[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2548 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2548

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness 
operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets 
      and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 5, 2006

 Mr. Stevens (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                   Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness 
operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets 
      and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.

    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 ``Pets Evacuation and Transportation 
Standards Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. STANDARDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 
              OPERATIONAL PLANS.

    Section 613 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196b) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Standards for State and Local Emergency Preparedness 
Operational Plans.--In approving standards for State and local 
emergency preparedness operational plans pursuant to subsection (b)(3), 
the Director shall ensure that such plans take into account the needs 
of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, 
during, and following a major disaster or emergency.''.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MEASURES OF THE DIRECTOR.

    Section 611 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) plans that take into account the needs of individuals 
        with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a 
        major disaster or emergency.''; and
            (2) in subsection (j)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as 
                paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) The Director may make financial contributions, on the 
        basis of programs or projects approved by the Director, to the 
        States and local authorities for animal emergency preparedness 
        purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or 
        renovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials that 
        will accommodate people with pets and service animals.''.

SEC. 4. PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSEHOLD 
              PETS AND SERVICE ANIMALS FOLLOWING A DISASTER.

    Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(J) provision of rescue, care, shelter, and 
                essential needs--
                            ``(i) to individuals with household pets 
                        and service animals; and
                            ``(ii) to such pets and animals.''.
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