Short title and table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2006

. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.

Sec. 3. Study regarding status of pre-FIRM properties and mandatory purchase requirement for natural 100-year floodplain and non-Federally related loans.

Sec. 4. Phase-in of actuarial rates for nonresidential properties and non-primary residences.

Sec. 5. Reduction of waiting period for effective date of policies.

Sec. 6. Enforcement.

Sec. 7. Maximum coverage limits.

Sec. 8. Coverage for additional living expenses, basement improvements, business interruption, and replacement cost of contents.

Sec. 9. Increase in annual limitation on premium increases.

Sec. 10. Increase in borrowing authority.

Sec. 11. FEMA participation in State disaster claims mediation programs.

Sec. 12. FEMA reports on financial status of insurance program.

Sec. 13. Extension of pilot program for mitigation of severe repetitive loss properties.

Sec. 14. Notice of availability of flood insurance and escrow in RESPA good faith estimate.

Sec. 15. Reiteration of FEMA responsibilities under 2004 Reform Act.

Sec. 16. Updating of flood maps and elevation standards.

Sec. 17. National levee inventory.

Sec. 18. Clarification of replacement cost provisions, forms, and policy language.

Sec. 19. Authorization of additional FEMA staff.

Findings and purposes

(a)

Findings

The Congress finds that— (1)flooding has been shown to occur in all 50 States; (2)the aggregate amount of the flood insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and other recent events has exceeded the aggregate amount of all claims previously paid in the history of the national flood insurance program, requiring a significant increase in the program’s borrowing authority; (3)flood insurance policyholders have a legitimate expectation that they will receive fair and timely compensation for losses covered under their policies; (4)substantial flooding has occurred, and will likely occur again, outside the areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as flood hazard areas; (5)properties located in low- to moderate-risk areas are eligible to purchase flood insurance policies with premiums as low as $112 a year; (6)about 450,000 vacation homes, second homes, and commercial properties are subsidized and are not paying actuarially sound rates for flood insurance; (7)phasing out subsidies currently extended to vacation homes, second homes, and commercial properties would result in estimated average savings to the taxpayers of the United States and the national flood insurance program of $335,000,000 each year; (8)the maximum coverage limits for flood insurance policies should be increased to reflect inflation and the increased cost of housing; (9)significant reforms to the national flood insurance program required in the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 have yet to be implemented; and (10)in addition to reforms required in the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, the national flood insurance program requires a modernized and updated administrative model to ensure that the program is solvent and the people of the United States have continued access to flood insurance. (b)

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are— (1)to protect the integrity of the national flood insurance program by fully funding existing legal obligations expected by existing policyholders who have paid policy premiums in return for flood insurance coverage; (2)to increase incentives for homeowners and communities to participate in the national flood insurance program and to improve oversight to ensure full participation in the program for owners of properties for which such participation is mandatory; and (3)to increase awareness of homeowners of flood risks and improve the quality of information regarding such risks provided to homeowners.

Study regarding status of pre-FIRM properties and mandatory purchase requirement for natural 100-year floodplain and non-Federally related loans

(a)

In general

The Comptroller General shall conduct a study as follows: (1)

Pre-FIRM properties

The study shall determine the status of the the national flood insurance program, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, with respect to the provision of flood insurance coverage for pre-FIRM properties (as such term is defined in section 578(b) of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4014 note)), which shall include determinations of— (A)the number of pre-FIRM properties for which coverage is provided and the extent of such coverage; (B)the cost of providing coverage for such pre-FIRM properties to the national flood insurance program; (C)the anticipated rate at which such pre-FIRM properties will cease to be covered under the program; and (D)the effects that implementation of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 will have on the national flood insurance program generally and on coverage of pre-FIRM properties under the program. (2)

