I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4935 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 24, 2010 Mr. Tiahrt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To allow regional directors of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to extend temporarily the Provisional Accredited Levee period if a good faith effort to upgrade a levee to the accredited level is being made.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the PAL Extension Act.

2.

Extension of provisional accredited levee period

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations or any procedural memorandum issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a regional director of such Agency may extend the Provisional Accredited Levee period in accordance with subsection (b). (b)

Good faith effort

(1)

In general

A regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may extend, for a period not to exceed 24 months from the date of the expiration of the original Provisional Accredited Levee (referred to in this Act as PAL) period of 24 months, such PAL period if such director determines that the community, levee owner, or individual responsible for upgrading the levee has applied for a waiver and is making a good faith effort as defined in paragraph (2) to complete such upgrade to the accredited level. (2)

Good faith effort defined

For purposes of this Act, the term good faith effort means a community, levee owner, or individual responsible for upgrading the levee provides evidence to the regional director that it— (A)has adequate funds available to upgrade such levee; and (B)has a contract with a qualified private contractor or an appropriate Federal agency to verify the certification of the levee.

3.

No mapping during extension period

After a community, levee owner, or individual responsible applies for a waiver and during any extension period granted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall suspend any mapping activities in the area surrounding the levee.