115 HR 4460 IH: Disaster Recovery Reform Act U.S. House of Representatives 2017-11-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4460IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 28, 2017Mr. Barletta (for himself and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo improve the provision of disaster and mitigation assistance to eligible individuals and households and to eligible State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments and certain private nonprofit organizations, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. (b)
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Title I—Disaster Mitigation Sec. 101. National public infrastructure predisaster hazard mitigation. Sec. 102. Additional mitigation activities. Sec. 103. Wildfire prevention. Sec. 104. Additional activities. Title II—Disaster Response and Recovery Sec. 201. Federal cost-share adjustments for repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities. Sec. 202. Eligibility for code implementation and enforcement. Sec. 203. Program improvements. Sec. 204. Prioritization of facilities. Sec. 205. Guidance on evacuation routes. Sec. 206. Proof of insurance. Sec. 207. Duplication of benefits. Sec. 208. State administration of assistance for direct temporary housing and permanent housing construction. Sec. 209. Assistance to individuals and households. Sec. 210. Multifamily lease and repair assistance. Sec. 211. Federal disaster assistance nonprofit fairness. Sec. 212. Management costs. Sec. 213. Flexibility. Sec. 214. Additional disaster assistance. Sec. 215. National veterinary emergency teams. Title III—Agency Management, Oversight, and Accountability Sec. 301. Unified Federal environmental and historic preservation review. Sec. 302. Closeout incentives. Sec. 303. Performance of services. Sec. 304. Study to streamline and consolidate information collection. Sec. 305. Agency accountability. Sec. 306. Audit of contracts.
<enum>I</enum><header>Disaster Mitigation</header> <section id="H0394E3BB2EC24E53A7BD843E9B482372" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>National public infrastructure predisaster hazard mitigation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H0940F37340F2410E917BA7CFE1E1B6AD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c) by inserting <quote>Public</quote> after <quote>the National</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1B00D1F34D4745CBB900241919FC728F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (e)(1)(B)—</text> <subparagraph id="H2321C41367A4401095C56365770A9D4C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end of clause (ii);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C7442C0E8B6480A9A6826ACF9C07426"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2D937C33E80C4D3A8A4F4BF7C41A22FB"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H3036B43D235C4A1391CBFC8040861E37" style="OLC"> <clause id="HFE2F3EA454484F9F9698DB207D7C3968"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to establish and carry out enforcement activities to implement the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures and facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of the buildings’ users against disasters.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H033E327010CB426C9244A6DC40817B80"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text> <subparagraph id="H3C297D8748ED43B6AD4D67CBC6A95580"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1) by inserting <quote>for mitigation activities that are cost effective</quote> after <quote>competitive basis</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H83849B96D44F45948A80A357FBA865F7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HA58F7E47FF6C47BF842E67F832C84D4F" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" id="H3A5367DED4C94BCC80AF6267893FF597"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Redistribution of unobligated amounts</header><text>The President shall—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H993C96E6E3994604BFC229BF2F67203A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>withdraw amounts of financial assistance made available to a State (including amounts made available to local governments of a State) under this subsection that remain unobligated by the end of the third fiscal year after the fiscal year for which the amounts were allocated; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H1693664A39B9412BAF787311D0081301"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the fiscal year following a fiscal year in which amounts were withdrawn under subparagraph (A), add the amounts to any other amounts available to be awarded on a competitive basis pursuant to paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBD4AF158237D430FB742BFEF85AFBE9B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (g)—</text> <subparagraph id="HF66A185955C64019A85CACD16893AF1C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (9) by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3C910A584C447008B47E133D1544513"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (12); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H617363A824234A188E566CF3C9149CE0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding after paragraph (9) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9C00E434AF5A4DCA8CB4066C64D0D180" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H67ECCCCFF7ED4DB8802049F45E7384AE"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which the State or local government has facilitated the adoption and enforcement of the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs and establish criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures and facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of the buildings’ users against disasters; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HA3E6D8C0062C4C849B2466473C7A421F"><enum>(11)</enum><text>the extent to which the assistance will fund activities that increase the level of resiliency; and</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H57EC3B9A32B7454DBC2017CDB16F1A33"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2F3608131C0949D697E2D7033075F3EC" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H18E62A1B190546F195D05BA7322215B3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>National public infrastructure predisaster mitigation fund</header> <paragraph id="H46CB3DB005A74ABCA21133FBCC90EC1E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President shall establish in the Treasury of the United States a separate account called the National Public Infrastructure Predisaster Mitigation Fund (in this section referred to as the <quote>Predisaster Mitigation Fund</quote>), which shall be used exclusively to carry out this section, with amounts in such account to be available until expended unless otherwise provided.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H87E125EEF0B04ADF8B26ACB6B3467842"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transfers to predisaster mitigation fund</header> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H4B7EC5E3605A40DFAD555DC92AD652E7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There shall be deposited in the Predisaster Mitigation Fund with respect to each disaster declared on or after August 1, 2017, an additional amount equal to 6 percent of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made pursuant to sections 403, 406, 407, 408, 410, and 416.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB53ABEED4E424A54B57AB3F2A5082742"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Estimated aggregate amount</header><text>Not later than 180 days after each major disaster declaration, the estimated aggregate amount of grants on which the amount calculated in subparagraph (A) is based shall be determined and need not be reduced, increased, or changed due to variations in estimates.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBB292224D41F468BB113C8FB80D581C1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by striking subsection (m) and redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (m).</text> </paragraph></section><section id="HAF91C27BFCA94D749AA3FACA485A07BA" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header>Additional mitigation activities</header> <subsection id="H5339F685D2B74B118A24DE115DDBDAB5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hazard mitigation clarification</header><text>Section 404(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170c">42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: <quote>The President may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of hazard mitigation measures which the President has determined are cost effective and which substantially reduce the risk of, or increase resilience to, future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster.</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD0C6825D839E4E7695F103EF8B5F2106"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible cost</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 406(e)(1)(A) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5172">42 U.S.C. 5172(e)(1)(A)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H018FC4DDD0B347AE950E3171757A7986"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting after <quote>section</quote> the following: <quote>for disasters declared on or after August 1, 2017, or a disaster in which a cost estimate has not yet been finalized for a project,</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H8CCC782D2A2B480E872923D1B7836C81"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2A99536DB0AB4DDE8FB43790026575F5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in clause (ii)—</text> <subparagraph id="H4180BD3909724F1A974969DCBCDD599D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>codes, specifications, and standards</quote> and inserting <quote>the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures and facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for the purposes of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of a facility’s users against disasters</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H15E1F3F73F554FE5A9DB26615B97EDF1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>applicable at the time at which the disaster occurred</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H30031DBB8F384AB5BBDF00F8D0045FA6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H73CB65EF9518443EBD7351B97D8EA7F5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H4D94253DA8404569B5BBEE9071A9E64F" style="OLC"> <clause id="HF1FC61E0CE76478DA836FD334F7F1117"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in a manner that allows the facility to meet the definition of resilient developed pursuant to this subsection.