108 S2142 IS: National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2023
U.S. Senate
2023-06-22
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.
1.This Act may be cited as the National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2023
.2.The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title.Sec. 2. Table of contents.Sec. 3. Definitions.TITLE I—Reauthorization and affordabilitySec. 101. Reauthorization.Sec. 102. Cap on annual premium increases.Sec. 103. Targeted means-tested assistance.Sec. 104. Optional monthly installment premium payment plans.Sec. 105. Study on business interruption coverage.Sec. 106. Cooperative coverage fairness.Sec. 107. Coverage limits.Sec. 108. Study on participation rates.Sec. 109. National Flood Insurance Act definitions regarding the Write Your Own Program.TITLE II—Mitigation and mappingSec. 201. Mitigation for high-risk properties.Sec. 202. Increased cost of compliance coverage.Sec. 203. Flood mitigation assistance grants.Sec. 204. Urban mitigation opportunities.Sec. 205. Community Rating System Regional Coordinator.Sec. 206. Mitigation loan program.Sec. 207. Revolving loan funds.Sec. 208. Mapping modernization.Sec. 209. Appeals.Sec. 210. Levee-protected areas.Sec. 211. Community-wide flood mitigation activities.Sec. 212. Premium calculator.Sec. 213. Consideration of mitigation projects in flood insurance premium rates.TITLE III—SolvencySec. 301. Forbearance on NFIP interest payments.Sec. 302. Cap on Write Your Own company compensation.Sec. 303. Third-party service provider costs; transparency.Sec. 304. Availability of NFIP claims data.Sec. 305. Refusal of mitigation assistance.Sec. 306. Multiple structure mitigation.TITLE IV—Policyholder protection and fairnessSec. 401. Earth movement fix and engineer standards.Sec. 402. Coverage of pre-FIRM condominium basements and study on street raising.Sec. 403. Guidance on remediation and policyholder duties.Sec. 404. Appeal of decisions relating to flood insurance coverage.Sec. 405. Accountability for underpayments and overpayments by Write Your Own companies.Sec. 406. Policyholders’ right to know.Sec. 407. Termination of certain contracts under the National Flood Insurance Program.Sec. 408. Deadline for claim processing.Sec. 409. No manipulation of engineer reports.Sec. 410. Improved training of floodplain managers, agents, and adjusters.Sec. 411. Flood insurance continuing education and training.Sec. 412. Shifting of attorney fees and other expenses.Sec. 413. DOJ defense against policyholder lawsuits.Sec. 414. Reforming use of proof of loss forms.Sec. 415. Agent Advisory Council.Sec. 416. Disclosure of flood risk information prior to transfer of property.Sec. 417. Grace period for renewal of coverage at renewal offer rate.3.In this Act:(1)The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.(2)National Flood Insurance ProgramThe term National Flood Insurance Program means the program established under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).(3)National Flood Mitigation FundThe term National Flood Mitigation Fund means the fund established under section 1367 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104d).(4)The term Write Your Own Company has the meaning given the term in section 1370(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4121(a)), as amended by section 109 of this Act.<enum>I</enum><header>Reauthorization and affordability</header><section id="id9A03B150701340808C3E5BF8A1DE7048"><enum>101.</enum><header>Reauthorization</header><subsection id="id20F8FE6F64054A87969903C18603CE60"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><paragraph id="id2D1128D76B134317AFA4D89D6D6830AC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Financing</header><text>Section 1309(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4016">42 U.S.C. 4016(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2023</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2028</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBE54343A06A144269B565CD07B68B043"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program expiration</header><text>Section 1319 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4026">42 U.S.C. 4026</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2023</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2028</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8CA9DD65E726450FA3772F24E7A095C5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Retroactive effective date</header><text>If this Act is enacted after September 30, 2023, the amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall take effect as if enacted on September 30, 2023.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idce8fd05c46a44b51b2f2068bdcdbaad0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Continued operation during lapse of appropriations</header><text>Section 1310(f) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4017">42 U.S.C. 4017(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id4aa822565d8c4d66b91e82b1160b5f32"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> after <quote>(f)</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1f1669da1e24717bdbf8f5409b166d5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ideee21d12672a49e596eb1b4542c0c342"><paragraph id="idd5512664a9324304b9ad652276f404db" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id379dda99820f4fa989556781ec9b051e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>period of a lapse in appropriations from the Fund</term> means a period, on or after the first day of a fiscal year, during which an appropriation Act for the fiscal year with respect to the Fund has not been enacted and continuing appropriations are not in effect for the fiscal year with respect to the Fund.