Mandatory purchase requirement for natural 100-year floodplain

The study shall assess the impact, effectiveness, and feasibility of amending the provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 regarding the properties that are subject to the mandatory flood insurance coverage purchase requirements under such Act to extend such requirements to properties located in any area that would be designated as an area having special flood hazards but for the existence of a structural flood protection system, and shall determine— (A)the regulatory, financial and economic impacts of extending such mandatory purchase requirements on the costs of homeownership, the actuarial soundness of the national flood insurance program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, local communities, insurance companies, and local land use; (B) the effectiveness of extending such mandatory purchase requirements in protecting homeowners from financial loss and in protecting the financial soundness of the national flood insurance program; and (C)any impact on lenders of complying with or enforcing such extended mandatory requirements. (3)

Mandatory purchase requirement for non-federally related loans

The study shall assess the impact, effectiveness, and feasibility of, and basis under the Constitution of the United States for, amending the provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 regarding the properties that are subject to the mandatory flood insurance coverage purchase requirements under such Act to extend such requirements to any property that is located in any area having special flood hazards and which secures the repayment of a loan that is not described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 102(b) of such Act, and shall determine how best to administer and enforce such a requirement, taking into consideration other insurance purchase requirements under Federal and State law. (b)

Report

The Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the results and conclusions of the study under this subsection not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Phase-in of actuarial rates for nonresidential properties and non-primary residences

(a)

In general

Section 1308(c) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015(c)) is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and (2)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs:

(2)

Nonresidential properties

Any nonresidential property. (3)

Non-primary residences

Any residential property that is not the primary residence of an individual.

(b)

Technical amendments

Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015) is amended— (1)in subsection (c)— (A)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking Subject only to the limitations provided under paragraphs (1) and (2), the and inserting The; and (B)in paragraph (1), by striking , except and all that follows through subsection (e); and (2)in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) or (3) and inserting paragraph (4). (c)

Effective date and transition

(1)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply beginning on the publication by the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the certification under section 16(b)(2), except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection. (2)

Transition

In the case of any property described in paragraph (2) or (3) of section 1308(c) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, that, on the date of the enactment of this Act, is covered under a policy for flood insurance made available under the national flood insurance program for which the chargeable premium rates are less than the applicable estimated risk premium rate under section 1307(a)(1) for the area in which the property is located, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall increase the chargeable premium rates for such property over time to such applicable estimated risk premium rate under section 1307(a)(1). Such increase shall be made by increasing the chargeable premium rates for the property (after application of any increase in the premium rates otherwise applicable to such property) by 15 percent (or such lesser amount as may be necessary so that the chargeable rate does not exceed such applicable estimated risk premium rate) once during the 12-month period that begins upon the date of the enactment of this Act and once every 12 months thereafter until such increase is accomplished. The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of such section 1308(c) shall apply to such a property upon the accomplishment of such increase and thereafter.

Reduction of waiting period for effective date of policies

Section 1306(c)(1) is amended by striking 30-day and inserting 15-day.

Enforcement

Section 102(f) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (5)— (A)in the first sentence, by striking $350 and inserting $2,000; and (B)in the last sentence, by striking $100,000 and inserting $1,000,000; and (2)in paragraph (6), by adding after the period at the end the following: No penalty may be imposed under this subsection on a regulated lending institution or enterprise that has made a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of the provisions referred to in paragraph (2) or for any non-material violation of such requirements..

Maximum coverage limits

Subsection (b) of section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013(b)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2), by striking $250,000 and inserting $335,000; (2)in paragraph (3), by striking $100,000 and inserting $135,000; and (3)in paragraph (4), by striking $500,000 each place such term appears and inserting $670,000.

Coverage for additional living expenses, basement improvements, business interruption, and replacement cost of contents

