[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1630 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1630

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act to allow for a more effective recovery from disasters, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 23, 2011

  Ms. Landrieu (for herself and Mr. Cochran) 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 allow for a more effective recovery from disasters, 
                        and for other purposes.

    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 ``Disaster Recovery Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
    TITLE I--MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 101. Definition of major disaster.
Sec. 102. Other definitions.
Sec. 103. Waiver of administrative conditions.
Sec. 104. Use and coordination of relief organizations.
Sec. 105. Self-insurance.
Sec. 106. Authorities and responsibilities.
Sec. 107. Recovery efforts.
Sec. 108. Coordination of response and recovery.
Sec. 109. Declaration of a catastrophic disaster.
Sec. 110. Improving distribution of Federal disaster assistance.
Sec. 111. Pre-incident planning.
              TITLE II--MAJOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Essential assistance.
Sec. 202. Volunteers.
Sec. 203. Hazard mitigation.
Sec. 204. Repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities.
Sec. 205. Debris removal.
Sec. 206. Federal assistance to individuals and households.
Sec. 207. Crisis counseling and assistance training program.
Sec. 208. Community disaster loans.
Sec. 209. Emergency public transportation.
Sec. 210. Simplified procedures.
Sec. 211. Appeals of assistance decisions.
Sec. 212. Case management services.
Sec. 213. Essential service providers.
Sec. 214. Additional disaster assistance, procedures, and reporting.
Sec. 215. After action reviews.
Sec. 216. Grant guidance.
Sec. 217. Timeliness of reviews.
Sec. 218. Review of regulations and policies.
Sec. 219. Public works repair teams.
Sec. 220. Review of Federal programs and authorities.
                      TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Contributions for personnel and administrative expenses.
Sec. 302. Evacuation plans and exercises.
Sec. 303. Personnel management.
Sec. 304. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
        the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
            (2) the term ``catastrophic disaster'' means a catastrophic 
        disaster declared by the President under section 327 of the 
        Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
        Act, as added by this Act;
            (3) the term ``catastrophic incident'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 
        2002 (6 U.S.C. 311); and
            (4) the term ``major disaster'' means a major disaster 
        declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170).

    TITLE I--MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 101. DEFINITION OF MAJOR DISASTER.

    Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) is amended by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Major disaster.--The term `major disaster' means any 
        natural disaster (including a pandemic), act of terrorism, or 
        other man-made disaster, in any part of the United States, 
        which in the determination of the President causes damage of 
        sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster 
        assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and 
        available resources of States, local governments, and disaster 
        relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, 
        or suffering caused thereby.''.

SEC. 102. OTHER DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Stafford Act.--Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (10)(A), by inserting ``child care,'' 
        after ``educational,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) Recovery.--The term `recovery' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
        (6 U.S.C. 311).
            ``(12) National disaster recovery framework.--The term 
        `National Disaster Recovery Framework' means the National 
        Disaster Recovery Framework developed under section 655 of the 
        Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.
            ``(13) Catastrophic incident.--The term `catastrophic 
        incident' has the meaning given that term in section 501 of the 
        Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311).
            ``(14) Catastrophic disaster.--The term `catastrophic 
        disaster' means a catastrophic disaster declared by the 
        President under section 327.''.
    (b) Homeland Security Act of 2002.--Section 501 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (14) as 
        paragraphs (11) through (16), respectively;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) and (8) as paragraphs 
        (8) and (9), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) the term `National Disaster Recovery Framework' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5122);'';
            (4) in paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``section 502(a)(6)'' and inserting ``section 504(a)(6)''; and
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (9), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(10) the term `recovery' means the short and long term 
        process of restoring, reshaping, and enhancing the resiliency 
        of the physical, social, cultural, economic, and natural 
        environments and services, government institutions, and the 
        well-being of affected individuals;''.

SEC. 103. WAIVER OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONDITIONS.

    Section 301 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Any Federal 
        agency''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Technical Assistance.--The President shall provide technical 
assistance to State and local authorities to identify administrative 
conditions that may prevent the giving of assistance under a program 
described in subsection (a).''.

SEC. 104. USE AND COORDINATION OF RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.

    Section 309(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5152(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``disaster relief'' and insert 
        ``preparedness, disaster relief, and recovery'';
            (2) by striking ``coordinated by the Federal coordinating 
        officer'' and inserting ``used or coordinated by the President 
        before or''; and
            (3) by striking ``providing relief'' and inserting 
        ``performing preparedness, disaster relief, or recovery 
        activities''.

SEC. 105. SELF-INSURANCE.

    Section 311(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5154(c)) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or Local 
        Government'' after ``State''; and
            (2) by inserting ``or local government'' after ``State'' 
        each place it appears.

SEC. 106. AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

    Section 504(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
314(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``Support Team'' and 
        all that follows through ``when operating'' and inserting 
        ``Support Team and (when operating''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``efficient, 
        expeditious, and effective'' after ``aiding the''.

SEC. 107. RECOVERY EFFORTS.

    Section 402 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``and'' after 
                ``measures;'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (F);
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) assist State and local governments to recover from a 
        major disaster and coordinate Federal assistance for recovery 
        from the major disaster by--
                    ``(A) identifying and coordinating Federal 
                resources, programs, and agencies to support the 
                implementation of recovery and mitigation efforts of 
                State and local governments;
                    ``(B) providing technical and other advice to State 
                and local governments to manage, control, and mitigate 
                hazards and risk in a manner that reduces injuries, 
                loss of life, damage to the environment, and damage and 
                destruction of property, including damage to 
                facilities;
                    ``(C) in the case of a catastrophic disaster, 
                establishing a Commission under section 327; and
                    ``(D) providing financial and technical assistance 
                and advice to State and local governments affected by a 
                major disaster to--
                            ``(i) assess the social, economic, and 
                        environmental impact of the major disaster;
                            ``(ii) support coordinated and 
                        comprehensive planning that takes into account 
                        post-disaster assessments, hazard and risk 
                        modeling, and economic recovery; and
                            ``(iii) support and facilitate 
                        implementation of recovery plans and 
                        actions.''.

SEC. 108. COORDINATION OF RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.

    Chapter 1 of subtitle C of title VI of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 741 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 655. COORDINATION OF RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.

    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall ensure the preparedness 
of Federal agencies to respond to and support recovery from a natural 
disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster by--
            ``(1) ensuring the development and implementation of the 
        National Response Framework and the National Disaster Recovery 
        Framework;
            ``(2) ensuring Federal agencies with responsibilities under 
        the National Response Framework and the National Disaster 
        Recovery Framework are prepared to fulfill those 
        responsibilities, including having appropriate staffing and 
        training;
            ``(3) coordinating the preparedness of Federal agencies 
        with responsibilities under the National Disaster Response 
        Framework and the National Disaster Recovery Framework; and
            ``(4) resolving disagreements relating to response to and 
        recovery from major disasters between Federal agencies with 
        responsibilities under the National Disaster Response Framework 
        and the National Disaster Recovery Framework, including 
        disagreements relating to a particular major disaster and 
        disagreements that arise before a major disaster is declared, 
        except that after a catastrophic disaster (as defined in 
        section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act) the chairperson of the Commission 
        established under section 328 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to that 
        catastrophic disaster shall have exclusive authority to 
        exercise the authority under this paragraph for the 
        catastrophic disaster.
    ``(b) Disaster Response and Recovery Officials.--The head of each 
Federal agency with major responsibilities under the National Response 
Framework or the National Disaster Recovery Framework, as determined by 
the Administrator, shall designate a senior official to--
            ``(1) ensure the Federal agency is prepared to execute 
        those response and recovery responsibilities; and
            ``(2) coordinate response and recovery efforts and 
        activities with the Administrator.''.

SEC. 109. DECLARATION OF A CATASTROPHIC DISASTER.

    Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 327. DECLARATION OF A CATASTROPHIC DISASTER.