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6d2cf9cdf1d342cf835a93d81b1d6681" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), during a period of a lapse in appropriations from the Fund, amounts in the Fund not otherwise appropriated shall be available to the Administrator to carry out the flood insurance program under this title, subject to the same terms and conditions (except with respect to the period of availability), and in an amount not greater than the rate for operations, provided for the Fund in the most recently enacted regular or continuing appropriation Act.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1e9c54093bab47b3bd8d6a04d47adc14" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Amounts in the Fund shall be available under subparagraph (B) for a fiscal year during the period beginning on the first day of a period of a lapse in appropriations from the Fund during the fiscal year and ending on the date on which the regular appropriation Act for the fiscal year with respect to the Fund is enacted (whether or not such law makes amounts available from the Fund) or a law making continuing appropriations with respect to the Fund is enacted, as the case may be.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcab1449e96584b6fabf3c9563bb2785c" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Expenditures and obligations made under this paragraph shall be charged to the amounts made available from the Fund under the regular appropriation Act, or law making continuing appropriations, with respect to the Fund that is enacted for the applicable fiscal year.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idC2442318D7164A848428AD8AB739F6CB"><enum>102.</enum><header>Cap on annual premium increases</header><subsection id="id7370F312776E4A659311F99CEAB6E911"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered cost</term>— </text><paragraph id="idD159838016514222A784C4222D515B36"><enum>(1)</enum><text>means—</text><subparagraph id="idCD5CAA87769E4CC2828A2F7D8F1AD713"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of an annual premium with respect to any policy for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8750A0D30FED409EA93464ED374D4E2E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any surcharge imposed with respect to a policy described in subparagraph (A) (other than a surcharge imposed under section 1304(b) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011(b)</external-xref>)), including a surcharge imposed under section 1308A(a) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015a">42 U.S.C. 4015a(a)</external-xref>), as amended by this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6F45FB9C398F4DCD92925365D8156BE9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a fee described in paragraph (1)(B)(iii) or (2) of section 1307(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4014">42 U.S.C. 4014(a)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9B7946C594FC4A63AF6E628FC29CD0A0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>does not include any cost associated with the purchase of insurance under section 1304(b) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011(b)</external-xref>), as amended by this Act, including any surcharge that relates to insurance purchased under such section 1304(b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA52E3E2B29CF4208AA8E8CE8AE1DE7BA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation on increases</header><paragraph id="idCA66882CE1814D7EB6EE8D816B588070"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation</header><subparagraph id="id5E4A0E2679C444DBB005316A676B70D3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, notwithstanding section 1308(e) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(e)</external-xref>), as amended by this Act, and subject to subparagraph (B), the Administrator may not, in any year, increase the amount of any covered cost by an amount that is more than 9 percent, as compared with the amount of the covered cost during the previous year, except where the increase in the covered cost relates to an exception under paragraph (1)(C)(iii) of such section 1308(e).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62D4723AA1FB4597AC5FF88E24E4FEC6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Decrease of amount of deductible or increase in amount of coverage</header><text>In the case of a policyholder described in section 1308(e)(1)(C)(ii) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(e)(1)(C)(ii)</external-xref>), as amended by this Act, the Administrator shall establish a process by which the Administrator determines an increase in covered costs for the policyholder that is—</text><clause id="id3E4DD14D407B499D84B90730514983C9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>proportional to the relative change in risk based on the action taken by the policyholder; and</text></clause><clause id="id385478BDA54A4F4A8E901C216CCD860E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in compliance with subparagraph (A).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id71A4A3732B27417CA77582287396E6DF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>New rating systems</header><subparagraph id="id295B86C631EC4CB0BE216221EB4EAEBB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Classification</header><text>With respect to a property, the limitation under paragraph (1) shall remain in effect for each year until the covered costs with respect to the property reflect full actuarial rates, without regard to whether, at any time until the year in which those covered costs reflect full actuarial rates, the property is rated or classified under the Risk Rating 2.0 methodology (or any substantially similar methodology).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE00EF2C5F96E484999160511473AF771"><enum>(B)</enum><header>New policyholder</header><text>If a property to which the limitation under paragraph (1) applies is sold before the covered costs for the property reflect full actuarial rates determined under the Risk Rating 2.0 methodology (or any substantially similar methodology), that limitation shall remain in effect for each year until the year in which those full actuarial rates take effect.