I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2849 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 7, 2011 Ms. Richardson (for herself, Mr. Stark, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Brown of Florida, and Mr. Conyers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Disability Integration and Coordination Improvement Act.

2.

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination

Section 513 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321b) is amended— (1)in subsection (b), by striking and after the semicolon at the end of paragraph (1), by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12), and by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new paragraph: (11)serving as the head of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination established under subsection (c); and ; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c)

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall establish within the Agency the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (in this subsection referred to as the Office). (2)

Mission

The Administrator shall, in consultation with the National Council on Disability, State, local, and tribal governments, private sector entities, and nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based and other community humanitarian relief entities, use the Office to implement strategies and activities in support of the responsibilities of the Disability Coordinator under this section and as assigned by other provisions of law or by the Administrator. (3)

Staffing

The Disability Coordinator— (A)subject to subparagraph (B), shall maintain staffing levels of the Office that are commensurate with the current and projected workload; (B)shall maintain not less than 10 full-time, permanent personnel of the headquarters office of the Agency who are properly trained to implement the Office’s mission, and who shall be assigned to the Regional Offices as necessary; and (C)shall periodically evaluate the staffing levels of the headquarters office of the Agency. (4)

Performance measures

The Administrator, in coordination with the Disability Coordinator and in consultation with the National Council on Disability, State, local, and tribal governments, private sector entities, and nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based and other community humanitarian relief entities, shall establish performance measures for the Office that are specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant, including but not limited to— (A)ensuring the timely development, update, integration, and dissemination of information, including policy guidance, training materials, and other planning tools for State, local, and tribal government officials and other appropriate stakeholders; and (B)ensuring the integration of people with disabilities into emergency, preparedness, protection, mitigation, evacuation, sheltering, transition, resiliency, and recovery plans. (5)

Annual report

The Administrator shall submit annual reports to Congress on— (A)the progress achieved by the Office in implementing strategies and activities in support of the responsibilities of the Disability Coordinator as stated under this section; and (B)specific barriers noted in achieving such progress. .