Subsection (b) of section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013) is amended— (1)in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end; (2)in paragraph (5)— (A)by inserting pursuant to paragraph (2), (3), or (4) after any flood insurance coverage; and (B)by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(6)in the case of any residential property, each renewal or new contract for flood insurance coverage shall provide not less than $1,000 aggregate liability per dwelling unit for any necessary increases in living expenses incurred by the insured when losses from a flood make the residence unfit to live in, which coverage shall be available only at chargeable rates that are not less than the estimated premium rates for such coverage determined in accordance with section 1307(a)(1); (7)in the case of any residential property, optional coverage for additional living expenses described in paragraph (6) shall be made available to every insured upon renewal and every applicant in excess of the limits provided in paragraph (6) in such amounts and at such rates as the Director shall establish, except that such chargeable rates shall not be less than the estimated premium rates for such coverage determined in accordance with section 1307(a)(1); (8)in the case of any residential property, optional coverage for losses, resulting from floods, to improvements and personal property located in basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed areas under buildings that are not covered by primary flood insurance coverage under this title, shall be made available to every insured upon renewal and every applicant, except that such coverage shall be made available only at chargeable rates that are not less than the estimated premium rates for such coverage determined in accordance with section 1307(a)(1); (9)in the case of any commercial property, optional coverage for losses resulting from any partial or total interruption of the insured’s business caused by damage to, or loss of, such property from a flood shall be made available to every insured upon renewal and every applicant, except that— (A)for purposes of such coverage, losses shall be determined based on the profits the covered business would have earned, based on previous financial records, had the flood not occurred; and (B)such coverage shall be made available only at chargeable rates that are not less than the estimated premium rates for such coverage determined in accordance with section 1307(a)(1); and (10)in the case of any residential property and any commercial property, optional coverage for the full replacement costs of any contents related to the structure that exceed the limits of coverage otherwise provided in this subsection shall be made available to every insured upon renewal and every applicant, except that such coverage shall be made available only at chargeable rates that are not less than the estimated premium rates for such coverage determined in accordance with section 1307(a)(1).

Increase in annual limitation on premium increases

Section 1308(e) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015(e)) is amended by striking 10 percent and inserting 15 percent.

10.

Increase in borrowing authority

(a)

Borrowing authority

The first sentence of subsection (a) of section 1309 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4016(a)), as amended by the National Flood Insurance Program Further Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–106; 119 Stat. 2288), is amended by striking $18,500,000,000 and inserting $25,000,000,000. (b)

FEMA report

Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit a report to the Congress setting forth a plan for repaying any amounts borrowed pursuant to increase in borrowing authority authorized under the amendments made by subsection (a).

11.

FEMA participation in State disaster claims mediation programs

The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 is amended by inserting after section 1313 (42 U.S.C. 4020) the following new section:

1314.

FEMA participation in State disaster claims mediation programs

(a)

Requirement to participate

In the case of the occurrence of a natural catastrophe that may result in flood damage claims under the national flood insurance program, upon a request made by the insurance commissioner of a State (or such other official responsible for regulating the business of insurance in the State) for the participation of representatives of the Director in a program sponsored by such State for nonbinding mediation of insurance claims resulting from a natural catastrophe, the Director shall cause appropriate representatives of national flood insurance program to participate in such State program to expedite settlement of any flood damage claims under the national flood insurance program resulting from such catastrophe. (b)

Extent of participation

Participation by representatives of the Director required under subsection (a) with respect to flood damage claims resulting from a natural catastrophe shall include— (1)providing adjusters certified for purposes of the national flood insurance program who are authorized to settle claims against such program resulting from such catastrophe in amounts up to the limits of policies under such program; (2)requiring such adjusters to attend State-sponsored mediation meetings regarding flood insurance claims resulting from such catastrophe at times and places as may be arranged by the State; (3)participating in good-faith negotiations toward the settlement of such claims with policyholders of coverage made available under the national flood insurance program; and (4)finalizing the settlement of such claims on behalf of the national flood insurance program with such policyholders. (c)

Coordination

Adjusters representing the national flood insurance program who participate pursuant to subsection (b)(1) in a State-sponsored mediation program with respect to a natural catastrophe shall at all times coordinate their activities with insurance officials of the State and representatives of insurers for the purpose of consolidating and expediting the settlement of claims under the national flood insurance program resulting from such catastrophe at the earliest possible time.

12.

FEMA reports on financial status of insurance program

Section 1320 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4027) is amended— (1)in the section heading, by striking REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT and inserting REPORTS; (2)in subsection (a), by striking

In General

and inserting

Biennial Report to President

; and (3)by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c)

Semiannual reports to congress on financial status

Not later than June 30 and December 31 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the financial status of the national flood insurance program under this title. Each such report shall describe the financial status of the National Flood Insurance Fund and current and projected levels of claims, premium receipts, expenses, and borrowing under the program.

