“1. Short Title
“This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018’’.
“A Honoring Hometown Heroes Act
“10101. Short Title
“This division may be cited as the “Honoring Hometown Heroes Act”.
“10102. Permitting the flag to be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a first responder serving in the line of duty
“(a) Amendment—The sixth sentence of section 7(m) of title 4, United States Code, is amended—
“(1) by striking “or” after “possession of the United States” and inserting a comma;
“(2) by inserting “or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty,” after “while serving on active duty,”;
“(3) by striking “and” after “former officials of the District of Columbia” and inserting a comma; and
“(4) by inserting before the period the following: “, and first responders working in the District of Columbia”.
“(b) First responder defined—Such subsection is further amended—
“(1) in paragraph (2), by striking “, United States Code; and” and inserting a semicolon;
“(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
“(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(c) Effective date—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to deaths of first responders occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.”
“(A) General authority—For purposes of enabling the joint committee to exercise its powers, functions, and duties under this subtitle, and consistent with the Standing Rules of the Senate, there is authorized from the date of enactment of this Act through February 28, 2019, $500,000 to be allocated—
“(i) in total during the period October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018; and
“(ii) any remaining amounts shall be carried forward for the period October 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019.
“(B) Expenses—Expenses of the joint committee shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved by the co-chairs, subject to the rules and regulations of the Senate.”
“30423. Funding
“(a) Special reserve—To enable the joint committee to exercise its powers, functions, and duties under this subtitle, within the funds in the account for “Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations” of the Senate, not more than $500,000 shall be allocated from the special reserve established in S. Res. 62, agreed to February 28, 2017 (115th Congress), for use by the joint committee.
“(b) Expiration—None of the funds made available by this section may be available for obligation by the joint committee after January 2, 2019.
“(c) Availability requirements—For purposes of the joint committee, section 20(b) of S. Res. 62, agreed to February 28, 2017 (115th Congress), shall not apply.”
“(A) General authority—For purposes of enabling the joint committee to exercise its powers, functions, and duties under this subtitle, and consistent with the Standing Rules of the Senate, there is authorized from the date of enactment of this Act through February 28, 2019, $500,000 to be allocated—
“(i) in total during the period October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018; and
“(ii) any remaining amounts shall be carried forward for the period October 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019.
“(B) Expenses—Expenses of the joint committee shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved by the co-chairs, subject to the rules and regulations of the Senate.”
“30443. Funding
“(a) Special reserve—To enable the joint committee to exercise its powers, functions, and duties under this subtitle, within the funds in the account for “Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations” of the Senate, not more than $500,000 shall be allocated from the special reserve established in S. Res. 62, agreed to February 28, 2017 (115th Congress), for use by the joint committee.
“(b) Expiration—None of the funds made available by this section may be available for obligation by the joint committee after January 2, 2019.
“(c) Availability requirements—For purposes of the joint committee, section 20(b) of S. Res. 62, agreed to February 28, 2017 (115th Congress), shall not apply.”
“(II) a State false claims act, including a State false claims act with qui tam provisions, or”
“(c) Effective date—The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to deaths of first responders occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.”