117 HR 7668 IH: Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act U.S. House of Representatives 2022-05-06 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I117th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7668IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 6, 2022Mr. Thompson of Mississippi (for himself and Mrs. Demings) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo ensure greater equity in Federal disaster assistance policies and programs by authorizing an equity steering group and equity advisor within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, improving data collection to measure disparate outcomes and participation barriers, requiring equity criteria to be applied to policies and programs, and permitting counties to seek emergency and major disaster declarations in certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act or the FEMA Equity Act.
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—Ensuring Equity in Federal Disaster Management Sec. 101. Data collection, analysis, and criteria.Sec. 102. Criteria for ensuring equity in policies and programs.Sec. 103. Metrics; report.Title II—Operational Enhancement to Improve Equity in Federal Disaster ManagementSec. 201. Equity advisor.Sec. 202. Equity Enterprise Steering Group.Sec. 203. GAO review of equity reforms.Title III—Safeguards to Ensure Equity in Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster ProgramsSec. 301. Expanding access to declaration process.Sec. 302. Rulemaking and guidance.Sec. 303. GAO review of factors to determine assistance.
3.
Definitions
In this Act:(1)
Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.(2)
Agency
The term Agency means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.(3)
Emergency
The term emergency means an emergency declared by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191).(4)
Equity
The term equity means the guarantee of fair treatment, advancement, equal opportunity, and access for underserved communities and others, the elimination of barriers that have prevented full participation for underserved communities, and the reduction of disparate outcomes.(5)
Equitable
The term equitable means having or exhibiting equity.(6)
Federal assistance
The term Federal assistance means assistance provided pursuant to—(A)a declaration of a major disaster or emergency, including assistance provided pursuant to sections 203, 205, 404, and 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and(B)section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c).(7)
Major disaster
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).(8)
Underserved community
The term underserved community means—(A)the Native-American and Alaskan-Native community;(B)the African-American community;(C)the Asian community;(D)the Hispanic community (including individuals of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin);(E)the Pacific Islander community;(F)the Middle Eastern and North African community;(G)a rural community;(H)a low-income community;(I)individuals with disabilities;(J)a limited English proficiency community;(K)other individuals or communities otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and (L)any other disadvantaged community, as determined by the Administrator.
<enum>I</enum><header>Ensuring Equity in Federal Disaster Management </header><section id="H9A549DA648684A9AAA3BB3C2E5FCAA9E"><enum>101.</enum><header>Data collection, analysis, and criteria</header><subsection id="H85AD26B929F84918BC83BC4A3C72339D" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, develop and implement a process to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency.</text></subsection><subsection id="HCDAEF185CD7D4DCDB04E2D45E7007D35" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Specific areas for consultation</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall identify requirements for ensuring the quality, consistency, accessibility, and availability of information needed to identify programs and policies of the Agency that may not support the provision of equitable Federal assistance, including—</text><paragraph id="H2D82CBBB12E74E72AA4F35AB8EA96420"><enum>(1)</enum><text>information requirements;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H519BB32B21DB44F4A34B17B7A9B88768"><enum>(2)</enum><text>data sources and collection methods; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H66FB5A3BEF8B43DEBF1666CE9B0B1657"><enum>(3)</enum><text>strategies for overcoming data or other information challenges.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEA804B645D654F78BC7F9B6A090FC4AD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Modification of data collection systems</header><text>The Administrator shall modify the data collection systems of the Agency based on the process developed under subsection (a) to ensure the quality, consistency, accessibility, and availability of information needed to identify any programs and policies of the Agency that may not support the provision of equitable Federal assistance.</text></subsection></section><section id="HCAD3DF2390234642B992C5D9FDCCAFFE"><enum>102.</enum><header>Criteria for ensuring equity in policies and programs</header><subsection id="H25B697E67F4D49F298304EF73B6902D2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop, disseminate, and update, as appropriate, criteria to apply to policies and programs of the Agency to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1703C5A6DF0A4F0498ACD0FB8F9EB2B5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In developing and disseminating the criteria required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with—</text><paragraph id="HD9A8C3E8F9E74E7690797798ED0AC03B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA5C18C6DB638464D8A615554F5F9ECAA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB38FDD4365984EF9BDF9A9E52CF97FD3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Small Business Administration.