    ``(a) In General.--The President may only declare a catastrophic 
disaster if--
            ``(1) a catastrophic incident has occurred;
            ``(2) the President has declared a major disaster relating 
        to the catastrophic incident in a State;
            ``(3) the State has requested that the President declare a 
        catastrophic disaster;
            ``(4) an independent panel of experts has issued a 
        recommendation to the President concerning whether or not a 
        catastrophic disaster should be declared; and
            ``(5) the total estimated amount of Federal assistance to 
        support response, recovery, and mitigation costs related to the 
        catastrophic incident exceeds $1,000,000,000, as determined by 
        the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 
        coordination with the State.
    ``(b) Panel.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President may establish an 
        independent panel of experts (in this subsection referred to as 
        the `panel') which the President may convene upon receiving a 
        reasonable request that the President declare a catastrophic 
        disaster.
            ``(2) Membership.--The panel may be comprised of experts in 
        emergency management, social and physical sciences, economics, 
        engineering, demography, public health, and other appropriate 
        fields.
            ``(3) Considerations.--In evaluating a request that the 
        President declare a catastrophic disaster, the panel shall 
        consider--
                    ``(A) the number of homes damaged or destroyed;
                    ``(B) the number of public facilities damaged or 
                destroyed;
                    ``(C) the number of businesses damaged or 
                destroyed;
                    ``(D) the ability of survivors to access social 
                services, health care, and education;
                    ``(E) the economic impact to affected communities 
                and region as a whole, including State and local 
                government tax revenues;
                    ``(F) the number of displaced survivors and their 
                location;
                    ``(G) the quantity of available and affordable 
                housing;
                    ``(H) the damage to the transportation, utilities, 
                and communications infrastructure; and
                    ``(I) any other factor relating to the impact of 
                the catastrophic incident.
            ``(4) Information.--The panel--
                    ``(A) shall consider information provided by the 
                State requesting that the President declare a 
                catastrophic disaster and by the Administrator of the 
                Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
                    ``(B) may solicit or accept additional information, 
                in order to make an informed recommendation to the 
                President.
            ``(5) Recommendation.--The panel shall make a 
        recommendation regarding whether the President should declare a 
        catastrophic disaster as soon as is practicable after the panel 
        considers relevant data and information regarding the scale and 
        impact of the catastrophic incident.
            ``(6) Administration.--
                    ``(A) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
                U.S.C. App) shall apply to the panel, except that 
                sections 10(a)(2) and 14 of that Act shall not apply.
                    ``(B) Status.--Members of the panel shall be 
                considered special Government employees (as defined in 
                section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code).
                    ``(C) Compensation and travel expenses.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Members of the panel 
                        shall serve without compensation.
                            ``(ii) Travel expenses.--Members of the 
                        panel shall be allowed travel expenses, 
                        including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
                        rates authorized for employees of agencies 
                        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
                        United States Code, while away from their homes 
                        or regular places of business in the 
                        performance of service for the panel.
            ``(7) Regulations.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2011, the 
        President shall prescribe regulations relating to the 
        composition and operating procedures of the panel.
            ``(8) Report.--Not later than 10 days after the date on 
        which the President declares a catastrophic disaster in the 
        absence of a recommendation to do so from the panel, the 
        President shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 
        and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report explaining the decision.

``SEC. 328. FEDERAL LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING A CATASTROPHIC DISASTER.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `Chairperson' means the Chairperson of a 
        Commission selected under subsection (c); and
            ``(2) the term `Commission' means a Commission established 
        under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Establishment.--Immediately following the declaration of a 
catastrophic disaster, the President shall establish a Commission to 
facilitate and support State and local governments in achieving an 
efficient, effective, and expeditious recovery from the catastrophic 
disaster.
    ``(c) Chairperson.--The President shall select an official to serve 
as the Chairperson of each Commission to ensure the responsibilities of 
the Commission are fulfilled. The Chairperson shall have the authority 
to direct any Federal agency, in accordance with Congressional 
reprogramming requirements, to use the authorities and resources 
granted to the Federal agency under Federal law in support of the 
efficient, expeditious, and effective recovery from a catastrophic 
disaster.
    ``(d) Members.--Each Commission shall include as a member the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the head of 
each Federal agency with major responsibilities under the National 
Disaster Recovery Framework, and the head of any other Federal agency 
that the President determines necessary.
    ``(e) Staffing.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency and the head of each Federal agency with 
responsibilities under the National Disaster Recovery Framework shall 
each detail to each Commission a sufficient number of senior officials 
with decision making authority and other employees who shall serve full 
time on the Commission to ensure efficient administration of the 
assistance provided by the Federal Government.
    ``(f) Responsibilities of a Commission.--A Commission shall--
            ``(1) develop a strategic approach to the recovery from the 
        catastrophic disaster and coordinate the activities of Federal 
        agencies with responsibilities under the National Disaster 
        Recovery Framework and other Federal agencies that the 
        President determines shall assist in the recovery;
            ``(2) lead the development and monitor the implementation 
        of a strategic plan under subsection (g);
            ``(3) resolve disagreements relating to recovery from the 
        catastrophic disaster between or among Federal agencies with 
        responsibilities under the National Disaster Recovery Framework 
        and any other Federal agency assisting in the recovery and 
        assign responsibility in specific instances;
            ``(4) compile data on the amount of Federal assistance that 
        State and local governments receive relating to the 
        catastrophic disaster and the activities the Federal assistance 
        is used to carry out;
            ``(5) identify relevant recovery metrics based on the 
        recovery goals established by State and local governments, in 
        coordination with the Federal Government, and measure progress 
        in the recovery based on the metrics not less frequently than 2 
        times each year;
            ``(6) consult with and coordinate delivery of Federal 
        assistance to support the recovery efforts of State and local 
        governments, nonprofit organizations, and other private sector 
        organizations;
            ``(7) identify agency regulations, policies, and procedures 
        that need to be streamlined and coordinated to enable an 
        efficient, expeditious, and effective recovery from the 
        catastrophic disaster;
            ``(8) identify unmet needs and ways to meet the needs;
            ``(9) review consolidated requests for Federal assistance 
        submitted under section 329(b);
            ``(10) identify and facilitate the provision of Federal 
        funds to address gaps in the recovery from the catastrophic 
        disaster;
            ``(11) work with State and local governments affected by 
        the catastrophic disaster to incorporate into the efforts to 
        recover from the catastrophic disaster actions that will 
        mitigate the effects of and foster resilience in the event of a 
        subsequent disaster; and
            ``(12) take reasonable actions to prevent waste, fraud, and 
        abuse relating to the catastrophic disaster.
    ``(g) Recovery Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which the President declares a catastrophic disaster, the 
        Commission established in relation to the catastrophic disaster 
        shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a strategic plan for how the Federal Government 
        will expeditiously assist State and local governments in the 
        recovery of the area affected by the catastrophic disaster.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each strategic plan submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall be written in coordination with State and 
        local governments affected by the catastrophic disaster and 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) an up to date description of the scope of 
                damage caused by the catastrophic disaster and the 
                number of survivors of the catastrophic disaster in 
                need of assistance;
                    ``(B) an assessment of challenges and needs faced 
                in the recovery from the catastrophic disaster;
                    ``(C) a plan for assisting survivors of the 
                catastrophic disaster in obtaining temporary, interim, 
                and permanent housing (including the repair of rental 
                housing);
                    ``(D) a description of how Federal agencies will 
                support State and local governments in the recovery 
                efforts, including technical, financial, and planning 
                assistance, and the roles and responsibilities of each 
                Federal agency in fulfilling the strategic plan;
                    ``(E) a description of how each Federal agency on 
                the Commission will administer and provide staffing for 
                the recovery from the catastrophic disaster in order to 
                ensure the expeditious and effective implementation of 
                the strategic plan;
                    ``(F) a description of any procedures of a Federal 
                agency that will be streamlined to help ensure an 
                efficient and effective recovery from the catastrophic 
                disaster; and
                    ``(G) a description of any legislative authority 
                needed to help ensure an efficient, expeditious, and 
                effective recovery from the catastrophic disaster.
            ``(3) Update.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
        which a Commission submits a strategic plan under paragraph 
        (1), and every 180 days thereafter until the date on which the 
        Commission terminates under subsection (h), the Commission 
        shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report describing--
                    ``(A) progress in the recovery from the 
                catastrophic disaster since the date on which the most 
                recent strategic plan or report relating to the 
                catastrophic disaster was submitted;
                    ``(B) major challenges and unmet needs remaining in 
                the recovery from the catastrophic disaster;
                    ``(C) any changes or adjustments to the strategic 
                plan submitted under paragraph (1) relating to the 
                catastrophic disaster;
                    ``(D) how each Federal agency on the Commission 
                will continue to administer and provide staffing for 
                the recovery from the catastrophic disaster in order to 
                ensure the expeditious and effective implementation of 
                the strategic plan submitted under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(E) any legislative authority needed to help 
                ensure an efficient, expeditious, and effective 
                recovery from the catastrophic disaster.
    ``(h) Termination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall terminate a 
        Commission established in relation to a catastrophic disaster 
        when the President determines that all issues relating to the 
        Federal coordination of the recovery from the catastrophic 
        disaster have been substantially resolved.
            ``(2) Withdrawal.--Upon a determination by the President 
        that the matters with which a Federal agency has been involved 
        as part of a Commission have been substantially resolved, the 
        Federal agency may withdraw from the Commission.
    ``(i) Recovery Joint Field Offices.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall establish recovery 
        joint field offices in an area after a catastrophic disaster 
        for an appropriate period of time to support recovery from the 
        catastrophic disaster.
            ``(2) Assignment of employees.--Each Federal agency on the 
        Commission established in relation to the catastrophic disaster 
        shall assign a sufficient number of employees to each recovery 
        joint field office established under paragraph (1) to assist 
        State and local governments in the efficient, expeditious, and 
        effective recovery from the catastrophic disaster.''.

