 inserted “and” at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Wage Rate RequirementsFor provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for

Construction

, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 7142

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73