[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4205 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.4205

                    One Hundred Seventeenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
          the third day of January, two thousand and twenty two


                                 An Act


 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
  to establish a working group relating to best practices and Federal 
    guidance for animals in emergencies and 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 ``Planning for Animal Wellness Act'' 
or the ``PAW Act''.
SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES.
    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
    Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
        (2) Working group.--The term ``working group'' means the 
    advisory working group established under subsection (b).
    (b) Working Group.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an advisory 
working group.
    (c) Membership.--The working group shall consist of--
        (1) not less than 2 representatives of State governments with 
    experience in animal emergency management;
        (2) not less than 2 representatives of local governments with 
    experience in animal emergency management;
        (3) not less than 2 representatives from academia;
        (4) not less than 2 veterinary experts;
        (5) not less than 2 representatives from nonprofit 
    organizations working to address the needs of households pets and 
    service animals in emergencies or disasters;
        (6) representatives from the Federal Animal Emergency 
    Management Working Group; and
        (7) any other members determined necessary by the 
    Administrator.
    (d) Duties.--The working group shall--
        (1) encourage and foster collaborative efforts among 
    individuals and entities working to address the needs of household 
    pets, service and assistance animals, and captive animals, as 
    appropriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and 
    recovery; and
        (2) review best practices and Federal guidance, as of the date 
    of enactment of this Act, on congregate and noncongregate 
    sheltering and evacuation planning relating to the needs of 
    household pets, service and assistance animals, and captive 
    animals, as appropriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, 
    response, and recovery.
    (e) No Compensation.--The members of the working group shall serve 
on the working group on a voluntary basis.
    (f) Guidance Determination.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the working group shall determine whether the 
best practices and Federal guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are 
sufficient.
    (g) New Guidance.--Not later than 540 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, if the Administrator, in consultation with the 
working group, determines that the best practices and Federal guidance 
described in subsection (d)(2) are insufficient, the Administrator, in 
consultation with the working group, shall publish updated Federal 
guidance.
    (h) Sunset.--
        (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the working group 
    shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the date of 
    enactment of this Act.
        (2) Extension.--The Administrator may extend the date described 
    in paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines an extension is 
    appropriate.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.