SEC. 110. IMPROVING DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.), as amended by section 109, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 329. IMPROVING DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Catalog of Federal Disaster Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the President shall develop a 
        catalog of Federal disaster assistance that--
                    ``(A) includes summaries of the Federal programs 
                that support disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation; 
                and
                    ``(B) uses a common format that contains 
                information about each Federal program described in 
                subparagraph (A), including--
                            ``(i) the name of the Federal program;
                            ``(ii) the Federal agency carrying out the 
                        Federal program, including contact information;
                            ``(iii) the purpose or a description of the 
                        Federal program;
                            ``(iv) citations or Internet addresses for 
                        or links to the statutes, regulations, and 
                        rules governing the Federal program; and
                            ``(v) the eligibility requirements, 
                        application instructions, and allowable and 
                        prohibited uses of funds under the Federal 
                        program.
            ``(2) Updates.--The President shall annually update the 
        catalog of Federal disaster assistance developed under 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Consolidated Request for Federal Assistance.--Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall 
develop a single application process for voluntary use by State, local, 
and tribal governments and private nonprofit entities to request 
Federal disaster assistance from the Federal programs identified under 
subsection (a)(1)(A).
    ``(c) Recovery Metrics.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, the President shall establish and implement 
procedures to monitor disaster recovery indicators after a catastrophic 
disaster, including--
            ``(1) population changes by neighborhood (including 
        demographics);
            ``(2) housing availability and affordability;
            ``(3) restoration of utilities and transportation 
        infrastructure;
            ``(4) economic activity;
            ``(5) job growth;
            ``(6) State and local tax revenues; and
            ``(7) access to critical services, including education, 
        health care, mental health services, child care, and police and 
        fire protection.''.

SEC. 111. PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING.

    Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.), as amended by section 110, is 
amended at the end by adding the following:

``SEC. 330. PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING.

    ``(a) Pre-Incident Plans.--If, at the time of a declaration of a 
major disaster, a State or local government has in effect a recovery 
plan that has been approved under this section, the President shall 
increase by 10 percentage points the Federal share of assistance under 
sections 406, 407, and 408(e), as appropriate depending on the contents 
of the approved plan.
    ``(b) Factors for Consideration.--In determining whether to approve 
a recovery plan submitted by a State or local government under 
subsection (a) and whether and by what percentage to increase the 
Federal share under subsection (a), the President shall consider 
whether the State or local government has--
            ``(1) established procedures for debris management, 
        including having entered into contracts for debris removal, 
        identified sites to support debris processing, storage, and 
        transfer, and established procedures for collection of right-
        of-entry forms;
            ``(2) established procedures for temporary housing for 
        disaster survivors and for transitioning disaster survivors to 
        permanent housing, including by rebuilding adequate rental 
        properties;
            ``(3) established a leadership structure to manage recovery 
        efforts, including identifying roles and responsibilities among 
        leaders and State and local agencies;
            ``(4) established a post-disaster planning process and 
        structure that integrates community stakeholders into recovery 
        efforts;
            ``(5) identified and prioritized actions that need to be 
        taken before another major disaster to reduce the impact of the 
        major disaster;
            ``(6) identified and prioritized actions to be taken after 
        a major disaster to help ensure an efficient, expeditious, and 
        effective recovery;
            ``(7) identified potential barriers to a timely recovery 
        and put in place emergency waivers and authorities that will 
        overcome these barriers during recovery;
            ``(8) developed procedures and mechanisms for implementing 
        the recovery, including for the staffing of recovery efforts;
            ``(9) identified methods of obtaining mutual assistance and 
        other peer-to-peer aid to support recovery efforts; and
            ``(10) adopted mechanisms to facilitate the timely and 
        proper payment of claims by insurance companies for damages 
        relating to the major disaster.''.

              TITLE II--MAJOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``medicine medical equipment,,'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``medicine, medical 
                equipment,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, 
                        child care facilities, libraries,'' after 
                        ``schools'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E), by inserting 
                        ``inspection of damaged structures and'' before 
                        ``demolition'';
                            (iii) by striking the second subparagraph 
                        designated as subparagraph (J), as added by 
                        section 4 of the Pets Evacuation and 
                        Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (Public 
                        Law 109-308; 120 Stat. 1726); and
                            (iv) in subparagraph (J)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i), by inserting ``giving special 
                                consideration to the'' before 
                                ``provision'';
                                    (II) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (III) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                the period at the end and inserting a 
                                semicolon; and
                                    (IV) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iii) to children; and
                            ``(iv) to individuals with disabilities or 
                        other special needs.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Emergency Shelter.--The President may extend the period 
during which emergency shelter is provided under this section if the 
President determines that timely transition into housing assistance 
authorized under section 408 is not practicable or that an extension is 
necessary to meet housing needs after the major disaster.
    ``(e) Salaries and Benefits.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President may reimburse a State or 
        local government for costs relating to pay and benefits 
        (including overtime and hazardous duty pay) for permanent 
        employees of the State or local government conducting emergency 
        protective measures under this section.
            ``(2) Fair labor standards.--The guidelines for 
        reimbursement for employees that a recipient of assistance 
        under paragraph (1) is contractually obligated to pay shall be 
        consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 
        201 et seq.).''.

SEC. 202. VOLUNTEERS.

    Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 425 (42 U.S.C. 5189e) relating 
        to essential service providers, as added by section 607 of the 
        SAFE Port Act (Public Law 109-347; 120 Stat. 1941) as section 
        427; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 428. VOLUNTEERS.

    ``Upon request by a State, the President may provide temporary 
housing for volunteers who are assisting in response and recovery 
efforts from a major disaster if the President determines the 
assistance is appropriate, cost-effective, and would not unduly 
interfere with the ability of the President to provide housing to 
emergency response providers (as defined in section 2 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101)) or to individuals or households 
eligible for housing assistance under this Act.''.

SEC. 203. HAZARD MITIGATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 404(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Consistency of eligible activities.--
                    ``(A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `covered hazard mitigation measure'--
                            ``(i) means a hazard mitigation measure 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) is an eligible use of funds 
                                under a mitigation grant program under 
                                a provision of law other than this 
                                section;
                                    ``(II) is administered by the 
                                Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
                                Management Agency; and
                                    ``(III) meets the requirements 
                                under subsection (a); and
                            ``(ii) includes demolition and rebuilding.
                    ``(B) Use of funds.--A covered hazard mitigation 
                measure shall be eligible to receive assistance under 
                the program under this section.''.
    (b) Procedures and Other Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) 
        is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Streamlined Procedures.--For purposes of providing assistance 
under this section, the President may establish streamlined procedures, 
including procedures for consideration of multiple structures as a 
group and for an analysis of the environmental impacts, historical 
impacts, cost-effectiveness, and fulfillment of cost-share requirements 
for proposed hazard mitigation measures.
    ``(e) Additional Mitigation Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--If, on the date on which the President 
        declares a major disaster, a State affected by the major 
        disaster has in effect, and is actively enforcing throughout 
        the State, a State building code that has been approved under 
        paragraph (2), the President shall increase the Federal share 
        of assistance under this section, notwithstanding the maximum 
        total of contributions under this section for the major 
        disaster, as determined in accordance with subsection (a) and 
        section 322(e), by an amount equal to 10 percent of the 
        estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made (less any 
        associated administrative costs) to the State under this Act 
        with respect to the major disaster.
            ``(2) Approval.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The President shall approve a 
                State building code if the President determines that 
                the building code--
                            ``(i) is consistent with a nationally-
                        recognized model building code in effect on the 
                        date of the determination; and
                            ``(ii) was adopted by the State during the 
                        6-year period beginning on the date on which 
                        the nationally-recognized model building code 
                        described in clause (i) went into effect.
                    ``(B) Periodic updates.--The President shall, by 
                regulation, set appropriate standards for the periodic 
                update, resubmission, and reapproval of a State 
                building code approved by the President under this 
                paragraph that are consistent with similar requirements 
                relating to mitigation planning under section 322.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Actively enforcing.--The term `actively 
                enforcing' means that the structural provisions of a 
                State building code are being effectively implemented 
                in the process of examination and approval of 
                construction plans, specifications, and technical data 
                and the inspection of new construction or renovation.
                    ``(B) Nationally-recognized model building code.--
                The term `nationally-recognized model building code' 
                means a building code for residential and commercial 
                construction and construction materials that--
                            ``(i) has been developed and published by a 
                        code organization in an open consensus type 
                        forum with input from national experts; and
                            ``(ii) is based on national structural 
                        design standards that establish minimum 
                        acceptable criteria for the design and 
                        construction of residential and commercial 
                        buildings for the purpose of protecting the 
                        health, safety, and general welfare of the 
                        building's users against natural disasters.
                    ``(C) State building code.--The term `State 
                building code' means requirements and associated 
                standards for residential and commercial construction 
                and construction materials that are implemented on a 
                statewide basis by ordinance, resolution, law, housing 
                or building code, or zoning ordinance, which shall, at 
                a minimum, include that such requirements and 
                associated standards shall apply to construction-
                related activities of residential or commercial 
                building contractors, engineers, architects, and 
                designers applicable to the structural safety, design, 
                and construction of residential, commercial, and 
                industrial structures.
            ``(4) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, the President, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall 
        issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this 
        subsection.
    ``(f) Advance Assistance.--The President may provide not more than 
10 percent of the amount of the estimated cost of hazard mitigation 
measures to an entity eligible for a grant under this section if the 
entity--
            ``(1) indicates the entity intends to implement hazard 
        mitigation measures; and
            ``(2) requests funds for the hazard mitigation measures 
        before the costs are incurred by the entity.
    ``(g) Cost Effectiveness.--For purposes of evaluating whether a 
hazard mitigation measure is cost-effective, any costs incurred to 
conduct a federally required review of the environmental or historic 
impact or cost-effectiveness of a hazard mitigation measure shall not 
be included as a cost of the hazard mitigation measure.
    ``(h) Reimbursement for Residential Mitigation Measures.--The 
President may provide assistance to homeowners for otherwise eligible 
structural measures for a residence damaged by the major disaster for 
which the hazard mitigation assistance is made available, regardless of 
whether the homeowner commenced work on the measures before approval of 
the measures.''.
            (2) Criteria for assistance awards.--Section 203(g) of the 
        Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 5133(g)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph 
                (11); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) the extent to which the State or local government is 
        carrying out activities to implement a State building code 
        approved under section 404(e); and''.
    (c) Establishment of Criteria Relating to Administration of Hazard 
Mitigation Assistance by States.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish the 
criteria required under section 404(c)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(c)(2)).
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report, 
developed in consultation with State and local governments, that--
            (1) identifies obstacles to more timely distribution of 
        funds under the hazard mitigation program under section 404 of 
        the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c);
            (2) provides proposals to overcome any obstacles identified 
        under paragraph (1), including whether the obstacles are 
        related to specific provisions of that Act; and
            (3) assesses the feasibility of developing a uniform 
        application process for all forms of mitigation assistance 
        authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and the 
        National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.), 
        including--
                    (A) the hazard mitigation program under section 404 
                of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c);
                    (B) the predisaster hazard mitigation program under 
                section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
                and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133);
                    (C) the severe repetitive loss program under 
                section 1361A of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
                1968 (42 U.S.C. 4102a); and
                    (D) the flood mitigation assistance program under 
                section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
                1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104).