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF95FEE5C4F3740DAB35DECC11349A99B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>New rules</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 406(e) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5172">42 U.S.C. 5172(e)</external-xref>) is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H72240A5C453D415496E0263002B37DAF" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H2731C67B4F564DA5AB8BF0D2AD36C5E8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>New rules</header> <subparagraph id="H1167C1E3F2094D4C97D8B0DA5492175F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall issue a final rulemaking that defines the terms <term>resilient</term> and <term>resiliency</term> for purposes of this subsection.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6A4B8E32B59742B1A10D4DE0C56D929D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Administrator issues the final rulemaking under this paragraph, the Administrator shall issue any necessary guidance related to the rulemaking.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF65EA180036742C4AF009BBC28DB9BF9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the regulations and guidance issued pursuant to this paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="HED8C2F258E734974B9CE51F0956AB806"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 205(d)(2) of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/106/390">Public Law 106–390</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>(B)</quote> after <quote>except that paragraph (1)</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H40A028A5EED04D9D96339B012CEE36F2"><enum>103.</enum><header>Wildfire prevention</header> <subsection id="H17480A166E604B21AD974198ECC0B3F1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Mitigation assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5187">42 U.S.C. 5187</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H652E606FCA694593B2BBEE5CC553C307"><enum>(1) </enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC381E49C403D48D79513D1AB2C63C500"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (c) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA57815EBA355424595D46F57571515A0" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H7F930B97AE8B4980A54ED9A116F53483"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Hazard mitigation assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whether or not a major disaster is declared, the President may provide hazard mitigation assistance in accordance with section 404 in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under this section.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7FDD88E040D24BD3A302FD1F72EAA5AA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5121">42 U.S.C. 5121</external-xref> et seq.) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H5B05446221EF4B8D8AB787A410FAEA2B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 404(a) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170c">42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="H9F7D7E03B1C74B50A856EE7D9B0B2593"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting before the first period <quote>, or any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under section 420</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H70106DD7570941E5826C2FC5CE1F0CBF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the third sentence by inserting <quote>or event under section 420</quote> after <quote>major disaster</quote> each place it appears; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H64F5589EDA9A4B638A8D5BFB8733E76E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 322(e)(1) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5165">42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1)</external-xref>), by inserting <quote>or event under section 420</quote> after <quote>major disaster</quote> each place it appears.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3B9A83D4ACBF4F92BB9D117A8A14248C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reporting requirement</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing a summary of any projects carried out, and any funding provided to those projects, under subsection (d) of section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5187">42 U.S.C. 5187</external-xref>) (as amended by this section).</text> </subsection></section><section id="H3ACDA01DA88A434BA168E4C5CA9FFF7E"><enum>104.</enum><header>Additional activities</header> <text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170c">42 U.S.C. 5170c</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H135C3FE97FFB44119CFF281C5F2F1D8D" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H32CE6B9E70794B69B55E5456428C39F0"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Use of assistance</header><text>Recipients of hazard mitigation assistance provided under this section and section 203 may use the assistance to conduct activities to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a wildfire, including—</text> <paragraph id="H57DCB055BC8C47AC8CBC1E3FC24B13C5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reseeding ground cover with quick-growing or native species;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H90DF742BF3DE46698BA7BB55F3158E82"><enum>(2)</enum><text>mulching with straw or chipped wood;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5B03BEDE564F47A98EEF0630E2C60298"><enum>(3)</enum><text>constructing straw, rock, or log dams in small tributaries to prevent flooding;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC4730265972D4BC39AB792779A003B4C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>placing logs and other erosion barriers to catch sediment on hill slopes;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC69544C97EC04B28903553814588CF84"><enum>(5)</enum><text>installing debris traps to modify road and trail drainage mechanisms;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3FA31161A5DE4222803A186C2067FE21"><enum>(6)</enum><text>modifying or removing culverts to allow drainage to flow freely;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HCC44D5E0A4204854B551C675670F6930"><enum>(7)</enum><text>adding drainage dips and constructing emergency spillways to keep roads and bridges from washing out during floods;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4909CB9A346249E8A58D29A552A66D34"><enum>(8)</enum><text>planting grass to prevent the spread of noxious weeds;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4E8169217F54427ABC7052D4129ADC5F"><enum>(9)</enum><text>installing warning signs;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0427E59A96E14047A825B926E46E72B3"><enum>(10)</enum><text>establishing defensible space measures; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H289DF3E8893B40299917D968A0E412CD"><enum>(11)</enum><text>reducing hazardous fuels.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><enum>II</enum><header>Disaster Response and Recovery</header> <section id="H84F2C05F0432436C958F3DF9A48FAF51"><enum>201.</enum><header>Federal cost-share adjustments for repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 406(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5172">42 U.S.C. 5172(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B1514C778024A248865EE077A8E448B" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H53B6E783C1EB479E8E37579270F1A748"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Increased Federal share</header> <subparagraph id="HCDEAF84519024CCDA6CEA700FF023B33"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Incentive measures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President may provide incentives to a State or Tribal government to invest in measures that increase readiness for, and resilience from, a major disaster by recognizing such investments through a sliding scale that increases the minimum Federal share to 85 percent. Such measures may include—</text> <clause id="H9246748BB0AE421593B4924A7E6E0F63"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the adoption of a mitigation plan approved under section 322;</text> </clause><clause id="HB18AD3B3EF40405B9F34144159DACCF6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>investments in disaster relief, insurance, and emergency management programs;</text> </clause><clause id="HE4AE6F8116AC41EF88FFAC49A216E54B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">encouraging the adoption and enforcement of the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures and facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of the buildings’ users against disasters;</text> </clause><clause id="HF364D2CCBE724414808F2304D06B53C4"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>facilitating participation in the community rating system; and</text> </clause><clause id="H702D61EA1ACB47C8BDB81A6F0AD1377D"><enum>(v)</enum><text>funding mitigation projects or granting tax incentives for projects that reduce risk.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDCBB0A18079E41C69629011A1B048916"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Comprehensive Guidance</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the President, acting through the Administrator, shall issue comprehensive guidance to State and Tribal governments regarding the measures and investments that will be recognized for the purpose of increasing the Federal share under this section.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H88A35666F6C54CB1A0FFD97AA422543A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Report</header><text>One year after the issuance of the guidance required by subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report regarding the analysis of the Federal cost shares paid under this section.