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5A5D3790DB8041D5BF5856DF12BEE340"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Integration of criteria</header><paragraph id="HF8FDB1ACBD9A489282811ED6245C13A5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall, to the maximum extent possible, integrate the criteria developed under subsection (a) into existing and future processes related to the provision of Federal assistance.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5545722DF5454B0CBD57D6239A7D5D60"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>The Administrator shall prioritize integrating the criteria under paragraph (1) into processes related to the provision of—</text><subparagraph id="HC2DD5D78D3364B219FAC7D36533C8E5E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assistance under sections 402, 403, 406, 407, 428, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170a">42 U.S.C. 5170a et seq.</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0A50214FEEF34A21AE01C94305A4FD59"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Federal assistance to individuals and households under section 408 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5174">42 U.S.C. 5174</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H328931694646471ABFDC4422F4988FDF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>hazard mitigation assistance under section 404 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170c">42 U.S.C. 5170c</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H29BDF3CB08A7405EAE2BE62EFFD1E52E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>predisaster hazard mitigation assistance under section 203 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H382B317D2C96495CA35422CB91FE72A7"><enum>103.</enum><header>Metrics; report</header><subsection id="HE53DC03D91464AB5B8B306B1BBB70897"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Metrics</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this title, the Administrator shall—</text><paragraph id="H0FC8E28AA76344B2B578B7591DF30816"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish metrics to measure the efficacy of the process developed under section 101 and the criteria developed under section 102; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H10EBEFEA330844E69C91B964D3E3E34D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>seek input from relevant representatives of State, regional, local, and Tribal governments, representatives of community-based organizations, subject matter experts, and individuals from underserved communities impacted by disasters.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4F5830626B0E4C7BA2D54B0EAD867DCF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the dissemination of the criteria under section 102(a), and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing how the criteria and processes developed under this title have impacted efforts to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency, including—</text><paragraph id="HB9F1171D65F448F1BB92E1B4D72EB01A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any obstacles identified or areas for improvement with respect to implementation of such criteria and processes, including any recommended legislative changes;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H954ABF9D9B4349E5A53E90F09173681B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the effectiveness of such criteria and processes, as measured by the metrics established under subsection (a); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC307B1C2FF9B4FC6A5F9C71C6A08299B"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any impacts of such criteria and processes on the provision of Federal assistance, with specific attention to impacts related to efforts within the Agency to address barriers to access and reducing disparate outcomes.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Operational Enhancement to Improve Equity in Federal Disaster Management</header><section id="HA07E1A219DB94200847D018C37BB0CD2"><enum>201.</enum><header>Equity advisor</header><subsection id="HC261006ADD614B418830CBB31CB6F6CA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall designate a senior official within the Agency as an equity advisor to the Administrator to be responsible for advising the Administrator on Agency efforts to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency.</text></subsection><subsection id="HA4AB1C85488B4327B9A36B4D60A5D187"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In designating an equity advisor under subsection (a), the Administrator shall select an individual who is a qualified expert with significant experience with respect to equity policy or programmatic reforms. </text></subsection><subsection id="HEB2BF96A040D45AB8C373AA01586D0E7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In addition to advising the Administrator, the equity advisor designated under subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="H536CC0B7220A4A8E819387732D367B34"><enum>(1)</enum><text>participate in the implementation of sections 101 and 102;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB93922FA181249D8B741A064203A6098"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">monitor equity the implementation of equity efforts within the Agency and within Federal Emergency Management Agency Regions to ensure consistency in the implementation of policy or programmatic changes intended to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H436A54941D5646178CB9D490C609703F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>identify ways to improve the policies and programs of the Agency to ensure that such policies and programs are equitable, including—</text><subparagraph id="H14531D02C59D46CE920B37BFE59101AA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommending opportunities to enhance language access;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H30EFCF438FEB4D9AA49EE8DD58DFAD38"><enum>(B)</enum><text>recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting diverse candidates at all levels of Agency operations; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB20CC98C07C04000B755203B7FF0220C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>enhancing