SEC. 204. REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking ``and emergency 
        medical care'' and inserting ``emergency medical care, and 
        child care'';
            (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Large In-Lieu Contributions.--
            ``(1) In general.--In any case in which a State, local 
        government, or owner or operator of a private nonprofit 
        facility determines that the public welfare would not best be 
        served by repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing 
        the facility, the State, local government, or person who owns 
        or operates a private nonprofit facility may elect to receive, 
        in lieu of a contribution under subsection (a)(1)(A), a 
        contribution in an amount equal to the Federal share of the 
        Federal estimate of the cost of repairing, restoring, 
        reconstructing, or replacing the facility and of management 
        expenses.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--Funds contributed to a State, local 
        government, or person under this subsection may be used--
                    ``(A) to repair, restore, or expand other selected 
                facilities owned or operated by the State, local 
                government, or person;
                    ``(B) to construct new facilities to be owned or 
                operated by the State, local government, or person; or
                    ``(C) to fund hazard mitigation measures that the 
                State, local government, or person determines to be 
                necessary to meet a need for services and functions 
                provided by the State, local government, or person in 
                the area affected by the major disaster.
            ``(3) Limitations.--Funds made available to a State, local 
        government, or person under this subsection may not be used 
        for--
                    ``(A) any facility located in a regulatory floodway 
                (as defined in section 59.1 of title 44, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)); or
                    ``(B) any uninsured facility located in a special 
                flood hazard area identified by the Administrator of 
                the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the 
                National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et 
                seq.).'';
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at 
                        the end;
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) giving consideration to any energy 
                        savings associated with the proposed design, 
                        repair, restoration, reconstruction, or 
                        replacement.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(C)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at 
                        the end;
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) procedures to effect the 
                        reimbursement of funds under paragraph 
                        (2)(B)(ii).''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Expedited payments.--
                    ``(A) Grant assistance.--In making a contribution 
                under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1), the 
                President shall provide an initial payment of the full 
                amount of the Federal share of the eligible cost, based 
                on the initial estimate conducted in accordance with 
                paragraph (1)(A).
                    ``(B) Date of payment.--An initial payment 
                described in subparagraph (A) shall be paid not later 
                than 60 days after the date on which the estimate 
                described in paragraph (1) is completed.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Project Consolidation.--The President may consider all 
facilities that serve the same function for a single State or local 
government or an owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility as a 
single project and provide a single payment for all eligible costs or 
estimates of eligible costs conducted in accordance with subsection 
(e)(1)(A) relating to the facilities under this section.
    ``(g) Flood of Record.--The President may provide a State, local 
government, or person that owns or operates a private nonprofit 
facility in a special flood hazard area that is eligible for 
replacement as a result of disaster-related damage with a contribution 
under this section for the full amount of the Federal share of the cost 
to repair, restore, reconstruct, or replace a facility to withstand the 
highest flood recorded at the site of the facility, if the difference 
in cost between elevation to the flood of record and elevation to the 
base flood elevation does not exceed 25 percent of the total project 
cost.
    ``(h) Anticipated Insurance Benefits.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President may not reduce the amount 
        of Federal assistance under this section by an amount greater 
        than 50 percent of the anticipated insurance benefits of the 
        recipient of the Federal assistance if the recipient--
                    ``(A) has requested and has not received the 
                anticipated insurance benefits on the date on which the 
                recipient receives Federal assistance;
                    ``(B) agrees to diligently pursue insurance 
                benefits for damages for which Federal assistance is 
                available under this section; and
                    ``(C) agrees to timely repay all duplicative 
                assistance to the agency providing the Federal 
                assistance.
            ``(2) Recoupment.--The Administrator shall establish 
        procedures to recoup assistance from applicants that fail to 
        request and diligently pursue insurance benefits that would 
        duplicate Federal assistance for damages provided under this 
        section.''.
    (b) Issuance of Regulations Relating to Eligible Cost.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President 
shall issue and begin implementation of the regulations required under 
section 406(e)(3)(C) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(e)(3)(C)), as amended by this 
Act.

SEC. 205. DEBRIS REMOVAL.

    Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5173) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Debris Recycling.--
            ``(1) In general.--A recipient of a grant under subsection 
        (a)(2) may use amounts made available under the grant for the 
        costs of recycling debris and wreckage resulting from a major 
        disaster, including the sorting of such materials.
            ``(2) Value of salvaged material.--
                    ``(A) Retention of financial benefits.--A recipient 
                of a grant under subsection (a)(2) may retain any 
                financial benefit received from the salvage of recycled 
                debris or wreckage.
                    ``(B) Treatment of financial benefits.--Any 
                financial benefit described in subparagraph (A) shall 
                not be considered to be income for purposes of section 
                13.25 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
                successor thereto).
    ``(g) Salaries and Benefits.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President may reimburse a State or 
        local government for costs relating to pay and benefits 
        (including overtime and hazardous duty pay) for permanent 
        employees of the State or local government conducting debris 
        removal.
            ``(2) Fair labor standards.--The guidelines for 
        reimbursement for employees that a recipient of assistance 
        under paragraph (1) is contractually obligated to pay shall be 
        consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 
        201 et seq.).''.

SEC. 206. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS.

