[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5825 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5825


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 28, 2010

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To review, update, and revise the factors to measure the severity, 
   magnitude, and impact of a disaster and to evaluate the need for 
               assistance to individuals and households.

    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 ``Multi-State Disaster Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FACTORS.

    (a) In General.--In order to provide more objective criteria for 
evaluating the need for assistance to individuals and households and to 
speed a declaration of a major disaster or emergency under the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5121 et seq.), not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(referred to in this Act as the ``Administrator''), in cooperation with 
representatives of State and local emergency management agencies, shall 
review, update, and revise through rulemaking the factors considered 
under section 206.48(b) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
measure the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster.
    (b) Consideration of a Contiguous County.--In reviewing, updating, 
and revising the factors referenced in subsection (a) the Administrator 
shall include as a factor whether a contiguous county in an adjacent 
state has been designated in a major disaster or emergency as a result 
of the same incident.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's current 
regulations, policies, procedures, and practices on--
            (1) recommending major disaster or emergency declarations 
        in order to provide assistance to individuals and households; 
        and
            (2) making post-declaration designations of the need for 
        assistance to individuals and households in a county that is 
        contiguous to a State that has received a major disaster or 
        emergency declaration for the same incident.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2010.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.