---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 7142"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "7142"
heading: "Use"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/7142"
units:
  - "Chapter 90 — Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination"
  - "Subchapter III — County Funds"
---

# §7142. Use

- (a) **Authorized uses—** A [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1), including any applicable agencies of the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1), shall use [county funds](/usc/16/7141.md?p=1), 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](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) for search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting and law enforcement patrols, that are—
    - (A) performed on [Federal land](/usc/16/7102.md?p=7) after the date on which the use was approved under [subsection (b)](#b); and
    - (B) paid for by the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1);
  - (3) to cover training costs and equipment purchases directly related to the emergency services described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2);
  - (4) to develop and carry out community wildfire protection plans in coordination with the appropriate [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/7102.md?p=15); 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](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) shall use [county funds](/usc/16/7141.md?p=1) for a use described in [subsection (a)](#a) only after a 45-day public comment period, at the beginning of which the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) publish in any publications of local record a proposal that describes the proposed use of the [county funds](/usc/16/7141.md?p=1); and
  - (2) submit the proposal to any [resource advisory committee](/usc/16/7121.md?p=3) established under [section 7125 of this title](/usc/16/7125.md) for the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1).

## 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 302 of Pub. L. 106–393 was set out in a note under section 500 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3893.

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–58 added par. (5).

2018—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(1), inserted “and law enforcement patrols” after “including firefighting” in introductory provisions and struck out “and” at end of subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(4), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(2), inserted “and carry out” after “develop”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4).

2012—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 112–141 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 Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.