RECRUITMENT, RELOCATION, AND RETENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR CIVILIAN FIREFIGHTERS EMPLOYED BY COAST GUARD REMOTE LOCATIONS.

SEC. 7234. RECRUITMENT, RELOCATION, AND RETENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR CIVILIAN FIREFIGHTERS EMPLOYED BY COAST GUARD REMOTE LOCATIONS. (a) Identification of Remote Locations.—The Commandant shall identify locations to be considered remote locations for purposes of this section, which shall include, at a minimum, each Coast Guard fire station located in an area in which members of the Coast Guard and the dependents of such members are eligible for the TRICARE Prime Remote program. (b) Incentive Program.— (1) In general.—To ensure uninterrupted operations by civilian firefighters employed by the Coast Guard in remote locations, the Commandant shall establish an incentive program for such firefighters consisting of— (A) recruitment and relocation bonuses consistent with section 5753 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) retention bonuses consistent with section 5754 of title 5, United States Code. (2) Eligibility criteria.—The Commandant, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel and Management, shall establish eligibility criteria for the incentive program established under paragraph (1), which shall include a requirement that a firefighter described in paragraph (1) may only be eligible for the incentive program under this section if, with respect to the applicable remote location, the Commandant has made a determination that incentives are appropriate to address an identified recruitment, retention, or relocation need. (c) Annual Report.—Not less frequently than annually for the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that— (1) details the use and effectiveness of the incentive program established under this section; and (2) includes— (A) the number of participants in the incentive program; (B) a description of the distribution of incentives under such program; and (C) a description of the impact of such program on civilian firefighter recruitment and retention by the Coast Guard in remote locations.