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF5044C4867F461585B88AA50859269A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Savings Clause</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph prevents the President from increasing the Federal cost share above 85 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="HD32310C8FBD543BAA0225FA3AE2EA3F5"><enum>202.</enum><header>Eligibility for code implementation and enforcement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 406(a)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5172">42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HA556F1DFA700479B943B6CEB1E95AE4A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end of subparagraph (B);</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC32CE2ED8F4B40E4A6D9CA18E42477D7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF711D61278FF41ED88E2122FAFD3A485"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD04DD085962A4A5CBAA6549B250E5353" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HD54E4E89168B42BCA960F0DED4C35E3B"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">base and overtime wages for extra hires to facilitate the implementation and enforcement of adopted building codes for a period of not more than 180 days after the major disaster is declared.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="H225410C9417E4C76951A58CF9DE14B1C"><enum>203.</enum><header>Program improvements</header> <subsection id="H114DC8AB1E2E4D88A93E36371AE6A83D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hazard Mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 406(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5172">42 U.S.C. 5172(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H2FCF4621F7D14626878595CFC87CE666"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)(A), by striking <quote>90 percent of</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H982287FD2CD14E9F889E3CB57CFB66D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(A), by striking <quote>75 percent of</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H1CA5DC22564045D2B29A13306546992F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Participation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 428(d) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5189f">42 U.S.C. 5189f</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H64E4CAF31B44452BBB3B068A8C14CE6F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(1) <header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">In general.—</header-in-text></quote> before <quote>Participation in</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H71A999DCEA34472CBF0D59E070BFF82A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9F02E4E99BDA4D1AA281EE156F9F08BE" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" id="HF063B624E3094229AFB0141DA8ABA5CB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No conditions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President may not condition the provision of Federal assistance under this Act on the election by a State, Tribal, or local government, or owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility to participate in the alternative procedures adopted under this section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H681EBADEC12946A784DEF921BEC7DA94"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 428(e)(1) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5189f">42 U.S.C. 5189f(e)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H41C2604CEB6846CAA2EBE85199FD9491"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD733C335337E4AA483EE33F168A4CFF5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBDBB83002E2548A88E15C123AB2E04F4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H67857F68F3FE43A98CEC74099EB889E0" style="OLC"> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H9F5D0A9942A6482B839EDF7A746ED427"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Cost estimates</header><text>Once certified by a professionally licensed engineer and accepted by the Administrator, the estimates on which grants made pursuant to this section are based shall be presumed to be reasonable, eligible, and actual costs as long as there is no evidence of fraud.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC616F7334424430C8A7D0AE658D5BAFD"><enum>204.</enum><header>Prioritization of facilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide guidance and training on an annual basis to State, Tribal, and local governments, first responders, and utility companies on—</text> <paragraph id="HB383713B406D40ED9532DB09879EDC1B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the need to prioritize assistance to hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities to ensure that such health care facilities remain functioning or return to functioning as soon as practicable during power outages caused by natural hazards, including severe weather events; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB0E8C2A7202A4CFC8F80CB4ECF1E6FF6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>how hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities should adequately prepare for power outages during a major disaster or emergency.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="HAE03A32C54AF4547984239C13FF68852"><enum>205.</enum><header>Guidance on evacuation routes</header> <subsection id="H7D2F147480CD4DECB3590F28D0B06A56"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header> <paragraph id="HD141A3F408D64F388EB298CDFA7C5EAA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Identification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, shall develop and issue guidance for State, local, and Tribal governments regarding the identification of evacuation routes.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H567DA1DB6BFF462886C19B423F119A0B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall revise existing guidance or issue new guidance as appropriate for State, local, and Tribal governments regarding the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of evacuation routes.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H74DB9B5E8C11447AABAF4CB62DD3CD93"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Considerations</header> <paragraph id="H539377D1614143828AFCC1AD122A84F9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Identification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing the guidance under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall consider—</text> <subparagraph id="H1672516BCBF848EE81F895525E68E361"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether evacuation routes have resisted impacts and recovered quickly from disasters, regardless of cause;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD0A42483BA0F4425B94C9BDAD427706B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the need to evacuate special needs populations, including—</text> <clause id="HC1747CE421514251B3BFBC644878A377"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">individuals with a physical or mental disability;</text> </clause><clause id="HABB51698AFFF4AE5965D2F409D472B28"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>individuals in schools, daycare centers, mobile home parks, prisons, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and detention centers;</text> </clause><clause id="HD1F09C03019A41FC83013722B4A0A3BF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>individuals with limited-English proficiency;</text> </clause><clause id="HC84DFD2A831848EBA18D22386C463F5A"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the elderly; and</text> </clause><clause id="H9943EBD1812D4B3481F1C1374D96625F"><enum>(v)</enum><text>individuals who are tourists, seasonal workers, or homeless;</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8331FBCBEFEE4B2E8B79FB46D7C8D8EC"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the sharing of information and other public communications with evacuees during evacuations;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H91473FBD8BCC4BF2BD78EE7C88B876FC"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the sheltering of evacuees, including the care, protection, and sheltering of animals;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0D6AD09A0DB24D158AC403B27CDB3347"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the return of evacuees to their homes; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEA2C0B3522C7403E9BC627BBFA019F23"><enum>(F)</enum><text>such other items the Administrator considers appropriate.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDDF62324346C40C8BD41CE791968EE46"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Design, construction, maintenance, and repair</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In revising or issuing guidance under (a)(2), the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration shall consider—</text> <subparagraph id="HF1EBC7AA94514D9285E8C9F7474BC956"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">methods that assist evacuation routes to—</text> <clause id="H476EF2C2F355427C9F92EABF7DDEC73F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">withstand likely risks to viability, including flammability and hydrostatic forces;</text> </clause><clause id="HA255AED360E14445AB978F737EB60F28"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>improve durability, strength (including the ability to withstand tensile stresses and compressive stresses), and sustainability; and</text> </clause><clause id="H56DD4802FB954E2789898A7626404E7B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide for long-term cost savings;</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7EDAA53F96C84F6E872A0B1A16472C13"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the ability of evacuation routes to effectively manage contraflow operations;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1912329D68A7462F97BB42BA36EA182D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for evacuation routes on public lands, the viewpoints of the applicable Federal Land Management Agency regarding emergency operations, sustainability, and resource protection; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H44F785349DFB43D1AAFB045979F12D05"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such other items the Administrator considers appropriate.