Bill 119 s 133, also known as the Fire Management Assistance Cost Share Modification Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to make changes to the cost-sharing arrangements for fire management assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Under the current system, when states request federal assistance for fighting wildfires, FEMA covers 75% of the costs while the state is responsible for the remaining 25%. This bill seeks to modify this cost-sharing arrangement by increasing the federal share to 90% and reducing the state share to 10%. This change is intended to provide more financial support to states facing wildfires and alleviate some of the financial burden on state governments.
In addition to modifying the cost-sharing arrangement, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes related to fire management assistance. These provisions may include measures to improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies in responding to wildfires, enhancing wildfire prevention efforts, and increasing funding for firefighting resources.
Overall, Bill 119 s 133 aims to address the challenges and costs associated with fighting wildfires by adjusting the cost-sharing arrangement for fire management assistance and implementing other measures to improve wildfire response and prevention efforts.