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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§1856e Reimbursement of Fire Funds

Title 42 › CHAPTER 15A — RECIPROCAL FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS › SUBCHAPTER I — PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES PROPERTY › § 1856e

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows a State, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to be paid back for costs when it sends people or equipment to help another State fight a wildfire. The Secretary can take the payment from the State that owes money and must give it to the State that spent the money. Both States must have a mutual assistance agreement with the Forest Service or another federal agency. The Secretary can set rules for how this works. Payments accepted before February 7, 2014 count as allowed.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1856e

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definition of State
In this section, the term “State” means—
(1)a State; and
(2)the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b)In general
If a State seeks reimbursement for amounts expended for resources and services provided to another State for the management and suppression of a wildfire, the Secretary, subject to subsections (c) and (d)—
(1)may accept the reimbursement amounts from the other State; and
(2)shall pay those amounts to the State seeking reimbursement.
(c)Mutual assistance agreement
As a condition of seeking and providing reimbursement under subsection (b), the State seeking reimbursement and the State providing reimbursement must each have a mutual assistance agreement with the Forest Service or another Federal agency for providing and receiving wildfire management and suppression resources and services.
(d)Terms and conditions
The Secretary may prescribe the terms and conditions determined to be necessary to carry out subsection (b).
(e)Effect on prior reimbursements
Any acceptance of funds or reimbursements made by the Secretary before February 7, 2014, that otherwise would have been authorized under this section shall be considered to have been made in accordance with this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Agricultural Act of 2014, and not as part of act May 27, 1955, which comprises this subchapter. Section is comprised of section 8304 of Pub. L. 113–79. Subsec. (f) of section 8304 of Pub. L. 113–79 amended section 1856d of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definition of “Secretary” “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture, see section 9001 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1856e

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110