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H7615C117B6F943D3AC0CF1851922BF7C"><enum>206.</enum><header>Proof of insurance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A State shall be deemed to have proven that an applicant has satisfied the purchase of insurance requirements under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5121">42 U.S.C. 5121</external-xref> et seq.) when an encumbrance requiring the purchase and maintenance of insurance has been placed on the title of the property receiving the benefit of the grant or assistance. This section in no way removes or reduces the insurance requirements on an applicant under the Act and in no way limits the requirement that assistance provided under such Act be reduced or eliminated when the requirements are not met.</text> </section><section commented="no" id="HF38830F98D0B430DA634D27D946F8965" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>207.</enum><header>Duplication of benefits</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H60EF500BC47A4388ABD09FA9360E973E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 312(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5155">42 U.S.C. 5155(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F78ACD5DA3F4E0584E0D53069F88369" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" id="H9B4A4673843B45A8BD348E93AF3B3DCE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Waiver of general prohibition</header> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H490C89D357514D018CCC00DA56295D8D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The President may waive the general prohibition provided in subsection (a) upon request of a Governor on behalf of the State or on behalf of a person, business concern, or any other entity suffering losses as a result of a major disaster or emergency, if the President finds such waiver is in the public interest and will not result in waste, fraud, or abuse. In making this decision, the President may consider the following:</text> <clause commented="no" id="HD383A3E530EB47E7BBAEA0BF82A996A8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The recommendations of the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency made in consultation with the Federal agency or agencies administering the duplicative program.</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="HBBC7B073AA784647AB700CAB5E0964E5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>If a waiver is granted, the assistance to be funded is cost effective.</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="H36DF8289C5894A588E43ED76E068A1D2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Equity and good conscience.</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="H30186A001B57431D85BAB22B49353183"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Other matters of public policy considered appropriate by the President.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9F4536947FE24585A94D9E5733D52D80"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Grant or denial of waiver</header><text>A request under subparagraph (A) shall be granted or denied not later than 45 days after submission of such request.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE07EAF74ABF5420796FEE9995B3360B8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Prohibition on determination that loan is a duplication</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (c), in carrying out subparagraph (A), the President may not determine that a loan is a duplication of assistance, provided that all Federal assistance is used toward a loss suffered as a result of the major disaster or emergency.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6A9863D1EC474403AE05ED8D28C68BB6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Funding of a federally authorized water resources development project</header> <paragraph commented="no" id="HFDC11724EB184E6EA4A6D1CF75193EB1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible activities</header><text>Notwithstanding section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5155">42 U.S.C. 5155</external-xref>) and its implementing regulations, assistance provided pursuant to section 404 of such Act may be used to fund activities authorized for construction within the scope of a federally authorized water resources development project of the Army Corps of Engineers if such activities are also eligible activities under such section.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1CB72DA1B09B4D4997F47CB08D7AB1BF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal funding</header><text>All Federal funding provided under section 404 pursuant to this subsection shall be applied toward the Federal share of such project.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H00DED81996144B8F93B8EBEF19F8B2B5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Non-Federal match</header><text>All non-Federal matching funds required under section 404 pursuant to this subsection shall be applied toward the non-Federal share of such project.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA570BEB061B046AA9DF1560DEE05350A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Total Federal share</header><text>Funding provided under section 404 pursuant to this subsection may not exceed the total Federal share for such project.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC85889EA5D3146A2B870E7F35FF61D9D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>No effect</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H75BE65656D2C4FB2A54DEE703DD34666"><enum>(A)</enum><text>affect the cost share requirement of a hazard mitigation measure under section 404;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H90C382AFA1F74F8EB21EBDCD1B099AAB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>affect the eligibility criteria for a hazard mitigation measure under section 404;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2F07A9B8D71F426C9E6BC5F11D4E8240"><enum>(C)</enum><text>affect the cost share requirements of a federally authorized water resources development project; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H921D6DBB9CA84B8BA59F9B6303C1EEF4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>affect the responsibilities of a non-Federal interest with respect to the project, including those related to the provision of lands, easements, rights-of-way, dredge material disposal areas, and necessary relocations.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H04F6228F501047B9A45987327D22E336"><enum>208.</enum><header>State administration of assistance for direct temporary housing and permanent housing construction</header> <text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 408(f) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5174">42 U.S.C. 5174(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HD99D601A4EA34AF6A89B91208E9AACDD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking the paragraph heading and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">State-administered assistance and other needs assistance.—</header-in-text></quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H12B2906890BB4A818DB0A8901958D6E5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A)—</text> <subparagraph id="HA4485A7586F749C5B03CD7AE07384361"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>financial</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H43A9176E1001458AA1A07315106F4F74"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>subsection (e)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e) if the President and the State comply, as determined by the Administrator, with paragraph (3)</quote>;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE3889EB64E44CA1BE63ED643C38C0B1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(B)—</text> <subparagraph id="H6B34BE01BC404B81A101368E33B55BF5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>financial</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7B2C91BB0AA04E4BA37F0ED9849F6FF2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>subsection (e)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3FCFC71C84A642D68C270AB89321C18F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F07DFF7CC7E4F37A4C22B42C4198FBA" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H4CC33DDFBE0D411382D2365D968432D8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>In general</header> <subparagraph id="H7986C1CA81E245A9864793416941C657"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State desiring to provide assistance under subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4) shall submit to the President an application for the delegation of the authority to administer the program.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4FE4380E963B426D889ADD3F6787111D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President, in consultation and coordination with States and local governments, shall establish criteria for the approval of applications submitted under subparagraph (A). The criteria shall include, at a minimum—</text> <clause id="H8DB79DFCC55E400CAD968A12A65E44E4"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the demonstrated ability of the State to manage the program under this section;</text> </clause><clause id="H7EBB360AB6044359AACD072672201245"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>there being in effect a plan approved by the President as to how the State will comply with applicable Federal laws and regulations and how the State will provide assistance under its plan;</text> </clause><clause id="H74917A710B7040D99CCC0B7D5A5DC966"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a requirement that the State or local government comply with rules and regulations established pursuant to subsection (j); and</text> </clause><clause id="H52D7EB44AE6C4FD8B6359118A8A99588"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a requirement that the President, or the designee of the President, comply with subsection (i).