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id663098D37F674533953488B9232E2D7D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed as prohibiting the Administrator from reducing, in any year, the amount of any covered cost, as compared with the amount of the covered cost during the previous year.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3D188E1B5A694251852B7D0B12D321F5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Average historical loss year</header><text>Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" act-name="" id="id29263FAA80A243DEBFE0BC1FF5EFFC9C"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id087F29AB4C8744E7AA8A7C7A7FFDF259"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>For purposes of this section, the calculation of an <term>average historical loss year</term> shall be computed in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id704C5F8DC2E0483D891B30901C510CAD"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Disclosure with respect to the affordability standard</header><text>Section 1308(j) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(j)</external-xref>) is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting <quote>and shall include in the report the number of those exceptions as of the date on which the Administrator submits the report and the location of each policyholder insured under those exceptions, organized by county and State</quote> after <quote>of the Senate</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="id5a3d88e314934b02893271cdd95fb3fc"><enum>103.</enum><header>Targeted means-tested assistance</header><subsection id="id44469E5A4A4A44B69C5E0221E9C9B95D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Means-Tested program</header><paragraph id="idD8861D169CC64715B94FC2C4BBC10F35"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 1308A (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015a">42 U.S.C. 4015a</external-xref>) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7b8ba9d2129c44e7b642cc3640e34ae9"><section id="ida4906b3d638542f2bc9d6097f079db35"><enum>1308B.</enum><header>Flood insurance assistance</header><subsection id="idba952ea12c4746a08dbea8ba52ce5300"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id8fcb9035483f41ab813ffdd9a291f854"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered property</header><text>The term <term>covered property</term> means— </text><subparagraph id="idD7097C8E38724215AF088959FD39A90B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a primary residential dwelling designed for the occupancy of from 1 to 4 families; or </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA3846F775F0341E88E120BA884EACDA9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>personal property relating to a dwelling described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbedabab5f27c454b999d37624f208165"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible policyholder</header><text>The term <term>eligible policyholder</term> means a policyholder with a household income that is not more than 140 percent of the area median income for the area in which the property to which the policy applies is located.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id24b689cbbff2493f8d503e3b9ebf0872"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Housing expenses</header><text>The term <term>housing expenses</term> means, with respect to a household, the total amount that the household spends in a year on—</text><subparagraph id="id8dbcaa265bba4d36b332c257e59c589d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>mortgage payments or rent;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8964b6ebc1e54502b0cd4e38fc07acd8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>property taxes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6205715261374914858ffc8cec84c008"><enum>(C)</enum><text>homeowners insurance; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9a545a9425ed4db2a96a702915c37aa1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>premiums for flood insurance under the national flood insurance program. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1e8d1a898cb34ff5bc263b2fee297af8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Insurance costs</header><text>The term <term>insurance costs</term> means, with respect to a covered property for a year—</text><subparagraph id="idcd545caefa5f4074b6f86d8b7d09b681"><enum>(A)</enum><text>risk premiums and fees estimated under section 1307 and charged under section 1308;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc8bbca679dda426d9d2e12f80afad429"><enum>(B)</enum><text>surcharges assessed under sections 1304 and 1308A; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2317c65737d846a19a536f7c57f8958a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any amount established under section 1310A(c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida45f199abeb349b58ae7b21a38e68e7c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator is authorized to carry out a means-tested program under which the Administrator provides assistance to eligible policyholders in the form of graduated discounts for insurance costs with respect to covered properties.</text></subsection><subsection id="id92475c0fd601421d98be633ec6ef7bb9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>To determine eligibility for means-tested assistance under this section, the Administrator may accept any of the following with respect to an eligible policyholder:</text><paragraph id="id772703435ecc445f9fe5b725f9bcef51"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Income verification from the National Directory of New Hires established under section 453(i) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/653">42 U.S.C. 653(i)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbb4e9cc0802145c284a993f3bdb7958a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A self-certification of eligibility by the eligible policyholder that is provided under penalty of perjury pursuant to section 1746 of title 28, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6B1B5499A7814110BAA3BCA742757D20"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Any other method identified by the Administrator in interim guidance, or a final rule, issued under subsection (e).