opportunities to support underserved populations in preparedness, mitigation, protection, response, and recovery; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF20DB3F302AF44EBA9B70E1D45D473B7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any other activities the Administrator considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H055044E9987B46D3B53DFAE43233AC87"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the duties under this section, the equity advisor shall, on an ongoing basis, consult with representatives of underserved communities, including communities directly impacted by disasters, to evaluate opportunities and develop approaches to advancing equity within the Agency, including by increasing coordination, communication, and engagement with—</text><paragraph id="H3551C28E0E9C4C8E8BA3E6CF541FAE0A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>community-based organizations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H37812C9A07A84DB3A43996435FBB414D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>civil rights organizations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H921F1FFFB5014F62A64BD291CCACB8BA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>institutions of higher education;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H97529EFA7E0545239E1F1F68FDFED6E3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>research institutions; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H011C1B9A1B1946699916C2A484D14333"><enum>(5)</enum><text>academic organizations specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF4896B486BE243578E157040472737EF"><enum>202.</enum><header>Equity Enterprise Steering Group</header><subsection id="H210586D8EC464AE48628FC7CA0BD66B4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Agency a steering group to advise the Administrator on how to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency.</text></subsection><subsection id="H6B42CCF51CF84C188646C993FE3D4B93"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the steering group established under this section shall—</text><paragraph id="HC7BE47AA87294DB0A5228E575B326ACB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>review and, as appropriate, recommend changes to Agency-wide policies, procedures, plans, and guidance; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3616164DB74E460F928C1FDD35B74673"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support the development and implementation of the processes and criteria developed under title I; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE8ADBAE82FB46CCABF8F32267A72CF5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">monitor the integration and establishment of metrics developed under section 103.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA79BC25C00874B5E95ABA2FD1E33D53D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Composition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall appoint the following individuals as members of the steering group established under subsection (a):</text><paragraph id="HC36490C268B9421E814C1A4DB520638B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Representatives from each of the following offices of the Agency:</text><subparagraph id="HD03D6FA1B99642B9B5C07E7B0F8C2D5C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Office of Equal Rights.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7C76F3C09F26490B8A750BF5017234A1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Office of Response and Recovery.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D6E0DC73192443DB490562110E9DDD7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>FEMA Resilience.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5C6DD109537A405B95DA5236548205E8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The Office of Disability Integration and Coordination.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62448A2C1A4C434FA5736BBF1FB9D069" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The United States Fire Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98141A3886D14B02B772E4EEF9B521AE" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The mission support office of the Agency.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H820AEB79D0744F229E74E19099C03821"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The Office of Chief Counsel.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFE0E4296494C449AA59EA5D5980616CD"><enum>(H)</enum><text>The Office of the Chief Financial Officer.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0BDB763908C741E7908451DA650D53CD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The Office of Policy and Program Analysis.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H39768F160C08409281F1B011A3747ADC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The administrator of each Regional Office, or his or her designee.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCCF4CE0249DC4B779EFF31CE3DAC8B2F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A representative from the National Advisory Council.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0041F8EA87F349169942F54EBDB8BEA1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The equity advisor, as designated by the Administrator under section 201.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H670EF21F341347FB898A3AD8CF6AA719"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A representative from the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAE31ECF6C9DE4005B783FB5427B45495"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Superintendent of the Emergency Management Institute.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBBC907EF07404F19BC07E4B71BB64100"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Tribal Affairs Advisor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCB14F543FEBA4E0AB51AF4F66E445489"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Any other official of the Agency the Administrator determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE64A79EF523B4A20AB129CE6D0B0E83F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Leadership</header><text>The Administrator shall designate 1 or more members of the steering group established under subsection (a) to serve as chair of the steering group.