</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H541C352382CC449B8DB155E4A6F3FA80"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Quality assurance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before approving an application submitted under this section, the President, or the designee of the President, shall institute adequate policies, procedures, and internal controls to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and program mismanagement for this program and for programs under subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4). The President shall monitor and conduct quality assurance activities on a State’s implementation of programs under subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4). If, after approving an application of a State submitted under this section, the President determines that the State is not administering the program established by this section in a manner satisfactory to the President, the President shall withdraw the approval.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB82B6E1FFD5344C6BCFF29FC2D1B3F11"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Audits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office of the inspector general shall provide for periodic audits of the programs administered by States under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9391236C1EE0420BB6BA36A15C63752F"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Applicable laws</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All Federal laws applicable to the management, administration, or contracting of the programs by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under this section shall be applicable to the management, administration, or contracting by a non-Federal entity under this section.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD222C198773A4133A1E206F12A0AE57E"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit a report to 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 on the State role to provide assistance under this section. The report shall contain an assessment of the effectiveness of the State’s role to provide assistance under this section, including—</text> <clause id="HF28C3FC4EBC147BC85852568F18E4BFE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>whether the State’s role helped to improve the general speed of disaster recovery;</text> </clause><clause id="HF212A05598714473B320F8F82C41E146"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>whether the States providing assistance under this section had the capacity to administer this section; and</text> </clause><clause id="HDD8EF8C0FDFF4F60BA908A09328AA2A4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>recommendations for changes to improve the program if the State’s role to administer the programs should be continued.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H221C6D029D2A4203937F7105ED580317"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President may not condition the provision of Federal assistance under this Act by a State, Tribal, or local government requesting a grant under this section.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC9C41E6C99B04110A4927C188E372670"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Miscellaneous</header> <clause id="H8A9A8D504B2B4AA381E00A9B87071674"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Notice and comment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may waive notice and comment rulemaking, if the Administrator determines doing so is necessary to expeditiously implement this section, and may carry out this section as a pilot program until such regulations are promulgated.</text> </clause><clause id="H280EC552A3AE4C498884138DD1802196"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Final Rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall issue final regulations to implement this subsection as amended by the Disaster Recovery Reform Act.</text> </clause><clause id="H816D1972F4C342EE8E041F3A07A676E9"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Waiver and expiration</header><text>The authority under clause (i) and any pilot program implemented pursuant to such clause shall expire 2 years after date of enactment of this paragraph or upon issuance of final regulations pursuant to clause (ii), whichever occurs sooner.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="H310F8A4F094D4288AAFB51F8887CED7A"><enum>209.</enum><header>Assistance to individuals and households</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 408(h) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5174">42 U.S.C. 5174(h)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HCA804C6D856641F1945FDE21DD07A232"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>, excluding financial assistance to rent alternate housing accommodations under subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) and financial assistance to address other needs under subsection (e)</quote> after <quote>disaster</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HEE4DAD6126AF4ADFA9838D5A565A4302"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H623B813A246545AEB77929A39E6F1128"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H3A9EAFC1E9F74F5E8777A472C77A20BE" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H0BAFF8707BA648EB8113663755293866"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other needs assistance</header><text>The maximum financial assistance any individual or household may receive under subsection (e) shall be equivalent to the amount set forth in paragraph (1) with respect to a single major disaster.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6BBCF4CA9F87443D9F5DD695D9BC01AC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>paragraph (1)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraphs (1) and (2)</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF089CF038ACC4D449BAC963B3B56F825"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HF9AA2D26F8FB4D10B8EA90D7F445110E" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H7996DD447D16424DBD77D5C418AE942D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Exclusion of necessary expenses for individuals with disabilities</header> <subparagraph id="H7EB2250FE2CE4763AF9B060D2C757918"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The maximum amount of assistance established under paragraph (1) shall exclude expenses to repair or replace damaged accessibility-related improvements under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c) for individuals with disabilities.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A0D5C8A04624C1E9DA5634C94ED6EB6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The maximum amount of assistance established under paragraph (2) shall exclude expenses to repair or replace accessibility-related personal property under subsection (e)(2) for individuals with disabilities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="H8E966AE2C35D44348354E45051D5636C"><enum>210.</enum><header>Multifamily lease and repair assistance</header> <subsection id="HC338363A6E6F411E82464B19483D6638"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Lease and repair of rental units for temporary housing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5174">42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB7CA6945E03C473D90A3164922C4AFD2" style="OLC"> <subclause id="HBAEB75379AA744DBB638FD6FD15A42FA"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Improvements or repairs</header><text>Under the terms of any lease agreement for property entered into under this subsection, the value of the improvements or repairs shall be deducted from the value of the lease agreement.</text></subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H70C22C7EF9F24EF8825E12AF36387215"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rental properties impacted</header><text>Section 408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa)) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD139181792DE4433A1D1FFE0114A93E6" style="OLC"> <item id="H10883C34BE6F4CFC9379A922E2B0E059"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>enter into lease agreements with owners of multifamily rental property impacted by a major disaster or located in areas covered by a major disaster declaration to house individuals and households eligible for assistance under this section; and</text></item><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H9A245B7F6A7D472CBADFCE585C4334F0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Inspector general report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security shall assess the use of the authority provided under section 408(c)(1)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5174">42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)</external-xref>), including the adequacy of any benefit-cost analysis done to justify the use of this alternative, and submit a report on the results of that review to the appropriate committees of Congress.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H01976A08F86E485BA6EDA5C8CCF62DB6"><enum>211.</enum><header>Federal disaster assistance nonprofit fairness</header> <subsection id="H35F97FBACE934DCEA8515C1D65EBD0B7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of private nonprofit facility</header><text>Section 102(11)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5122">42 U.S.C. 5122(11)(B)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEBDB6D15D6B94F0891B56C20E4165080" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HF7F3355B020743BC8050BC92882AD6DE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional facilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to the facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term <quote>private nonprofit facility</quote> includes any private nonprofit facility that provides essential services of a governmental nature to the general public (including museums, zoos, performing arts facilities, community arts centers, community centers, houses of worship exempt from taxation under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/501">section 501(c)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, libraries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops, and facilities that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature), as defined by the President.