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id86bc822dae9b44b68ae263aa6aa876a3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Discount</header><text>The Administrator may establish graduated discounts available to eligible policyholders under this section, which shall be based on the following factors:</text><paragraph id="id10ff55d7279d4745b305fed42c1d3c36"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The percentage by which the household income of an eligible policyholder is equal to, or less than, 140 percent of the area median income for the area in which the property to which the policy applies is located.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id718b08c97ee9401fa91c6d88272639a0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The housing expenses of an eligible policyholder.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3917160166544845898F49BD79127E35"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The number of eligible policyholders participating in the program established under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id59f6b3bacfd849b6aeaf101a1e861946"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The availability of funding.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide5bc000f1dd643d3952c344d8a2349d8"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Any other factor that the Administrator finds reasonable and necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6031155d0aa748f6b15d84c7802c2930"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Implementation</header><paragraph id="id9c6991da0acb403aa66eb4ab351e1afa"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall issue final rules to implement this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf3c701cdb511446e8510b9e5311a6139"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Interim guidance</header><subparagraph id="id65547C983F86432BA4F914421A5CC9C0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue interim guidance to implement this section, which shall—</text><clause id="idF83A867A2F644F91BD3CD4C862AF03C3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>include—</text><subclause id="idE0F7E0A64ECE4C84922120C7C28404DE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a description of how the Administrator will determine— </text><item id="id2DB726AD99E3453996E7CA7A6F1E2A2D"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>eligibility for households to participate in the program established under this section; and</text></item><item id="idBECF134DEF0644DE8D084DCE128434F2"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>assistance levels for eligible households to which assistance is provided under this section; </text></item></subclause><subclause id="id4D410E30AC8B42CAAF1C6D87A679B878"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the methodology that the Administrator will use to determine the amount of assistance provided to eligible households under this section; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idE6405758CA7341FD86CEEA5111944961"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any requirements to which eligible policyholders to which assistance is provided under this section will be subject; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id432212F3A787490F91B57E396C7F031F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>expire on the later of— </text><subclause id="id871717B2030F4740ADEC395D506ACA13"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the date that is 84 months after the date of enactment of this section; or </text></subclause><subclause id="id5F11B8EA761D4DB299CD6CF50ED5C2C1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the date on which the final rules issued under paragraph (1) take effect.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE8E2D8A5FA154AA2AFC28B9BD24FB891"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to preclude the Administrator from amending the interim guidance issued under that subparagraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbdb2b6c492f749faa8b2b272cfe87fc2"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Collection of demographic information</header><text>The Administrator, in order to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of this section, and to comply with the reporting requirements under subsection (g), may request demographic information, and other information, with respect to an eligible policyholder to which assistance is provided under this section, which may include—</text><paragraph id="id08A0E1080A3146D9954B7C3932989957"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the income of the eligible policyholder, as compared with the area median income for the area in which the property to which the policy applies is located; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id65A1938606EC475CA59FAE929922BAA3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>demographic characteristics of the eligible policyholder, including the race and ethnicity of the eligible policyholder.