</text></subsection></section><section id="H779DBA2D1D4C4541AB2E754C0709FF12"><enum>203.</enum><header>GAO review of equity reforms</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report to evaluate the implementation of this title and title I.</text></section><enum>III</enum><header>Safeguards to Ensure Equity in Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Programs</header><section id="H0068DF92ED1C45C4A4328B1239D8B1FF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Expanding access to declaration process</header><subsection id="H0F9D95B8AEFE4FFC8A9BB40158CCC387"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Major disaster</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H94674A27439846BF9B684B091806CCC7" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HE7E52B46416C43ECA87DE1D2C10B7392"><enum>(d)</enum><header>County requests</header><paragraph id="H7B123E89D14545E9AD80F936073FF7BE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chief executive officer of an affected county may submit a request for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists consistent with the requirements of subsection (a) under the following circumstances:</text><subparagraph id="HF9902FE8B4954462BE784E7BEE23000F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of the State or territory in which the affected county is located does not request such a declaration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC044636DAAB543AABA248B3D97CE3482"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The affected county is not included in a request for assistance made by the Governor of the State or territory in which such county is located.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBC97F678DB8944EEB8899244D6F9F164"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The affected county communicates with the Governor of the State or territory in which the affected county is located about the disaster or potential request for a major disaster declaration before the period described in paragraph (2)(A) has lapsed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8863C5810C5E43DC90B1962C81C50C78"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chief executive officer of an affected county may not submit a request for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists until—</text><subparagraph id="H888522212789415CA412CDA97BFF6B39"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the period during which the Governor of the State or territory in which such county is located may request such a declaration has lapsed; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H778A91B2372646B4A7A12EFE29AF193F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Governor of the State or territory in which such county is located has communicated to the chief executive officer of the county that the Governor will not seek such a declaration from the President.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB3C84EF16CF04698A1D70BB166B5BB01"><enum>(3)</enum><header>References</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In implementing assistance authorized by the President under this Act in response to a request from the chief executive officer of an affected county for a major disaster declaration, any reference in this title or title III to a State or the Governor of a State is deemed to refer to an affected county or the chief executive officer of an affected county, as appropriate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF07EAEEBFA2C43DA87A0163A4C674609"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a county from receiving assistance under this title through a declaration made by the President at the request of a State under subsection (a) if the President does not make a declaration under this subsection for the same incident.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF16502AB11D44969AAFDA5E628B4B86C" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Definition of county</header><subparagraph id="H6B1499166F494E62A9F4E360D5E2F5C9" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>county</quote> means a county, parrish, or equivalent subdivision of a State or Territory of the United States that is a unit of general local government.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H921731A171BA4AFFB5CB13DFE18DA142" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the event a county is located in a State where 1 or more counties are not units of general local government, the term <quote>county</quote> includes the largest city, town, or unit of general local government by population in an area affected by a major disaster on behalf of all affected cities, towns, and other local units of general local government.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HB0503373E3844FD296C27549E1CB3D42"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Emergency</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5191">42 U.S.C. 5191</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF8CB0B42E33B4DFAADE7EB0D0EE54992" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H470F25785AD344489356E6476301B840"><enum>(d)</enum><header>County requests</header><paragraph id="HFB3725DD7A6A400D89751EE3B1CDF15B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chief executive officer of an affected county may submit a request for a declaration by the President that an emergency exists consistent with the requirements of subsection (a) under the following circumstances:</text><subparagraph id="H1C058A8733744DBAB1DD7CD4F175D84A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of the State or territory in which the affected county is located does not request such a declaration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A00DBE5C6C6423F93B4074B4933DDD4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The affected county is not included in a request for assistance made by the Governor of the State or territory in which such county is located.