16 USC § 7142 - Use

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s7142"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 7142 - Use"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "7142"
section_name: "Use"
chapter_number: 90
chapter_name: "SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "COUNTY FUNDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 106–393, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3909; amended Pub. L. 112–141, div. F, title I, § 100101(a)(9), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 115–141, div. O, title IV, § 402, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1079; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title XII, § 41202(e), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1134.)"
---


# § 7142. Use

**(a)** **Authorized uses** 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)** **Proposals** 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 106–393, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3909; amended Pub. L. 112–141, div. F, title I, § 100101(a)(9), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 115–141, div. O, title IV, § 402, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1079; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title XII, § 41202(e), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1134.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior  was set out in a note under  prior to repeal by , , .

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(5).  added par. (5).

2018—Subsec. (a)(2). , inserted “and law enforcement patrols” after “including firefighting” in introductory provisions and struck out “and” at end of subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(3). , added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

, inserted “and carry out” after “develop”.

Subsec. (a)(4). , redesignated par. (3) as (4).

2012—Subsec. (a)(2)(A).  inserted “and” at end.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Wage Rate Requirements

For 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 , including authority of Secretary of Labor, see , The Public Health and Welfare.