42 USC § 1856e - Reimbursement of fire funds

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s1856e"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 1856e - Reimbursement of fire funds"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "1856e"
section_name: "Reimbursement of fire funds"
chapter_number: 15
chapter_name: "RECIPROCAL FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES PROPERTY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8304, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 924.)"
---


# § 1856e. Reimbursement of fire funds

**(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** February 7, 2014

Any acceptance of funds or reimbursements made by the Secretary before , that otherwise would have been authorized under this section shall be considered to have been made in accordance with this section.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8304, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 924.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Agricultural Act of 2014, and not as part of act , which comprises this subchapter.

Section is comprised of . Subsec. (f) of  amended .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definition of “Secretary”

“Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture, see , Agriculture.