[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3348 Received in Senate (RDS)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3348


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 19, 1996

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To direct the President to establish standards and criteria for the 
  provision of major disaster and emergency assistance in response to 
                          snow-related events.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Snow Removal Policy Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) winter snow storms in recent years, and particularly in 
        1996, have interrupted essential public services and utilities, 
        caused widespread disruption of vital transportation networks, 
        stranded many motorists, and isolated many homes and 
        businesses;
            (2) the impact of the winter snow storms was of such 
        severity and magnitude that effective response was beyond the 
        capability of State and local governments;
            (3) the policy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
        for providing major disaster and emergency assistance in 
        response to snow-related events is unclear; and
            (4) regulations should be promulgated for providing major 
        disaster and emergency assistance in response to snow-related 
        events in order to ensure the fair treatment of States and 
        local governments that have incurred costs associated with such 
        a response.

SEC. 3. RULEMAKING TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND CRITERIA FOR SNOW-RELATED 
              EVENTS.

    (a) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.--The President, acting through 
the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall issue a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to promulgate--
            (1) standards and criteria for declaring a major disaster 
        or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act in response to a snow-related event; 
        and
            (2) standards and criteria for providing assistance under 
        such Act in the case of a snow-related major disaster or 
        emergency, including reimbursement for snow removal and for 
        debris removal and emergency protective measures.
    (b) Requirement.--Rules to be promulgated under this section shall 
ensure that in determining the eligibility of a State or local 
government for assistance in connection with a snow-related event, the 
President will give consideration to existing capabilities of the State 
or local government.
    (c) Deadlines.--The President, acting through the Director of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall issue--
            (1) a proposed rule under this section not later than 3 
        months after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) a final rule under this section not later than 9 months 
        after such date of enactment.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 18, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.