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idED13308C952D46C7838EEEF00D28A817"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reports to Congress</header><paragraph id="id11D0D5A1D514460087676E579FBF6289"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report regarding the implementation and effectiveness of this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id302589ECEDFB416B800B083D78CA6FD1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include information regarding, for the period covered by the report—</text><subparagraph id="id35BBA02DA6394BD0A17868F8139781B5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the distribution of household area median income for eligible policyholders to which assistance is provided under this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id121DB9103D774D1086A668A639FE3308"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number of eligible policyholders to which assistance is provided under this section, which shall be disaggregated by income and demographic characteristics;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id623B1351C0FE416199C03D97EC0BAF83"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the cost of providing assistance under this section; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2BC48E4D77F8490BAA93BAD84B784FCB"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the average amount of assistance provided to an eligible policyholder under this section, which shall be disaggregated as described in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA4731A368D094FBDA9BE33A098BF663A"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Risk communication</header><text>For the purposes of the communication required under section 1308(l), the Administrator shall provide to an eligible policyholder to which assistance is provided under this section a full flood risk determination with respect to the property of the eligible policyholder, which shall reflect the insurance costs with respect to the property before that assistance is provided.</text></subsection><subsection id="idE8CA369E85B54E1881CC7BB4DED63477"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph id="idEC530A9A5CDE48878CB51C01E5B0AFE2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section—</text><subparagraph id="id40B563251D16452ABB0611F41BB88717"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2914EA17B88145C8A22C6B37441B2992"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$340,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8CCBE46A41D24332BEF62E2ED3F98D73"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4EDB106FA8804CF4921ECEC8BCF4763E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>$500,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9DE4C352773F4AD99B66B8F35D5B72D0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>$600,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8F050F2C2F4B440C85DF6C19C26AFE88"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>If, in a fiscal year, the Administrator determines that the amount made available to carry out this section is insufficient to provide assistance under this section, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a notification of the remaining amounts necessary to provide that assistance for that fiscal year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8423F4D207C8427FB184C301A5ECEF63"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Distribution of premium</header><text>With respect to the amount of the discounts provided under this section in a fiscal year, and any administrative expenses incurred in carrying out this section for that fiscal year, the Administrator shall, from amounts made available to carry out this section for that fiscal year, deposit in the National Flood Insurance Fund established under section 1310 an amount equal to those discounts and administrative expenses, except to the extent that section 1310A applies to any portion of those discounts or administrative expenses, in which case the Administrator shall deposit an amount equal to those amounts to which section 1310A applies in the National Flood Insurance Reserve Fund established under section 1310A.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id9AED196285A24D1D8596D1B4FD754A10"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of savings</header><text>In addition to any amounts made available to the Administrator to carry out section 1308B of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as added by paragraph (1), the Administrator shall use any amounts saved as a direct result of the amendments made by section 302(a) of this Act to carry out such section 1308B.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfbda307477fd44b4bb78c4581cc5eaad"><enum>(b)</enum><header>National Flood Insurance Act of 1968</header><text>The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4001">42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idFEDB184A9F9945888CCD063A0613D308"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 1308(e) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(e)</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="id66b321c3c867474fb1005e61d24eab27"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="ida9e5873313c1418abf695b962e3ba8e5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="id45ea2ada651e408a96904a4c1005cec3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)(iii), by adding <quote>or</quote> at the end; and</text></clause><clause id="ida780e1f3457a4c04b9e97bef49f0a9c9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id25f3e3c6ea6847e1af6043303cdabd29"><subparagraph id="idc1faef33b41f43bea6b0015c389c3e3d"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in the case of a property with respect to which assistance is provided under section 1308B, if—</text><clause id="idCD8916276509439F855ED75E188CD0E4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the applicable policyholder is no longer eligible to receive assistance under that section;</text></clause><clause id="idDA23C9DE81204FB19C4786E9FB8F6FDB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the assistance so provided has been decreased under that section; or</text></clause><clause id="idF21676EDEFAA4946A7100CE6F5D8F8E8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Administrator is not authorized, or lacks appropriated funds, to carry out that section;</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcc38191b9d674ea6b027ef634df0cd40"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>period; and</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>period, except in the case of a property with respect to which assistance is provided under section 