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H974EEF033A8E4784B371AE42F6ED644D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities</header><text>Section 406(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5172">42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1FF8C04EA61B468FBE1090D9D46EF0B8" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HDB891207D2164B27B76239CB4A7D5693"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Houses of worship</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization, shall be eligible for contributions under paragraph (1)(B), without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HF36A4BB96F9A459A9BA715C78C8DDE9E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HF92E87660C544F7F8E81D478CAD88DFD"><enum>212.</enum><header>Management costs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5165b">42 U.S.C. 5165b</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H2DD70DC51B6D4F05B1113EEAAB50A6B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a) by striking <quote>any administrative expense, and any other expense not directly chargeable to</quote> and inserting <quote>direct administrative cost, and any other administrative expense associated with</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1F11328C38D14ADD984323997B860241"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text> <subparagraph id="H22B8B9E0596C4B3295B62E5D15CA4A7B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Notwithstanding</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2005C1E6A104471EBDD73E4CD2857221" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HD9E2F1A799ED482C8002E0174B1345DA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9AE25234218E40A29B8DDB9C6E4F06D1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>establish</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>implement the following:</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H289B5AD5DF014CBCBD307660812600F4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08A37A7EF4FB48799547A0400637C2A6" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HDACA642B8C6E4283A5465C9C26BC79D1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Specific Management Costs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall provide the following percentage rates, in addition to the eligible project costs, to cover direct and indirect costs of administering the following programs:</text> <subparagraph id="H19948755A3D84AE0BDA1FA066E50FEAB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Hazard mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A grantee under section 404 may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the total amount of the grant award under such section of which not more than 10 percent may be used by the grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBDD11F30C60D4645946394FB29673A65"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public Assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A grantee under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502 may be reimbursed not more than 12 percent of the total award amount under such sections, of which not more than 7 percent may be used by the grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H77B73301ABC440B2ADDF947C45A915BA"><enum>213.</enum><header>Flexibility</header> <subsection id="HFE841E692FE04C7794B31678279278B6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>covered assistance</quote> means assistance provided—</text> <paragraph id="HCD0E030F37B4432DB9845E3CC4189D88"><enum>(1)</enum><text>under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5174">42 U.S.C. 5174</external-xref>); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H42687747CCC54C6E96375DB2F5B42260"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in relation to a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5191">42 U.S.C. 5191</external-xref>) on or after October 28, 2012.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0B4E4BFB2E7C4BAAAFF7172578D3AF9D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver authority</header><text>Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency—</text> <paragraph id="HBC4B3F526DD44224900A8F93CAF23DD7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>subject to paragraph (2), may waive a debt owed to the United States related to covered assistance provided to an individual or household if—</text> <subparagraph id="H11FA9AC75D754E1ABE21B020EA1C7304"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the covered assistance was distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6855188A5362429AA041674FB75767B2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>there was no fault on behalf of the debtor; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76AC211B1E3443DE93EEE843CB240DBF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the collection of the debt would be against equity and good conscience; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDE03D8C952B74F3D95C996FC8C6D44B9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may not waive a debt under paragraph (1) if the debt involves fraud, the presentation of a false claim, or misrepresentation by the debtor or any party having an interest in the claim.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H28BA34E7247C4CC798512D52426D10BC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Monitoring of covered assistance distributed based on error</header> <paragraph id="HE2F1C4E27550458D91CB2B4492C18417"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security shall monitor the distribution of covered assistance to individuals and households to determine the percentage of such assistance distributed based on an error.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2727D4C2AB8444E4A503451502CAA03E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Removal of waiver authority based on excessive error rate</header><text>If the inspector general determines, with respect to any 12-month period, that the amount of covered assistance distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency exceeds 4 percent of the total amount of covered assistance distributed—</text> <subparagraph id="HA37E6B4C65254FACB0D43571A3D10AE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the inspector general shall notify the Administrator and publish the determination in the Federal Register; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5CCEF76E99A64B67AAAA747F4AE52720"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to any major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>) after the date of the determination, the authority of the Administrator to waive debt under subsection (b) shall no longer be effective.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H96BFCBCFDDC443CDB9A7302A80CEE89C"><enum>214.</enum><header>Additional disaster assistance</header> <subsection id="HD09F346FDFD140D1AAF1AA90F1C19F3C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Disaster mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 209 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/3149">42 U.S.C. 3149</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96086C414AF24703B441340E43210B06" style="OLC"> <subsection id="HAD20074DE61C439ABEFE75883B4D7760"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Disaster mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In providing assistance pursuant to subsection (c)(2), if appropriate and as applicable, the Secretary may encourage hazard mitigation in assistance provided pursuant to such subsection.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="HBA6FD6ED94DC4DC493635F9B0B51ABC9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Emergency management assistance compact grants</header><text>Section 661(d) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/761">6 U.S.C. 761(d)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>for fiscal year 2008</quote> and inserting <quote>for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HE3A76EB2332949ACBB4E3EA2AC049AE2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Emergency management performance grants program</header><text>Section 662(f) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/762">6 U.S.C. 762(f)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>the program</quote> and all that follows through <quote>2012</quote> and inserting <quote>the program, for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H3B3427223ACF42FBA06E69609CBAAEAA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical amendment</header><text>Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170a">42 U.S.C. 5170a</external-xref>) is amended by striking the second subparagraph (J).</text> </subsection></section><section id="H959CA0EF21DB484DAFE4E995B90AF2DE"><enum>215.</enum><header>National veterinary emergency teams</header> <subsection id="HB48C4B0189F8417C8C49D9EA6275EEB5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may establish one or more national veterinary emergency teams at accredited colleges of veterinary medicine.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H182C77BF8CF74203954593EABEEA84FA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>A national veterinary emergency team shall—</text> <paragraph id="H64281747A8FF4E6DB88E4CB22126C511"><enum>(1)</enum><text>deploy with a team of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System to assist with—</text> <subparagraph id="H24F733600B074EFC8F35A4E2037FA1AE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>veterinary care of canine search teams;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA80C34B9151143818ADF92534270D8AC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>locating and treating companion animals, service animals, livestock, and other animals; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE9486B2A49BA4691B34C58E0E93ABEE1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>surveillance and treatment of zoonotic diseases;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8CA95C8C0F3F4C22B4DE37CBF4C329A3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recruit, train, and certify veterinary professionals, including veterinary students, in accordance with an established set of plans and standard operating guidelines to carry out the duties associated with planning for and responding to emergencies as described in paragraph (1);</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H27C3EE473DB1480692052063FBAB8957"><enum>(3)</enum><text>assist State, Tribal, and local governments and nonprofit organizations in developing emergency management and evacuation plans that account for the care and rescue of animals and in improving local readiness for providing veterinary medical response during a disaster; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF1B47451F45F44C3BD18E68D49DC0DB4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, State, Tribal, and local governments (including State departments of animal and human health), veterinary and health care professionals, and volunteers.