    Section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``The President may'' and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The President may''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Shared households.--
                            ``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph, 
                        the term `member of the predisaster household' 
                        means an individual who was a member of the 
                        predisaster household of the individual or 
                        household seeking assistance under this 
                        section, as the case may be.
                            ``(ii) Eligibility for shared households.--
                        The President may not deny assistance to an 
                        individual or household under this section 
                        because a member of the predisaster household 
                        has already received assistance under this 
                        section if the individual or household seeking 
                        assistance--
                                    ``(I) has evacuated the predisaster 
                                residence of that individual or 
                                household and, due to space constraints 
                                or for other good cause (as determined 
                                by the President), resides in a 
                                different location than a member of the 
                                predisaster household that has already 
                                received assistance under this section;
                                    ``(II) is a victim of domestic 
                                violence, as defined under section 
                                40002(a)(6) of the Violence Against 
                                Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 
                                13925(a)(6)) and, in order to protect 
                                the safety of the individual or 
                                household, or because of family or 
                                household dissolution or divorce, 
                                resides in a different residence than 
                                the member of the predisaster household 
                                that has already received assistance 
                                under this section; or
                                    ``(III) has other good cause, as 
                                determined by the President, for 
                                maintaining a separate household from 
                                the member of the predisaster household 
                                that has already received assistance 
                                under this section.
                            ``(iii) Procedures.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of enactment of the Disaster 
                        Recovery Act of 2011, the President shall 
                        establish procedures to verify eligibility for 
                        a qualifying exception under clause (ii).''; 
                        and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Eligibility of heirs.--If the owner of an owner-
        occupied private residence dies, an heir shall be eligible for 
        assistance under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (c) in 
        place of the deceased owner if the heir--
                    ``(A) resided in the residence on the date of the 
                major disaster; and
                    ``(B) is taking legal possession of the 
                residence.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                        subparagraph (E); and
                            (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
                        the following:
                    ``(B) Repairs.--The President may repair rental 
                units for occupation by individuals and households 
                eligible for assistance under this section. The 
                President shall prescribe rules and regulations to 
                carry out this subparagraph, which shall include 
                consideration of cost-effectiveness, convenience to the 
                individuals and households, and such other factors as 
                the President determines appropriate.
                    ``(C) Catastrophic disasters.--For a catastrophic 
                disaster, the President may provide direct assistance 
                for repairs under subparagraph (A)(i) if the President 
                determines that the assistance--
                            ``(i) is appropriate; and
                            ``(ii)(I) is cost-effective as compared to 
                        available alternative housing options; or
                            ``(II) would be beneficial in expediting 
                        the recovery from the catastrophic disaster.
                    ``(D) Exception from limitations.--The President 
                may provide assistance under subparagraph (C) in an 
                amount equal to not more than twice the maximum amount 
                otherwise authorized under subsection (h) or section 
                307(a)(1).'';
                    (B) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by inserting ``for a major disaster'' 
                        after ``the continental United States''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``in other locations'' and 
                        all that follows and inserting ``in other 
                        locations for a catastrophic disaster.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Temporary mortgage and rental payments.--
                    ``(A) Definition.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In this paragraph, the 
                        term `eligible individual or household' means 
                        an individual or household that--
                                    ``(I) experienced a net loss of not 
                                less than 25 percent of the predisaster 
                                income of the individual or household 
                                as a result of a major disaster;
                                    ``(II) has a rent or mortgage 
                                payment in an amount not less than 25 
                                percent of the post-disaster income of 
                                the individual or household; and
                                    ``(III) has a lease or mortgage on 
                                a primary residence within an area for 
                                which the major disaster has been 
                                declared.
                            ``(ii) Calculation.--In calculating the net 
                        loss of predisaster income, the President shall 
                        account for insurance proceeds received due to 
                        loss of employment.
                    ``(B) Authority.--The President may provide 
                assistance on a temporary basis in the form of mortgage 
                or rental payments to or on behalf of an eligible 
                individual or household that, as a result of financial 
                hardship caused by a major disaster, is subject to 
                dispossession or eviction from the residence by reason 
                of the foreclosure of any mortgage or lien or the 
                termination of any lease entered into before the date 
                of the major disaster.
                    ``(C) Agreements.--The President may direct 
                appropriate Federal agencies and enter into agreements 
                with private organizations to administer assistance 
                provided under this paragraph.
                    ``(D) Maximum period.--If the President provides 
                assistance to an eligible individual or household under 
                this paragraph, the President shall provide assistance 
                for the duration of the period of financial hardship, 
                not to exceed 18 months.
                    ``(E) Maximum amounts.--The President may not 
                provide assistance to an eligible individual or 
                household under this paragraph--
                            ``(i) in a total amount that is more than 
                        the maximum amount of assistance under 
                        subsection (h); or
                            ``(ii) for any month, in an amount that is 
                        more than the amount of monthly income loss of 
                        the eligible individual or household.'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking ``or accessible'' 
        and inserting ``, accessible, or convenient to schools, health 
        care facilities, child care centers, grocery stores, public 
        transportation, or other essential community services other 
        than housing resources'';
            (4) in subsection (e)(1)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``Child 
                care,'' after ``Dental,''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``child care,'' after ``dental,'';
            (5) in subsection (h)(1), by inserting before the period at 
        the end ``, except that for a catastrophic disaster, the 
        President may increase the maximum amount of assistance to be 
        not more than twice the amount equal to the otherwise 
        applicable maximum amount under this subsection, if the 
        President determines that due to extraordinary circumstances an 
        increase is in the public interest'';
            (6) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) record and verify information on all assistance under 
        this section that an individual or household has received or 
        applied for relating to a single major disaster.'';
            (7) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
            (8) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
    ``(j) Federal Agency Agreement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2011, the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of 
        Agriculture, and the heads of other appropriate Federal 
        agencies (as determined by the President) shall enter into an 
        agreement that--
                    ``(A) identifies the appropriate roles and 
                responsibilities of each agency for housing assistance 
                under this section; and
                    ``(B) establishes procedures necessary to provide 
                housing assistance available under this section.
            ``(2) Administration of agreement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The agreement entered under 
                paragraph (1) shall be updated by the Federal agencies 
                participating in the agreement as needed, but not less 
                frequently than once every 5 years. In updating an 
                agreement under this subparagraph, the Federal agencies 
                shall seek to constructively address issues relating to 
                providing or overseeing the provision of assistance 
                under the program under this section that emerged 
                during management of disaster relief programs, 
                including training or resources for public housing 
                agencies.
                    ``(B) Consistency.--The Federal agencies 
                participating in the agreement entered under paragraph 
                (1) shall ensure that housing assistance under this 
                section is provided and administered in a manner 
                consistent with the National Disaster Recovery 
                Framework and the National Disaster Housing Strategy 
                developed under section 683 of the Post-Katrina 
                Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 772).
                    ``(C) Inventory.--The President shall develop a 
                national inventory of federally owned housing units to 
                facilitate the administration of housing assistance 
                available under this section.
                    ``(D) Technical assistance.--The President may 
                provide technical assistance and preparedness support 
                to public housing agencies to facilitate the 
                administration of housing assistance under subsection 
                (c).''.

SEC. 207. CRISIS COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 416 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5183) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and treatment'' after ``counseling 
        services''; and
            (2) by striking ``victims'' and inserting ``survivors''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the President shall promulgate updated 
regulations to improve the delivery of mental health services, extend 
timeframes for the delivery of services, and provide for appropriate 
administrative costs to service providers under section 416 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as 
amended by subsection (a).

SEC. 208. COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS.

    Section 417 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, subject to 
        subsection (b),'' before ``has demonstrated'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively;
            (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Expedient Disbursal.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the President 
        shall develop procedures under which an initial disbursement of 
        a loan under subsection (a) shall be made to a local 
        government--
                    ``(A) not later than 14 days after the date on 
                which the President receives a request for the loan; 
                and
                    ``(B) in an amount sufficient to ensure the local 
                government may--
                            ``(i) continue to provide governmental 
                        services; and
                            ``(ii) retain and hire personnel necessary 
                        to support response and recovery.
            ``(2) Demonstrated need not yet established.--If a local 
        government agrees to return an initial disbursement under 
        paragraph (1) in the event that the local government does not 
        demonstrate a need for financial assistance within 180 days 
        after the date of an initial disbursement, the President shall 
        make an initial disbursement under paragraph (1) without regard 
        to whether the local government has established a demonstrated 
        need for financial assistance.
            ``(3) Recoupment of loan proceeds for failure to 
        demonstrate need.--The Administrator shall establish procedures 
        to recoup assistance from a local government that fails to 
        demonstrate need for financial assistance within 180 days after 
        the date of an initial disbursement.
    ``(c) Amount.--The amount of a loan under subsection (a)--
            ``(1) shall be based on need;
            ``(2) may not be in an amount that is more than 50 percent 
        of the annual operating budget of the local government for the 
        fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs; and
            ``(3) unless the President has declared a catastrophic 
        disaster relating to the major disaster, may not be more than 
        $25,000,000.''; and
            (4) in subsection (d)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (1), 
        by striking ``three full fiscal year period'' and inserting 
        ``3-year period (from either the date on which the disaster is 
        declared or the first day of the next fiscal year, as 
        determined by the President)''.

SEC. 209. EMERGENCY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

    Section 419 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5186) is amended by inserting ``child care 
centers,'' after ``schools,''.

SEC. 210. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES.

    Section 422 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``If the Federal estimate'' and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(a) In General.--If the Federal estimate'';
            (2) by inserting ``or, if the Administrator has established 
        a threshold under subsection (b), the amount established under 
        subsection (b)'' after ``$35,000'' the first place it appears;
            (3) by inserting ``or, if applicable, the amount 
        established under subsection (b),'' after ``$35,000 amount''; 
        and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Threshold.--
            ``(1) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2011, the President, 
        acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency (in this section referred to as the 
        `Administrator'), shall--
                    ``(A) complete an analysis to determine whether an 
                increase in the threshold for eligibility under 
                subsection (a) is appropriate, which shall include 
                consideration of cost-effectiveness, speed of recovery, 
                capacity of grantees, past performance, and 
                accountability measures; and
                    ``(B) submit to the appropriate committees of 
                Congress (as defined in section 602 of the Post-Katrina 
                Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 701)) 
                a report regarding the analysis conducted under 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Amount.--After the Administrator submits the report 
        required under paragraph (1), the President shall direct the 
        Administrator to--
                    ``(A) immediately establish a threshold for 
                eligibility under this section in an appropriate 
                amount, without regard to chapter 5 of title 5, United 
                States Code; and
                    ``(B) adjust the threshold annually to reflect 
                changes in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban 
                Consumers published by the Department of Labor.
            ``(3) Review.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
        which the Administrator establishes a threshold under paragraph 
        (2), and every 3 years thereafter, the President, acting 
        through the Administrator, shall review the threshold for 
        eligibility under this section.''.