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95DDA005B56A463B98EA9DB9C5D66D87"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The affected county communicates with the Governor of the State or territory in which the affected county is located about the emergency or potential request for an emergency declaration before the period described in paragraph (2)(A) has lapsed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H302947278D844E8FB330C165D58A608F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chief executive officer of an affected county may not submit a request for a declaration by the President that an emergency exists until—</text><subparagraph id="HA9B773D206A74AB38129CDF6CC640551"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the period during which the Governor of the State or territory in which such county is located may request such a declaration has lapsed; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA249112F9F6948178CBB1145DB79B076"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Governor of the State or territory in which such county is located has communicated to the chief executive officer of the county that the Governor will not seek such a declaration from the President.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA45588BAA77B4A91826527FEB1349FC8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>References</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In implementing assistance authorized by the President under this Act in response to a request of the chief executive officer of an affected county for an emergency declaration, any reference in this title or title III to a State or the Governor of a State is deemed to refer to an affected county or the chief executive officer of an affected county, as appropriate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7DC4B91F14FC4676B03B8CABC13B385C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a county from receiving assistance under this title through a declaration made by the President at the request of a State under subsection (a) if the President does not make a declaration under this subsection for the same incident.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC63A77DE04E543399B74452146F98649" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Definition of county</header><subparagraph id="H7D048E3905BC42B2B344F74CE2461217" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>county</quote> means a county, parrish, or equivalent subdivision of a State or Territory of the United States that is a unit of general local government.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39D18A32ADA1402CB8DB9160E89C8246" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the event a county is located in a State where 1 or more counties are not units of general local government, the term <quote>county</quote> includes the largest city, town, or unit of general local government by population in an area affected by an emergency on behalf of all affected cities, towns, and other units of general local government.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="H61E695479E5A4A2389FC3C31A5E484E2"><enum>302.</enum><header>Rulemaking and guidance</header><subsection id="H63DC59FD9C434041952F5AE3E3F6E1B3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><paragraph id="HD00C37C4890A4D4E9B000E14ABB7FC1A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such regulations, after providing public notice and opportunity for comment, as are necessary to establish a process to implement the amendments made by section 302. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8142CE99EA5C46BF80F03F9B7FD54D6B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The regulations required under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="H5A611EA4D6E74D458E849C1BE70810EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a process by which the chief executive officer of a county may—</text><clause id="H4D403077EE9B411DA52C48DA7BFEFB78"><enum>(i)</enum><text>submit a request for the Administrator to recommend that the President make a major disaster or emergency declaration for such county; and</text></clause><clause id="HDC0A3AD5A09D498CB1F1A7A1CF74DD3A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>upon approval of such request, directly receive any assistance provided pursuant to such request;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H99B979F73ACD464C8686D9DBBCB3F3D2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in addition to the eligibility factors described under section 206.48 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, eligibility criteria for the approval of a request from a county for a major disaster or emergency declaration that gives consideration to—</text><clause id="H4D0A478E18AA42F68683502F4AD6DEB5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>poverty rates within such county; </text></clause><clause id="HF425F323F239404FBBE6457161CB6C75"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the economy within such county, including the economy of the area within such county that is impacted by the disaster or emergency;</text></clause><clause id="HB2070B802064427C95959077EB0CDB54"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>relevant social vulnerability indexes for residents of such county; </text></clause><clause id="H3916FB47B4854AC0AEB00FB49FC624F5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the rate of unemployment before the disaster or emergency within such county; </text></clause><clause id="HDB7E773AF01D4171B8FF5D60001863D4"><enum>(v)</enum><text> underserved communities within such county;</text></clause><clause id="H636D64850549446A8C79C2FD3ED5FEB2"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the fiscal condition of the unit of government with jurisdiction over such county; </text></clause><clause id="H71AA097418754CE18FB113AE0CCFBFD8"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the degree to which a significant proportion of residents of such county received Federal benefits during the year preceding the disaster or emergency, including—</text><subclause id="H82F1CFAD58A04E64BF3341EC2CF76D75"><enum>(I)</enum><text>benefits provided under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396">42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></subclause><subclause id="H13673462EE624F34AFF73441D933CEAA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2011">7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.