13.

Extension of pilot program for mitigation of severe repetitive loss properties

Section 1361A of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4102a) is amended as follows: (1)

Funding

In subsection (k)(1), by striking and 2009 and inserting 2009, 2010, and 2011. (2)

Termination

In subsection (l), by striking September 30, 2009 and inserting September 30, 2011.

14.

Notice of availability of flood insurance and escrow in RESPA good faith estimate

Subsection (c) of section 5 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2604(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: Each such good faith estimate shall include the following conspicuous statements: (1) that flood insurance coverage for residential real estate is generally available under the National Flood Insurance Program whether or not the real estate is located in an area having special flood hazards and that, to obtain such coverage, a home owner or purchaser should contact a property insurance agent, broker, or company; and (2) that the escrowing of flood insurance payments is required for many loans under section 102(d) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, and may be a convenient and available option with respect to other loans..

15.

Reiteration of FEMA responsibilities under 2004 Reform Act

(a)

Appeals process

As directed in section 205 of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 4011 note), the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is again directed to, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish an appeals process through which holders of a flood insurance policy may appeal the decisions, with respect to claims, proofs of loss, and loss estimates relating to such flood insurance policy as required by such section. (b)

Minimum training and education requirements

The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is directed to continue to work with the insurance industry, State insurance regulators, and other interested parties to implement the minimum training and education standards for all insurance agents who sell flood insurance policies that were established by the Director under the notice published September 1, 2005 (70 Fed. Reg. 52117) pursuant to section 207 of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 4011 note). (c)

Report

Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit a report to the Congress describing the implementation of each provision of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–264) and identifying each regulation, order, notice, and other material issued by the Director in implementing each such provision.

16.

Updating of flood maps and elevation standards

(a)

Flood mapping program

Section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4101) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(k)

Program to review, update, and maintain flood insurance program maps

(1)

In general

The Director, in coordination with the Technical Mapping Advisory Council established pursuant to section 576 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note) and section 16(c) of the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2006, shall establish a program under which the Director shall review, update, and maintain national flood insurance program rate maps in accordance with this subsection. (2)

Inclusions

(A)

Covered areas

Each map updated under this subsection shall include a depiction of— (i)the 500-year floodplain; (ii)areas that could be inundated as a result of the failure of a levee, as determined by the Director; and (iii)areas that could be inundated as a result of the failure of a dam, as identified under the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467 et seq.). (B)

Other inclusions

In updating maps under this subsection, the Director may include— (i)any relevant information on coastal inundation from— (I)an applicable inundation map of the Corps of Engineers; and (II)data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration relating to storm surge modeling; (ii)any relevant information of the Geographical Service on stream flows, watershed characteristics, and topography that is useful in the identification of flood hazard areas, as determined by the Director; and (iii)a description of any hazard that might impact flooding, including, as determined by the Director— (I)land subsidence and coastal erosion areas; (II)sediment flow areas; (III)mud flow areas; (IV)ice jam areas; and (V)areas on coasts and inland that are subject to the failure of structural protective works, such as levees, dams, and floodwalls. (3)

Standards

In updating and maintaining maps under this subsection, the Director shall establish standards to— (A)ensure that maps are adequate for— (i)flood risk determinations; and (ii)use by State and local governments in managing development to reduce the risk of flooding; and (B)facilitate the Director, in conjunction with State and local governments, to identify and use consistent methods of data collection and analysis in developing maps for communities with similar flood risks, as determined by the Director. (4)

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita mapping priority

In updating and maintaining maps under this subsection, the Director shall— (A)give priority to the updating and maintenance of maps of coastal areas affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita to provide guidance with respect to hurricane recovery efforts; and (B)use the process of updating and maintaining maps under subparagraph (A) as a model for updating and maintaining other maps. (5)

Annual report

Not later than June 30 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Congress describing, for the preceding 12-month period, the activities of the Director under the program under this section and the reviews and updates of flood insurance program rate maps conducted under the program. Each such annual report shall contain the most recent report of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council pursuant to section 576(c)(3) of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note). (6)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this subsection $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.

