H.R. 3777 — Public Land Search and Rescue Act

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior, not later than one year after enactment, to establish a grant program to provide grants to eligible recipients (i.e., states, political subdivisions thereof, or designees authorized by state or federal law to conduct and capable of carrying out remote search and rescue activities) for eligible purposes related to remote search and rescue activities (i.e., using specialized equipment to locate and recover deceased individuals or to locate, assist, and remove lost, injured, stranded, or entrapped individuals in remote areas) on federal lands managed by the Departments of the Interior or Agriculture. Eligible purposes include (1) purchasing necessary equipment and gear, (2) maintaining and repairing such equipment owned or leased by eligible recipients, and (3) reimbursing eligible recipients for activity costs; the Secretary must prioritize applications from recipients serving areas with high visitor-to-resident ratios, and the federal share of costs may not exceed 75 percent.