</external-xref>); </text></subclause><subclause id="H130F97537A9541BEAD6CF8C2C78F47DD"><enum>(III)</enum><text>benefits provided under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/601">42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subclause><subclause id="HAD55D2ECC9334700B6BBBB2B7D05DC73"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>any other Federal benefits the Administrator determines is appropriate; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H84561F7397C74608AF1141943FA68F37"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the impact of other recent disasters and emergencies on residents within such county;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3CD7E436EF8645C39AFA8BA7EE924DD7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>eligibility criteria for contiguous counties located within the same State or territory to seek Federal disaster assistance together; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9502B051FF144F94A479A721C8019125"><enum>(D)</enum><text>timelines for a chief executive officer of a county to submit such request and opportunities to seek extensions, where appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9E40690036174B6EB5CD07CC20B1D3BC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text>Upon issuing a final regulation pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator shall issue guidance regarding such regulation, including publicizing and providing guidance directly to counties about the process by which the chief executive officer of a county may submit a request for the declaration of a major disaster or emergency. </text></subsection></section><section id="HD1EA33958A2E454182599E2E090FA947"><enum>303.</enum><header>GAO review of factors to determine assistance</header><subsection id="H10EEA83C5FFE48FB8D6471F2E090EE64"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report describing the factors the Agency considers when evaluating a request from a Governor to declare that a major disaster or emergency exists and to authorize assistance under sections 402, 403, 406, 407, 408, 428, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170a">42 U.S.C. 5170a et seq.</external-xref>). </text></subsection><subsection id="H17CA1FA1A261413591D885B41E3530B5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report issued under subsection (a) shall include—</text><paragraph id="HCA36EADADC4A4C9D8BB87EDBE9A394F1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an assessment of—</text><subparagraph id="H7ECC883EE1C54F7EB0663B99E10D3364"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the degree to which the factors the Agency considers when evaluating a request for a major disaster or emergency declaration—</text><clause id="H66061F6DFBAE4C9BB843759D942A7A49"><enum>(i)</enum><text>affect equity for underserved communities, particularly with respect to major disaster and emergency declaration requests, approvals of such requests, and the authorization of assistance described in subsection (a); and</text></clause><clause id="H97C6A4EA129344DB959819B89480D7B9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are designed to deliver equitable outcomes;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0BDBF59668054A848A443E510C28949D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">how the Agency utilizes such factors or monitors whether such factors result in equitable outcomes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H59EF36AE387C4D89ACD5C9569CA75327"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the extent to which major disaster and emergency declaration requests, approvals of such requests, and the authorization of assistance described in subsection (a), are more highly correlated with high-income counties compared to lower-income counties;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H34C6967763FE4DEC87D2456B28318B23"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the process and administrative steps for conducting preliminary damage assessments are equitable; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7BD0734C3A014A199533F5099C6109C2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to the extent practicable, whether such factors may deter a Governor from seeking a major disaster or emergency declaration for potentially eligible counties; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC02A7DEB75E470A84DE3662A04C3A6E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a consideration of the extent to which such factors affect underserved communities—</text><subparagraph id="H6D04E4CE0B16478F8985FBD139BA1799"><enum>(A)</enum><text>of varying size;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7BCF9C334A6C49C0A6B9E29BA87B49C0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with varying population density and demographic characteristics;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2B6B512F35D7489CA08BA52ACC1D9CD0"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with limited emergency management staff and resources; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB7E4F04913F41CDA438069FBEA1507C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>located in urban or rural areas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H159B57D63FF64D80839986CAC374DFB3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>The Comptroller General shall include in the report issued under subsection (a) any recommendations for changes to the factors the Agency considers when evaluating a request for a major disaster or emergency declaration to account for underserved communities.</text></subsection></section>