(b)

Review and updating of all flood zones and annual map modernization reports

(1)

Required revision

In carrying out the program under subsection (k) of section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as added by subsection (a) of this section), the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall, as soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act, conduct a review of all floodplain areas and flood-risk zones identified, delineated, or established pursuant to such section 1360 and shall revise and update all such areas and zones. (2)

Certification of completion

Upon completing the review, revision, and updating required under paragraph (1), the Director shall submit to the Congress a report certifying such completion. (3)

Annual reports

During the period that ends upon certification under paragraph (2) of this subsection by the Director, the Director shall include in the annual report required under section 1360(k)(5) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as added by subsection (a) of this section) a description of the extent to which the review and updating required under paragraph (1) of this subsection has been completed. (c)

Reestablishment of Technical Mapping Advisory Council

(1)

Reestablishment

There is reestablished the Technical Mapping Advisory Council, in accordance with this subsection and section 576 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note). (2)

Membership

Paragraph (1) of section 576(b) of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note) is amended— (A)by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), and (J) as subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), (K), (M), and (N), respectively; (B)by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:

(E) a representative of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army;

;

(C)by inserting after subparagraph (H) (as so redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) the following new subparagraphs:

(I)a representative of local or regional flood and stormwater agencies; (J)a representative of State geographic information coordinators;

; and

(D)by inserting after subparagraph (K) (as so redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) the following new subparagraph:

(L) a representative of flood insurance servicing companies;

(3)

Appointment

The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or the Director’s designee, shall take action as soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act to appoint the members of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council pursuant to section 576(b)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, as amended by paragraph (2) of this subsection. (4)

Duties

Subsection (c) of section 576 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note) is amended to read as follows:

(c)

Duties

The Council shall— (1)make recommendations to the Director for improvements to the flood map modernization program under section 1360(k) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 41010(k)); (2)make recommendations to the Director for maintaining a modernized inventory of flood hazard maps and information; and (3)submit an annual report to the Director that contains a description of the activities and recommendations of the Council.

(5)

Termination

Subsection (k) of section 576 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note) is amended by striking under subsection (b)(1) and inserting pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section and section 16(c)(3) of the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2006. (d)

Post-disaster flood elevation determinations

Section 1363 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(h)

Expedited community adoption of post-disaster advisory flood elevations

If the Director determines that it is appropriate to examine flood elevation determinations after flood-related disasters, to incorporate data gathered since the publication of an effective flood insurance rate map or other flood hazard map and to issue advisory flood elevations, the Director shall expedite the notification and publication procedures in this section. The Director shall require community adoption of the advisory flood elevation information under such expedited procedures for the purposes of local land use and control measures and for the purposes of facilitating flood-resistant reconstruction when Federal funds are made available. Expediting the notification and publication procedures shall be accomplished to preserve all rights to submit information and to appeal the Director’s findings.

17.

National levee inventory

To identify levees for the national flood insurance program, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall maintain and periodically publish an inventory of levees in the United States, and shall consult with the Secretary of the Army as necessary to maintain such inventory.

18.

Clarification of replacement cost provisions, forms, and policy language

Not later than the expiration of the 3-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall— (1)issue regulations, and revise any materials made available by such Agency, to clarify the applicability of replacement cost coverage under the national flood insurance program; (2)revise any regulations, forms, notices, guidance, and publications relating to the full cost of repair or replacement under the replacement cost coverage to more clearly describe such coverage to flood insurance policyholders and information to be provided by such policyholders relating to such coverage, and to avoid providing misleading information to such policyholders; and (3)revise the language in standard flood insurance policies under such program regarding rating and coverage descriptions in a manner that is consistent with language used widely in other homeowners and property and casualty insurance policies, including such language regarding classification of buildings, basements, crawl spaces, detached garages, enclosures below elevated buildings, and replacement costs.

19.

Authorization of additional FEMA staff

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may employ such additional staff of such Agency as may be necessary to carry out all of the responsibilities of the Director pursuant to this Act and the amendments made by this Act. There are authorized to be appropriated to Director such sums as may be necessary for costs of employing such additional staff.