1308B if a condition described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(D) is applicable; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD72CC396ED0B457998519A931C82210F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 1366(d) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104c">42 U.S.C. 4104c(d)</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="idED379DC7BC884FB3AF1C266AFD92E31C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id77F68BD79BF541A1B5E397F4CB301CC7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id5ED40AD3458E43A6842A0A3E431A3519" act-name=""><paragraph id="idDD42A691E34B48C192E9CAD7BF46DDE5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Flood insurance assistance</header><text>In the case of mitigation activities to structures insured by policyholders that are eligible for assistance under section 1308B, in an amount up to 100 percent of all eligible costs.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id385C103DADDA4D778FC4AE1ED9C98B7D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Information comparisons with the national directory of new hires for flood insurance assistance income verification</header><text>Section 453(j) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/653">42 U.S.C. 653(j)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id63D29F4918324E6C9E720529EC58B866"><paragraph id="id161427DCB4C9421EA526676CFE4D83BC"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Information comparisons for flood insurance assistance</header><subparagraph id="id2A31AF2C2C83434F936B8EA360068EB0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Furnishing of information by fema</header><text>The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (in this paragraph, referred to as the <term>Administrator</term>) shall furnish to the Secretary, on such periodic basis as determined by the Administrator in consultation with the Secretary, information in the custody of the Administrator for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires, in order to obtain information in such Directory with respect to individuals who are applying for, or receiving benefits under, section 1308B of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2D49FF291FB642A58B07BE097EA01336"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement to seek minimum information</header><text>The Administrator shall seek information pursuant to this paragraph only to the extent necessary to verify the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6D5A31849BEC451687E3314E5C07D277"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Duties of the secretary</header><clause id="id45CEC805E3FF4688B62C23FA6767E048"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Information disclosure</header><text>The Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator, shall compare information in the National Directory of New Hires with information provided by the Administrator with respect to individuals described in subparagraph (A), and shall disclose information in such Directory regarding such individuals to the Administrator, in accordance with this paragraph, for the purposes specified in this paragraph.</text></clause><clause id="id3FA02AA0A4EF4395960222D46F558B6C"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Condition on disclosure</header><text>The Secretary shall make disclosures in accordance with clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosures do not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part. </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE14719B782894AA881C6B7A17AD04147"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Use of information by fema</header><text>The Administrator may use information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only—</text><clause id="id39E983E53AD94B3795E0B7C5272A2C9B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for the purpose of verifying the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A); and</text></clause><clause id="id5A36593EE1B74071AE4E17D72ED4582A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>after removal of personal identifiers, to conduct analyses of the employment and income reporting of individuals described in subparagraph (A).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB4E78D9F5E4946F7ACF9CBD5E1667BDE"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Disclosure of information by fema</header><clause id="idC118FB386E3B420BBA5A442AC51C9383"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Purpose of disclosure</header><text>The Administrator may make a disclosure under this subparagraph only for the purpose of verifying the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A).</text></clause><clause id="idE388BD61C4694DA094C87885EDF9F66F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Disclosures permitted</header><text>Subject to clause (iii), the Administrator may disclose information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only to contractors of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, private insurance companies participating in the Write Your Own Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General, in connection with the administration of a program described in subparagraph (A). Information obtained by the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph shall not be made available under section 552 of title 5, United States Code. </text></clause><clause id="idD47EBD6A9F5840A5A2EDFB2C6FEC79EA"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Conditions on disclosure</header><text>Disclosures under this paragraph shall be—</text><subclause id="id8C9996B6CA034CED982AB34595C1B535"><enum>(I)</enum><text>made in accordance with data security and control policies established by the Administrator and approved by the Secretary;</text></subclause><subclause id="id20D4405D415E4EE2B6F5EE847DCF96D0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>subject to audit in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id80188448AC6A48989E9CA4E1BD493D0B"><enum>(III)</enum><text>subject to the sanctions under subsection (l)(2). </text></subclause></clause><clause id="id33103AE219114F379CE74ECED95D5168"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Restrictions on redisclosure</header><text>A person or entity to which information is disclosed under this subparagraph may use or disclose such information only as needed for verifying the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A), subject to the conditions in clause (iii) and such additional conditions as agreed to by the Secretary and the Administrator.