II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2619 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 7, 2006 Mr. Pryor introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita by placing manufactured homes in flood plains, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hope Housing Act of 2006.

2.

Definitions

In this Act— (1)the term authorized placement means placing a covered manufactured home as authorized by subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 3(a)(1); (2)the term base flood means the flood which has a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year; (3)the term costal high hazard area means an area subject to high velocity waters, including hurricane wave wash or a tsunami; (4)the term covered civil action means a civil action against the Federal Government (including a civil action against the Director) for damages related to the flooding of a covered manufactured home that is the subject of an authorized placement; (5)the term covered individual means an individual displaced by Hurricane Katrina of 2005 or Hurricane Rita of 2005; (6)the term covered manufactured home means a manufactured home purchased by the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the period beginning on August 1, 2005, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act; (7)the term Director means the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (8)the term flood means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from— (A)the overflow of inland or tidal waters; or (B)the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; (9)the term flood plain means an area which has a 1 percent chance of being flooded in any given year; (10)the term floodway means that portion of the flood plain which— (A)provides for the discharge of the base flood so the cumulative increase in water surface elevation is no more than 12 inches; and (B)is effective in carrying flow, within which this carrying capacity shall be preserved and where the flood hazard is generally highest; and (11)the term manufactured home has the same meaning as in section 603 of the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402).

3.

Emergency housing for victims

(a)

Use of Manufactured homes

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), and notwithstanding any other provision of law (including section 9.13 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling)), upon receiving a request from, or on behalf of, a covered individual, the Director shall place a covered manufactured home— (A)in a floodway or costal high hazard area; (B)in a flood plain, without elevating such home up to the base flood level; or (C)in a flood plain, without complying with— (i)the decision-making process required under section 9.6 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling); and (ii)the mitigation requirements under section 9.11 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling). (2)

Evacuation plans

The Director may not make an authorized placement, unless the Director has received an evacuation plan from State or local government officials that includes the area in which the covered placement will be made. (3)

Types of use

Any authorized placement shall be used to house covered individuals. (4)

Promotional materials

The Director shall make appropriate changes to any promotional materials to reflect, and otherwise publicize, the authorization in this subsection. (5)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any other lawful use of a covered manufactured home. (b)

Liability

(1)

In general

If the Director makes an authorized placement, a covered civil action relating to the covered manufactured home involved in such authorized placement may not be brought in any Federal or State court. (2)

Notice

The Director shall provide any person to whom the Director provides a covered manufactured home as part of an authorized placement with written notice of— (A)the potential risks associated with such placement; and (B)the limitations on liability under paragraph (1).