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Agency Management, Oversight, and Accountability</header> <section id="H361570AE0F634475B693B9D3EC00A705"><enum>301.</enum><header>Unified Federal environmental and historic preservation review</header> <subsection id="HD85940E447884C9E9769BE4795848DF3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Review and analysis</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall review the Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation review process established pursuant to section 429 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5189g">42 U.S.C. 5189g</external-xref>), and submit a report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate that includes the following:</text> <paragraph id="H30CEB2F3D09B4BF0886DF06AA6CF3268"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An analysis of whether and how the unified process has expedited the interagency review process to ensure compliance with the environmental and historic requirements under Federal law relating to disaster recovery projects.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBADBE4757E894649B71FF70C17F1E5B2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A survey and analysis of categorical exclusions used by other Federal agencies that may be applicable to any activity related to a Presidentially declared major disaster or emergency under such Act.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF1C94F6AD43248EEB8D924A0B8B96EFF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Recommendations on any further actions, including any legislative proposals, needed to expedite and streamline the review process.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC2C1711FB0724F938F5EBA725DF5337F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After completing the review, survey, and analyses under subsection (a), but not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and after providing notice and opportunity for public comment, the Administrator shall issue regulations to implement any regulatory recommendations, including any categorical exclusions identified under subsection (a), to the extent that the categorical exclusions meet the criteria for a categorical exclusion under section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, and section II of DHS Instruction Manual 023–01–001—01.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H32D7CF237A6E48E3B74A0389BC3A08AD"><enum>302.</enum><header>Closeout incentives</header> <subsection id="HBA570B82E6C94EFABF45C8DD7FD7588C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Facilitating closeout</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5205">42 U.S.C. 5205</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HEF29E0E4713740ECA534B88DA953B04A" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H4973D392A9B14043BE55FE076B59134F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Facilitating closeout</header> <paragraph id="H707B06ED23D3406CAEB5EC6D04470EBF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Incentives</header><text>The Administrator may develop incentives and penalties that encourage State, Tribal, or local governments to close out expenditures and activities on a timely basis related to disaster or emergency assistance.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC001589E0452459C877B0746B08BBE6B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agency requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Agency shall, consistent with applicable regulations and required procedures, meet its responsibilities to improve closeout practices and reduce the time to close disaster program awards.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H50807427F01D4CE48459CF8453569D90"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Administrator shall issue regulations to implement this section.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H55C9CF64AA4F4C37BF64471F117B7E4C"><enum>303.</enum><header>Performance of services</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 306 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5149">42 U.S.C. 5149</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD294A7F9C9E74D9A97C2EF73F36E4AAB" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H4676F7462B0541DEA331CE744A2A731C"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is authorized to appoint temporary personnel, after serving continuously for 1 year, to positions in the Agency in the same manner that competitive service employees are considered for transfer, reassignment, or promotion to such positions. An individual appointed under this subsection shall become a career-conditional employee, unless the employee has already completed the service requirements for career tenure.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="HC3318B1909A44C1BA33017084F84852D"><enum>304.</enum><header>Study to streamline and consolidate information collection</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall—</text> <paragraph id="HC8EB0AE822BC4ED3AD46C66F9BC575A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in coordination with the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other appropriate agencies, conduct a study and develop a plan, consistent with law, under which the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be modified, streamlined, expedited, efficient, flexible, consolidated, and simplified to be less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HFCECCC12BF584F739EB7AECBD90805E2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit the plan to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H6110BADD1CBC4B76B8FF6CE52736286C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>305.</enum><header>Agency accountability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB3D587BE5B014BA882E2DDF47CE04D60" style="OLC"> <section id="H05A8B3E1F5E9464E9BCBDF45CCC9CB1D"><enum>430.</enum><header>Agency accountability</header> <subsection id="H81C075ABF5DF4857A59618EF2F6A438E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Public Assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 5 days after an award of a public assistance grant is made under section 406 that is in excess of $1,000,000, the Administrator shall publish on the Agency’s website the specifics of each such grant award, including—</text> <paragraph id="HF0B24A6F4A4B4190B7CEA926FCF1602E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifying the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4911C379244749F8B93D8BC85797C578"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the disaster or emergency declaration number;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H884C601490E84502A671F6E309033093"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the State, county, and applicant name;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HDA0CED51CE2F476D94C1AACEFCD91F22"><enum>(4)</enum><text>if the applicant is a private nonprofit;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE72A70B3F00B46F8BC174C0DDD1F6D91"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the damage category code;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HABACA2BB25D943CA80215494C19CE7CB"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the amount of the Federal share obligated; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC6767D3671754BFA82F976EE9B8FE9E6"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the date of the award.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5F01024F79CB4625943AF39595C78BB7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mission Assignments</header> <paragraph id="H135C32CA477D4AD4914FE817A3837562"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 5 days after the issuance of a mission assignment or mission assignment task order, the Administrator shall publish on the Agency’s website any mission assignment or mission assignment task order to another Federal department or agency regarding a major disaster in excess of $1,000,000, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H31AE54C51A1F406CB574E4A834424670"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the name of the impacted State or Tribe;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFE5EDF29CD334095A6D957FBDDDB7CAC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the disaster declaration for such State or Tribe;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB5D8CE78B60E48F1A258E3910EE6C097"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the assigned agency;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBED61D93E7A34476BD58402C82946B74"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the assistance requested;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1738BB84CB5E4B95A9363FE4DB0EE202"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a description of the disaster;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC981C238F60645D2BA5DE9FACE9947BA"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the total cost estimate;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H87FD687E58354BED873ABB74FBC626D5"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the amount obligated;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA68E286EA20C49EA846636C3D0B9DEF4"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the State or Tribal cost share, if applicable;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5E0250D84F6C44238FF52F23E3691ABC"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the authority under which the mission assignment or mission assignment task order was directed; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F74460CF0D64B72A77ED437E43CBDED"><enum>(J)</enum><text>if applicable, the date a State or Tribe requested the mission assignment.