SEC. 211. APPEALS OF ASSISTANCE DECISIONS.

    Section 423(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a(a)) is amended by striking 
``60 days'' and inserting ``90 days''.

SEC. 212. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

    Section 426 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189d) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The 
        President'';
            (2) by striking ``private'';
            (3) by striking ``victims'' and inserting ``survivors''; 
        and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Disaster Case Management System.--The President shall direct 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, acting in 
coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to establish a single 
comprehensive disaster case management system for the purpose of 
facilitating rapid access by survivors of a major disaster to resources 
and services available to meet the needs of the survivors relating to 
the major disaster.
    ``(c) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2011, the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development, shall promulgate regulations to carry out this 
section that--
            ``(1) provide for case managers to serve as a single point 
        of contact to assist individuals or households affected by a 
        major disaster;
            ``(2) address access to housing, employment or employment 
        training, education, health care, mental health services, 
        substance abuse treatment, child care, nutrition, 
        transportation, financial counseling, and other social services 
        to address individual and household recovery needs;
            ``(3) establish guidelines, training, certification, 
        performance requirements, service standards, and caseload 
        limits for providers of case management services under this 
        section;
            ``(4) address delivery strategies that use the capabilities 
        of the Federal Government, States, local governments, and 
        nonprofit organizations;
            ``(5) address, with specificity, the roles and 
        responsibilities among Federal agencies, State governments, 
        local governments, providers of case management services under 
        this section, and survivors of major disasters;
            ``(6) establish program evaluation tools for case managers 
        to monitor individuals and households beyond referrals and 
        assess progress toward defined recovery outcomes;
            ``(7) establish data entry procedures and reporting 
        requirements;
            ``(8) address database interconnectivity between the 
        disaster case management program under this section and the 
        assistance to individuals and households program under section 
        408;
            ``(9) revise the regulations relating to the routine use of 
        disaster recovery assistance files, including establishing a 
        procedure under which an individual who registers for 
        assistance through the individuals and households program under 
        section 408 may voluntarily authorize Federal agencies to share 
        information relating to the individual with providers of case 
        management services, notwithstanding section 552a of title 5, 
        United States Code (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act of 
        1974);
            ``(10) establish criteria relating to when a case may be 
        closed; and
            ``(11) establish procedures for the effective transfer of 
        open cases between case managers when such a transfer is 
        necessary.''.

SEC. 213. ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.

    Section 427(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189e(a)(1)), as redesignated by 
section 202 of this Act, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (E) as 
        subparagraphs (C) through (F), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
                    ``(B) local radio, television, or print news that 
                contains relevant health and safety information;''.

SEC. 214. ADDITIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE, PROCEDURES, AND REPORTING.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by section 202 of this Act, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 429. DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `eligible assistance' 
means assistance--
            ``(1) under section 403, 406, or 407;
            ``(2) for which an applicant has received a decision on a 
        first appeal;
            ``(3) for which the amount in dispute is not less than 
        $750,000, which the President shall adjust annually to reflect 
        changes in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers 
        published by the Department of Labor; and
            ``(4) for which the applicant has agreed to a non-Federal 
        share of not less than 10 percent.
    ``(b) Rules and Regulations.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this section, and in order to facilitate an 
        efficient recovery from major disasters, the President shall 
        establish rules and regulations under which an applicant may 
        request the use of alternative dispute resolution, including 
        arbitration by an independent review panel, to resolve disputes 
        relating to eligible assistance.
            ``(2) Binding effect.--A decision in an alternative dispute 
        resolution under this section shall be binding upon the parties 
        to the dispute.
            ``(3) Considerations.--The final rule promulgated under 
        this section shall--
                    ``(A) allow a party eligible to bring a second 
                appeal of a dispute relating to eligible assistance to 
                request an independent review panel for the review;
                    ``(B) require a party requesting an independent 
                review panel as described in subparagraph (A) to agree 
                to forego rights to any further appeal of the dispute 
                relating to any eligible assistance as to which the 
                President agrees to the request for an independent 
                review panel;
                    ``(C) require that the sponsor of an independent 
                review panel for any alternative dispute resolution 
                under this section shall be--
                            ``(i) an individual or entity unaffiliated 
                        with the dispute (which may include a Federal 
                        agency, an administrative law judge, or a 
                        reemployed annuitant who was an employee of the 
                        Federal Government) selected by the President; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) responsible for identifying and 
                        maintaining an adequate number of independent 
                        experts qualified to review and resolve 
                        disputes under this section;
                    ``(D) require an independent review panel to--
                            ``(i) resolve any remaining disputed issue 
                        raised in the first appeal in accordance with 
                        all applicable laws, regulations, and policies; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) consider only evidence contained in 
                        the administrative record;
                    ``(E) require an independent review panel to 
                expeditiously issue a written decision for any 
                alternative dispute resolution under this section; and
                    ``(F) direct that if an independent review panel 
                for any alternative dispute resolution under this 
                section determines that the basis upon which a party 
                failed to resolve a dispute relating to eligible 
                assistance is frivolous, the independent review panel 
                shall direct the party to pay the reasonable costs of 
                the other party to the dispute relating to the review 
                by the independent review panel.
    ``(c) Sunset.--A request for review by an independent review panel 
under this section may not be made after the date that is 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this section.
    ``(d) Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the 
        termination of authority under this section pursuant to 
        subsection (c), the Comptroller General of the United States 
        shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report analyzing the 
        effectiveness of the program under this section.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) an assessment of the effectiveness of the 
                program under this section, including an assessment of 
                whether the program expedited or delayed the disaster 
                recovery process;
                    ``(B) an assessment of whether the program 
                increased or decreased costs to administer section 403, 
                406, or 407;
                    ``(C) an assessment of whether independent review 
                panels fairly and accurately resolved disputes under 
                this section;
                    ``(D) a recommendation as to whether any aspect of 
                the program under this section should be made a 
                permanent authority; and
                    ``(E) recommendations for any modifications to the 
                authority or the administration of the authority under 
                this section in order to improve the disaster recovery 
                process.

``SEC. 430. UNIFIED FEDERAL REVIEW.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2011, and in consultation 
with the Council on Environmental Quality and the Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation, the President shall establish an expedited and 
unified interagency review process to ensure compliance with 
environmental and historic requirements under Federal law relating to 
disaster recovery projects, in order to expedite the recovery process.
    ``(b) Contents.--The review process under this section shall 
include mechanisms to expeditiously address delays that may occur 
during the recovery from a major disaster, and shall be updated as 
appropriate.''.

SEC. 215. AFTER ACTION REVIEWS.

    Section 650 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 
2006 (6 U.S.C. 750) is amended--
     (a) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The 
Administrator,''; and
    (b) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) After Action Reviews.--The Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress an annual consolidated report 
regarding after action reviews conducted under the remedial action 
program established under this section, which shall include key 
findings and recommendations from the after action reviews.''.

SEC. 216. GRANT GUIDANCE.

