text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Provide Access and Retain Continuity 
  Act'' or the ``PARC Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. AGREEMENTS FOR CONTINUED OPERATION OF CERTAIN FACILITIES AND 
                PROGRAMS.
  
      (a) In General.--As soon as practical after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this 
  Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall enter into agreements with 
  States that submit an agreement that is approved under subsection (c) 
  or (f) to provide for those States to conduct activities described in 
  section 3. Not later than 90 days after funds are made available to the 
  Secretary, the Secretary shall reimburse States for eligible activities 
  conducted by that State under an agreement entered into under this Act.
      (b) Petition for Agreement.--Beginning 30 days after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act, a State may submit to the Secretary a 
  petition to enter into an agreement with the Secretary for purposes of 
  conducting activities described in section 3.
      (c) Determination.--The Secretary shall approve or deny a petition 
  (including a corrected petition that is resubmitted) submitted under 
  this section not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
  Secretary receives the petition.
      (d) Denial of Petition.--The Secretary shall approve a petition 
  submitted under subsection (b) if the Secretary determines that--
              (1) the petition is complete;
              (2) the proposed agreement submitted with the petition 
          contains all of the terms required under subsection (g); or
              (3) the petition is from a State that had a previous 
          agreement terminated and the Secretary determines that the 
          reasons for that termination warrant denial of the new (or 
          corrected) petition.
      (e) Opportunity To Amend Petition.--
              (1) Notice of denial.--If the Secretary denies a petition 
          under subsection (b), the Secretary shall provide to the State 
          that submitted such petition written notice of the denial. Such 
          written notice shall include--
                      (A) a clear and comprehensive statement of the 
                  reasons why the petition was denied; and
                      (B) a clear and comprehensive description of any 
                  deficiencies in the petition or the related proposed 
                  agreement.
              (2) Resubmission of corrected petition.--After receiving a 
          notice from the Secretary under paragraph (1), a State may 
          amend and resubmit the denied petition.
      (f) Petition and Agreement Deemed Approved.--If the Secretary does 
  not approve or deny a petition submitted under subsection (b) or (e)(2) 
  within 90 days after receiving the petition, the petition and the 
  proposed agreement submitted with the petition shall be deemed 
  approved.
      (g) Petition Contents.--A petition submitted under subsection (b) 
  shall include--
              (1) a letter signed by the Governor of the State submitting 
          such petition addressed to the Secretary that contains a 
          description of the eligible activities that the State seeks to 
          conduct;
              (2) the proposed agreement that is the subject of the 
          petition;
              (3) documentation that demonstrates the ability of the 
          State to conduct the eligible activities;
              (4) a statement that the State shall indemnify and hold the 
          United States harmless for any action of negligence or gross 
          negligence on the part of the State while conducting an 
          eligible activity; and
              (5) any other documentation that the Secretary may require.
  
  SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
  
      The Secretary of the Interior shall reimburse States for non-
  Federal funds expended for activities that meet all of the following 
  criteria:
              (1) The activity was conducted under a memorandum of 
          understanding entered into under section 2.
              (2) The activity was conducted during a time when the 
          Federal Government was not conducting that activity due to the 
          partial shutdown of the Federal Government that was the result 
          of a lapse in appropriations.
              (3) The activity was necessary to operate one or more 
          facilities or programs that the Secretary and the State have 
          agreed, under the memorandum of understanding entered into 
          under section 2, to have a direct economic impact on tourism, 
          mining, timber, or general transportation in the State.
              (4) The activity was conducted in a manner and at a level 
          not substantially greater in scope or cost than how the 
          activity would have been conducted by the Federal Government.
              (5) The activity is not a settlement of or defense against 
          a claim of liability on the part of the State.
  
  SEC. 4. WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.
  
      If any State brings an action in any court of the United States or 
  any State court relating only and directly to enforcement of section 3 
  and names the United States as a party, any claim by the United States 
  to sovereign immunity from the action is waived, but only for the 
  limited and sole purpose of reimbursement to a State for non-Federal 
  funds expended by or on behalf of that State for activities that meet 
  all of the criteria listed in section 3.
target: Provide Access and Retain Continuity Act or the PARC Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with, and provide reimbursement to, states to conduct activities determined to have a direct economic impact on tourism, mining, timber, or general transportation in the state that are otherwise not being conducted by the federal government during a partial shutdown of the federal government due to a lapse in appropriations.  Requires the Secretary to approve or deny a petition for such an agreement not later than 90 days after receiving it and deems such petition approved if the Secretary does not act on it within the 90-day period.
feat_title: PARC Act