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H36755AA1121F4242ABA2BB5FB03211C2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Recording changes</header><text>Not later than 10 days after the last day of each month until a mission assignment or mission assignment task order described in paragraph (1) is completed and closed out, the Administrator shall update any changes to the total cost estimate and the amount obligated.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3C834F810D234DD09A5E4067D250D0F7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Disaster Relief Monthly Report</header><text>Not later than 10 days after the first day of each month, the Administrator shall publish on the Agency’s website reports, including a specific description of the methodology and the source data used in developing such reports, including—</text> <paragraph id="H5B20688B49D4428086791F25C73E7839"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an estimate of the amounts for the fiscal year covered by the President’s most recent budget pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, including—</text> <subparagraph id="HBD0809EF51E747B398378DE1B165F5B4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the unobligated balance of funds to be carried over from the prior fiscal year to the budget year;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6129F3935DB74FC2A3CFF119EFE8B31B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the unobligated balance of funds to be carried over from the budget year to the budget year plus 1;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF1371F36ABC247E49F3B30D0E85FD990"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the amount of obligations for non-catastrophic events for the budget year;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2FF7A89965B143A2BF574037A222C26E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the amount of obligations for the budget year for catastrophic events delineated by event and by State;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA47E7F6217624ECF9BBFE381705EC7B4"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the total amount that has been previously obligated or will be required for catastrophic events delineated by event and by State for all prior years, the current fiscal year, the budget year, and each fiscal year thereafter;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC27A1F7EAA6D4E35AB84300580E9EDCA"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the amount of previously obligated funds that will be recovered for the budget year;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F8F1416499F4CFE84B74129E9DF9478"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the amount that will be required for obligations for emergencies, as described in section 102(1), major disasters, as described in section 102(2), fire management assistance grants, as described in section 420, surge activities, and disaster readiness and support activities; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2B559AC30FE14EC68E903B896AE28D39"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the amount required for activities not covered under section 251(b)(2)(D)(iii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/901">2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(D)(iii)</external-xref>); and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDB1D78F339BA4765AB8125C81112F3A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an estimate or actual amounts, if available, of the following for the current fiscal year shall be submitted not later than the fifth day of each month, published by the Administrator on the Agency’s website not later than the fifth day of each month:</text> <subparagraph id="HF65AB67FB4B744F381E19F56BF0652EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A summary of the amount of appropriations made available by source, the transfers executed, the previously allocated funds recovered, and the commitments, allocations, and obligations made.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9BD385DD58A1439498C5C24847985280"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A table of disaster relief activity delineated by month, including—</text> <clause id="H004B5569FDEC46FDA4968D22918CAB12"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the beginning and ending balances;</text> </clause><clause id="HF368E1D1FDD94AE79EFD45D2B9E3F893"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the total obligations to include amounts obligated for fire assistance, emergencies, surge, and disaster support activities;</text> </clause><clause id="HC68771B67E18419E9B47F241DA3D41F9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the obligations for catastrophic events delineated by event and by State; and</text> </clause><clause id="H549B7C37284545BFB1C4266CAE083A34"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the amount of previously obligated funds that are recovered.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDCE5B7A4C894E6CA5EC592A086EC0A8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A summary of allocations, obligations, and expenditures for catastrophic events delineated by event.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5FAE0DE06794300AB7E1451F13951F0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The cost of the following categories of spending:</text> <clause id="HB7207A943651409EAB28B3C167CB216C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Public assistance.</text> </clause><clause id="HA12107E30E284B0BBA79C67BD50DF599"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Individual assistance.</text> </clause><clause id="H633C88889C494FE49C1C169B245EF635"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Mitigation.</text> </clause><clause id="H75129E0402184FE98653845D0E512077"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Administrative.</text> </clause><clause id="HFDC9EC49FD6E473C8C1EBF591B3B8FEB"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Operations.</text> </clause><clause id="H8BE562319CF24558BF6AC150471E07BB"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Any other relevant category (including emergency measures and disaster resources) delineated by disaster.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF2084A6785154F2180E1EB0906D64712"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The date on which funds appropriated will be exhausted.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE0E2B52B18F94245BC16DAB28EAD5FD6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Contracts</header> <paragraph id="HE3AF180B585B4AC48C1A28434AB113F4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Information</header><text>Not later than 10 days after the first day of each month, the Administrator shall publish on the Agency’s website the specifics of each contract in excess of $1,000,000 that the Agency enters into, including—</text> <subparagraph id="HA090E8C7DFF44022B7A1AA4C9C7410E1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the name of the party;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5F4603365904FB5A33600B66BCD396D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date the contract was awarded;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD72429AF010545AFBD6AC7BB44A0E88D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the amount of the contract, the scope of the contract;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB8D669E75B584ECA9B66CE8BF478BB67"><enum>(D)</enum><text>if the contract was awarded through competitive bidding process;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H249586054C73407199B74B1D1537E1CB"><enum>(E)</enum><text>if no competitive bidding process was used, the reason why competitive bidding was not used; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAFFDB12E82B4422DB381600001408BA8"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the authority used to bypass the competitive bidding process.</text> </subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">The information shall be delineated by disaster, if applicable, and specify the damage category code, if applicable.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA6691B2B4CF4C87ACD0E1BC552D4E3E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 10 days after the last day of the fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of Congress summarizing the following information for the preceding fiscal year:</text> <subparagraph id="H01910CB2301343F989026E02EAEC1779"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of contracts awarded without competitive bidding.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4B047DF8671146D8BF69183CBA6C20C9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The reasons why a competitive bidding process was not used.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H86181ED466C54AEB8D1EE76FB03A22F3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The total amount of contracts awarded with no competitive bidding.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H77BC48C2B84C438B892B55B7C4AEAF90"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The damage category codes, if applicable, for contracts awarded without competitive bidding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H213C162267BD4D4399B8641B0013588D"><enum>306.</enum><header>Audit of contracts</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall not reimburse a State, Tribe, or local government or the owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility for any activities made pursuant to a contract entered into after August 1, 2017, that prohibits the Administrator or the Comptroller General of the United States from auditing or otherwise reviewing all aspects relating to the contract.</text> </section>