    Chapter 1 of subtitle C of title VI of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 741 et seq.), as amended by 
section 109, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 656. GRANT GUIDANCE.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `catastrophic disaster' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122);
            ``(2) the term `catastrophic disaster recovery grant' means 
        a grant for disaster recovery made under title I of the Housing 
        and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) 
        relating to a catastrophic disaster;
            ``(3) the term `National Disaster Recovery Framework' means 
        the National Disaster Recovery Framework developed under 
        section 655;
            ``(4) the term `persons of low and moderate income' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 102 of the Housing and 
        Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302); and
            ``(5) the term `recovery' has the meaning given that term 
        in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
        311).
    ``(b) Issuance of Grant Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the President, acting through 
Federal agencies with major responsibilities under the National 
Disaster Recovery Framework, and in accordance with this section, shall 
issue guidance for the administration and use of catastrophic disaster 
recovery grants.
    ``(c) Contents.--The guidance issued under subsection (b) shall--
            ``(1) ensure that a recipient of a catastrophic disaster 
        recovery grant may easily use the grant in coordination with 
        other sources of Federal assistance;
            ``(2) include guidelines for the allocation of funds by the 
        recipient of a catastrophic disaster recovery grant that 
        encourage an equitable allocation of funding relative to the 
        damages suffered by and the recovery needs of different parts 
        of the community served by the recipient;
            ``(3) prescribe eligible uses of a catastrophic disaster 
        recovery grant, including authorizing the use of a catastrophic 
        disaster recovery grant for--
                    ``(A) recovery, reconstruction, and revitalization 
                of communities after a catastrophic disaster;
                    ``(B) promoting the efficient, effective, and 
                expeditious recovery of survivors of a catastrophic 
                disaster;
                    ``(C) restoring, repairing, and enhancing the 
                resiliency of infrastructure and community services; 
                and
                    ``(D) otherwise addressing unmet needs in 
                recovering from a catastrophic disaster;
            ``(4) require that the recipient of a catastrophic disaster 
        recovery grant use not less than 50 percent of the amount 
        received under the grant for activities that principally 
        benefit persons of low and moderate income;
            ``(5) require an applicant for a catastrophic disaster 
        recovery grant to prepare and submit a comprehensive long-term 
        recovery plan for approval by the President as a condition of 
        receiving a catastrophic disaster recovery grant, which shall--
                    ``(A) describe the effects of the catastrophic 
                disaster on the community served by the applicant;
                    ``(B) identify the disaster recovery and 
                revitalization needs of the applicant not fully 
                addressed through other funding sources;
                    ``(C) provide specific and measurable recovery or 
                revitalization objectives, including timetables;
                    ``(D) describe the proposed use of funds, including 
                how the use of funds addresses the disaster recovery 
                and revitalization needs of persons of low and moderate 
                income and high impact hazards for which the applicant 
                is considered to be at risk;
                    ``(E) describe monitoring standards and procedures 
                that--
                            ``(i) are sufficient to ensure program 
                        requirements are met; and
                            ``(ii) provide for continual quality 
                        assurance, investigation, and internal audit 
                        functions; and
                    ``(F) include such other information as the 
                President determines appropriate;
            ``(6) require the recipient of a catastrophic disaster 
        recovery grant to update the plan submitted under paragraph (5) 
        not less frequently than annually, until the date on which all 
        amounts provided under the grant have been expended;
            ``(7) provide that the President may reject a plan 
        submitted under paragraph (5) that is incomplete, inconsistent 
        with the purpose of the catastrophic disaster recovery grant 
        program, or that fails to propose adequate funding for the 
        areas of greatest need;
            ``(8) require the recipient of a catastrophic disaster 
        recovery grant to submit to the President performance reports 
        concerning the use of funds made available under the grant and 
        progress toward specific and measurable recovery or 
        revitalization objectives identified under paragraph (5)(C), in 
        the manner, intervals, and form prescribed by the President; 
        and
            ``(9) include any other guidance for potential recipients 
        of a catastrophic disaster recovery grant that the President 
        determines appropriate.
    ``(d) Submission.--The President shall submit the guidance issued 
under subsection (b) to the appropriate committees of Congress.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--The President shall, as necessary and 
appropriate, provide technical assistance upon request to the recipient 
of a catastrophic disaster recovery grant to efficiently, effectively, 
and properly administer the grant.''.

SEC. 217. TIMELINESS OF REVIEWS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall develop procedures to monitor the status of 
applications for assistance under section 403, 404, 406, 407, and 408 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5170c, 5172, 5173, and 5174) relating to--
            (1) appeals;
            (2) reconciliation of insurance settlements;
            (3) environmental reviews;
            (4) historic reviews; and
            (5) reviews of cost effectiveness.

SEC. 218. REVIEW OF REGULATIONS AND POLICIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President shall review regulations and policies 
relating to Federal disaster assistance to eliminate regulations the 
President determines are no longer relevant, to harmonize contradictory 
regulations, and to simplify and expedite disaster recovery and 
assistance for a catastrophic disaster.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report describing 
changes made to regulations as a result of the review required under 
subsection (a), together with any legislative recommendations relating 
to the review or changes in regulations.

SEC. 219. PUBLIC WORKS REPAIR TEAMS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that--
            (1) identifies public works repair teams under the control 
        of a State or local government; and
            (2) assesses the feasibility of developing a national 
        network of public works repair teams that may be deployed 
        through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact consented 
        to by the Joint Resolution entitled ``Joint Resolution granting 
        the consent of Congress to the Emergency Management Assistance 
        Compact'' (Public Law 104-321; 110 Stat. 3877) to conduct 
        emergency repairs necessary to restore critical services in an 
        area affected by a major disaster.

SEC. 220. REVIEW OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND AUTHORITIES.

    Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
report that--
            (1) identifies overlapping programs or authorities among 
        Federal agencies with responsibilities under the National 
        Disaster Recovery Framework developed under section 655 of the 
        Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as added 
        by section 108 of this Act, which have created or which may 
        create uncertainty or disagreements about which agency, 
        program, or funding source may be used by the President to 
        provide assistance after a major disaster, including the 
        interpretation and use of authorities under sections 312 and 
        402 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155 and 5170a) and other relevant 
        provisions of law; and
            (2) provides recommendations to reduce the potential for 
        uncertainty or disagreements that may result from the existence 
        of overlapping programs, authorities, or funding sources among 
        Federal agencies with responsibilities under the National 
        Disaster Recovery Framework.

                      TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    Section 613 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196b) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (h), relating to annual 
        reports, as so redesignated by section 631(2) of the Post-
        Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Public Law 
        109-295; 120 Stat. 1420), as subsection (i); and
            (2) in subsection (g), by inserting ``children, individuals 
        with disabilities or other special needs, and'' after ``take 
        into account the needs of''.

SEC. 302. EVACUATION PLANS AND EXERCISES.

    Section 512(b)(4) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
321a(b)(4)) is amended by inserting ``schools, child care centers,'' 
before ``hospitals,''.

SEC. 303. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 526. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `annuitant' means an annuitant under a 
        Government retirement system;
            ``(2) the terms `deployed' and `deployment' mean the 
        performance of services under the response and recovery 
        operations and programs of the Agency, including exercises and 
        training for such operations and programs;
            ``(3) the term `Disaster Reserve Workforce' means the 
        Disaster Reserve Workforce established under subsection (b);
            ``(4) the term `employee' has the meaning given under 
        section 2105 of title 5, United States Code;
            ``(5) the term `employee designated for short term 
        deployments' means an employee hired under section 306(b)(1) of 
        the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)) designated only for short-term 
        deployments;
            ``(6) the term `Government retirement system' means a 
        retirement system established by law for employees of the 
        Government of the United States;
            ``(7) the term `major project' means any project for which 
        the total costs are greater than $400,000;
            ``(8) the term `permanent seasonal employee' means an 
        employee, including an employee hired under section 306(b)(1) 
        of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)), working under seasonal 
        employment as defined under section 340.401 of title 5 of the 
        Code of Federal Regulations or any successor regulation;
            ``(9) the term `reservist' means an employee who is a 
        member of the Disaster Reserve Workforce;
            ``(10) the term `response and recovery operations and 
        programs' means response operations and programs and recovery 
        operations and programs;
            ``(11) the term `response operations and programs' means 
        operations and programs that involve taking immediate actions 
        to save lives, protect property or the environment, or meet 
        basic human needs;
            ``(12) the term `recovery operations and programs' means 
        operations and programs to support and enable recovery, as 
        defined in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002; 
        and
            ``(13) the term `term employee' means an employee, 
        including an employee hired under section 306(b)(1) of the 
        Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)), who is appointed to a term of 1 or more 
        years.
    ``(b) Disaster Reserve Workforce.--In order to provide efficiency, 
continuity, quality, and accuracy in services performed under response 
and recovery operations and programs, there is within the Agency a 
Disaster Reserve Workforce, which shall be used to supplement the work 
of permanent full-time employees of the Agency on response and recovery 
operations and programs with sufficient numbers of qualified, skilled, 
and trained permanent full-time employees of the agency to adequately 
manage and implement response and recovery operations and programs, 
including to lead individual major projects under sections 404, 406, 
and 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c, 5172, and 5173).
    ``(c) Provision of Services Performed Under Response and Recovery 
Operations and Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall ensure that the 
        Disaster Reserve Workforce can rapidly and efficiently deploy 
        qualified, skilled, and trained reservists for a sufficiently 
        long period to provide continuity in response and recovery 
        operations and programs.
            ``(2) Management and implementation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A sufficient number of qualified 
                permanent full-time employees of the Agency shall lead 
                and manage the Disaster Reserve Workforce and implement 
                response and recovery operations and programs, 
                including leading individual major projects under 
                sections 404, 406, and 407 of the Robert T. Stafford 
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                5170c, 5172, and 5173).
                    ``(B) Reservists.--Reservists shall include--
                            ``(i) term employees;
                            ``(ii) permanent seasonal employees;
                            ``(iii) employees designated for short-term 
                        deployments;
                            ``(iv) employees of the Department who are 
                        not employees of the Agency; and
                            ``(v) employees of other Federal agencies.
                    ``(C) Short-term deployments.--Employees designated 
                for short-term deployments shall generally be 
                deployed--
                            ``(i) when necessary to temporarily respond 
                        to--
                                    ``(I) imminent natural disasters, 
                                acts of terrorism, and other man-made 
                                disasters; or
                                    ``(II) the immediate aftermath of 
                                those disasters or acts;
                            ``(ii) only for uncertain or temporary 
                        durations; and
                            ``(iii) absent extraordinary circumstances, 
                        for less than 180 days each calendar year.
                    ``(D) Regional structure.--Reservists described 
                under subparagraph (B)(i), (ii), and (iii) shall be--
                            ``(i) assigned to regional cadres based on 
                        residency of the reservists; and
                            ``(ii) to the greatest extent possible, 
                        deployed to the geographic area in which the 
                        reservists reside, unless deployment to other 
                        regions is determined necessary by the 
                        Administrator.
                    ``(E) Reliance on certain reservists.--In 
                supporting the work of permanent full-time employees, 
                the Administrator--
                            ``(i) shall rely to the greatest extent 
                        possible on term employees and permanent 
                        seasonal employees, in order to help ensure 
                        greater efficiency, continuity, quality, and 
                        accuracy in services performed under recovery 
                        operations and programs; and
                            ``(ii) may use discretion to deploy the 
                        reservists most able to ensure the greatest 
                        efficiency, continuity, quality, and accuracy 
                        in services performed under response and 
                        recovery operations and programs.
                    ``(F) Catastrophic incidents.--In the recovery from 
                a catastrophic incident, the Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) recognize the extensiveness and 
                        extended duration of the recovery from the 
                        catastrophic incident;
                            ``(ii) deploy employees in such a manner to 
                        ensure efficiency, continuity, quality, and 
                        accuracy in services performed under the 
                        recovery operations and programs;
                            ``(iii) provide leadership of the recovery 
                        through permanent full-time employees;
                            ``(iv) rely predominately on term employees 
                        and permanent seasonal employees and employees 
                        hired under section 307 of the Robert T. 
                        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5150) to support the 
                        employees described under clause (iii) in 
                        recovery operations and programs;
                            ``(v) not later than 30 days of the 
                        occurrence of the catastrophic incident, submit 
                        a report to Congress that includes a plan to 
                        comply with clause (i) through (iv) with 
                        respect to that catastrophic incident; and
                            ``(vi) at the end of each 1-year period 
                        following the occurrence of the catastrophic 
                        incident, until the Administrator determines 
                        that recovery from the catastrophic incident is 
                        substantially complete, submit a report to 
                        Congress that includes--
                                    ``(I) an update of the plan; and
                                    ``(II) a description of any 
                                staffing challenges faced in the 
                                recovery.
                    ``(G) Reporting.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                end of each calendar year, the Administrator shall 
                submit a report detailing the number of days of 
                deployment for individuals described under subparagraph 
                (B)(iii) to Congress.
            ``(3) Policies and procedures.--In order to ensure that 
        efficient, continuous, and accurate services are provided under 
        response and recovery operations and programs, not later than 1 
        year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
        Administrator shall develop--
                    ``(A) staffing policies and procedures for the 
                proper implementation and management of response and 
                recovery operations and programs by a sufficient 
                numbers of permanent full-time senior-level officials;
                    ``(B) deployment of full-time employees for a 
                reasonably long period of time to ensure continuity of 
                operations;
                    ``(C) plans to recruit individuals who reside in 
                the area affected by a major disaster when long-term 
                recovery efforts are needed;
                    ``(D) policies and procedures relating to sections 
                403, 404, 406, 407, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford 
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                5170b, 5170c, 5172, 5173, and 5192);
                    ``(E) consolidated guidance for assistance provided 
                under sections 406 and 407 of the Robert T. Stafford 
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to 
                facilitate comprehension and administration of those 
                sections by personnel administering the program;
                    ``(F) policies and procedures relating to 
                documentation requirements and control of records 
                relating to projects under sections 406 and 407 of the 
                Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                Assistance Act and personnel rotation policies to 
                ensure the efficient and comprehensive transfer of work 
                performed under those sections by employees;
                    ``(G) policies and procedures that require the 
                Agency to expeditiously identify eligible hazard 
                mitigation measures under section 406 of the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
            ``(4) Minimum standards and guidelines for the disaster 
        reserve workforce.--
                    ``(A) Standards and guidelines.--Not later than 1 
                year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
                Administrator shall develop standards and guidelines 
                for the Disaster Reserve Workforce, including--
                            ``(i) setting appropriate mandatory 
                        disaster training requirements, in advance of 
                        deployment and on a continuing basis 
                        thereafter, to ensure satisfactory knowledge by 
                        employees;
                            ``(ii) establishing the minimum number of 
                        days an individual is required to deploy in a 
                        year during which there is sufficient work for 
                        members of the Disaster Reserve Workforce;
                            ``(iii) providing for a reasonably long 
                        time period for deployment to ensure continuity 
                        in operations; and
                            ``(iv) establishing performance 
                        requirements, including for the timely and 
                        accurate resolution of issues and projects.
                    ``(B) Readiness of the disaster reserve 
                workforce.--In order to maintain the readiness of the 
                Disaster Reserve Workforce, before being appointed to 
                another term in the Disaster Reserve Workforce, a 
                reservist described under paragraph (2)(b) (i), (ii), 
                and (iii), shall--
                            ``(i) be credentialed in accordance with 
                        section 510; and
                            ``(ii) meet all minimum standards and 
                        guidelines established under subparagraph (A)--
                                    ``(I) for term employees, before 
                                being appointed to a term in the 
                                Disaster Reserve Workforce; and
                                    ``(II) annually for all other 
                                reservists.
                    ``(C) Evaluation system.--In consultation with the 
                Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the 
                Administrator shall develop and implement a system to 
                continuously evaluate reservists to ensure that all 
                minimum standards and guidelines under this paragraph 
                are satisfied annually by all reservists. Chapter 43 of 
                title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to 
                reservists covered under the system developed and 
                implemented under this paragraph.
            ``(5) Contractors.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Administrator, in conjunction 
        with the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Agency, shall 
        establish policies and procedures relating to--
                    ``(A) oversight of contractor performance;
                    ``(B) ensuring that the number of contractors is 
                appropriate;
                    ``(C) ensuring that contractors have appropriate 
                skills, training, knowledge, and experience for 
                assigned tasks, including by ensuring that the 
                contractors meet training, credentialing, and 
                performance requirements similar to the requirements 
                for reservists.
            ``(6) Reemployed annuitants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In appointing reservists to the 
                Disaster Reserve Workforce, the application of sections 
                8344 and 8468 of title 5, United States Code (relating 
                to annuities and pay on reemployment) or any other 
                similar provision of law under a Government retirement 
                system may be waived by the Administrator for 
                annuitants reemployed on deployments involving a direct 
                threat to life or property or other unusual 
                circumstances for the entirety of the deployment.
                    ``(B) Limitations.--The authority under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) is granted to assist the 
                        Administrator in establishing and effectively 
                        operating the Disaster Reserve Workforce if no 
                        other qualified applicant is available for a 
                        reservist position; and
                            ``(ii) may be exercised only--
                                    ``(I) with respect to natural 
                                disasters, acts of terrorism, or other 
                                man-made disasters, including 
                                catastrophic incidents; and
                                    ``(II) if the applicant will not 
                                accept the position without a waiver.
                    ``(C) Not employee for retirement purposes.--An 
                annuitant to whom a waiver under subparagraph (A) is in 
                effect shall not be considered an employee for purposes 
                of any Government retirement system.
            ``(7) Permanent employment positions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A reservist hired under section 
                306(b)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)) may 
                compete for permanent positions in the Agency under 
                merit promotion procedures. The actual time deployed as 
                a reservist shall be considered creditable service for 
                purposes of such competition and shall be calculated, 
                for purposes of section 8411 of title 5, United States 
                Code, by dividing the total number of days of service 
                as a reservist by 365 to obtain the number of years of 
                service and dividing any remainder by 30 to obtain the 
                number of additional months of service and excluding 
                from the aggregate the fractional part of a month, if 
                any.
                    ``(B) Consideration.--In evaluating a reservist 
                hired under section 306(b)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford 
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                5149(b)(1)) for a potential permanent employment 
                position, the Administrator shall consider the 
                qualifications and performance of a reservist, 
                including the ability of the reservist to timely, 
                accurately, and creatively resolve issues and projects 
                when deployed.
                    ``(C) Effective date and application.--This 
                paragraph shall--
                            ``(i) take effect on the date on which the 
                        Administrator implements the evaluation system 
                        under paragraph (4)(C); and
                            ``(ii) apply to periods of service 
                        performed after that date.
            ``(8) No impact on agency personnel ceiling.--Reservists 
        shall not be counted against any personnel ceiling limitation 
        applicable to the Agency.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 525 
the following:

``Sec. 526. Personnel management.''.
    (c) Permanent Seasonal Employees.--Section 306(b) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5149(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or permanent seasonal 
        employees (as that term is defined under section 526 of the 
        Homeland Security Act of 2002)'' after ``temporary personnel''; 
        and
            (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or the employment of 
        permanent seasonal employees (as that term is defined under 
        section 526 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002)'' after 
        ``additional personnel''.

SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
                                 <all>