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE3B68DE94A8E4BDD88AD5D7D59FF32D6"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Reimbursement of HHS costs</header><text>The Administrator shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID08DAFEBC96D44089A9C6327A4D5C2EA3"><enum>(G)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall not seek, use, or disclose information under this paragraph relating to an individual without the prior written consent of such individual (or of a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of such individual).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="idC51B02638DAD4AE08E4800A851DBAA41"><enum>104.</enum><header>Optional monthly installment premium payment plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1308(g) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(g)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id3B49E7098A564F85B9F31A263D1CD9D3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>With respect to</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="id674A81ABF6FF4F2FB3F156C8A32C60D5"><paragraph id="id3DEBBF7AF2DE404B889C506A1374FCF5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Annual or monthly option</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), with respect to</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id602E7AC8D44C47089B95913580BA12EB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" act-name="" id="idD24515B4712340A29FE550B6EE014606"><paragraph id="id2110BDDB06564D27B9425F2FC4E718AA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Monthly installment</header><text>With respect to a policyholder that opts under paragraph (1) to pay premiums on a monthly basis, the Administrator may charge the policyholder an annual fee of not more than $15.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7D6D02269CEB4C0E8B3750FC7DEDCB9B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exemption from rule making; pilot program</header><text>During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph and ending on the date on which the Administrator promulgates regulations carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator may, notwithstanding any other provision of law—</text><subparagraph id="id8F6C8B8F13E64487B039BC75C16932A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>adopt policies and procedures to carry out that paragraph without—</text><clause id="id938D9CC94F954A2490EC5EEFBB37E900"><enum>(i)</enum><text>undergoing notice and comment rule making under section 553 of title 5, United States Code; or</text></clause><clause id="id41AD51437B7A440C94EDE7C6BFD7440E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>conducting regulatory analyses otherwise required by statute, regulation, or Executive order; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3251640009D744709578BDCD02683910"><enum>(B)</enum><text>carry out that paragraph by establishing a pilot program that gradually implements the requirements of that paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id18C596CEF35B4EADBCDD0FCED4913C95"><enum>105.</enum><header>Study on business interruption coverage</header><subsection id="id2A032742D97A4C87843A250D8531B8F8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall conduct a study on the feasibility and soundness of offering coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program for interruption business losses caused by a flood (referred to in this section as <quote>business interruption coverage</quote>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id8A792B9D8CC74228AF2A512A55D12499"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Administrator shall, at a minimum—</text><paragraph id="id30b7bb0d30054a9d9c7f39fd01e3f024"><enum>(1)</enum><text>evaluate insurance industry best practices for offering business interruption coverage, including the types of coverage provided and the utilization rate;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id980666e204f943c29ff6e9fd076b131d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>estimate the potential risk premium rates for business interruption coverage based on the flood risk reflected in the flood insurance rate map or other risk metrics in effect at the time of purchase;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc7e4c555964e4bc4b5e7564118a3cc20"><enum>(3)</enum><text>analyze the operational and administrative expenses associated with providing business interruption coverage and adjusting claims;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id59830bf44fe14611bfbb54047b80c685"><enum>(4)</enum><text>identify potential obstacles that may prevent the Administrator from offering business interruption coverage;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc46ab0af981c434da359598baad73a78"><enum>(5)</enum><text>evaluate the benefits of providing business interruption coverage;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id088239f827d646bcbabd7cf50cab0cc5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>analyze any potential impacts on the financial position of the National Flood Insurance Program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id79d0b1fd634742fcb2e6bc10aab015e0"><enum>(7)</enum><text>develop a feasibility implementation plan and projected timelines for offering business interruption coverage.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id45D0237242D44654B798E6AD8E4DEAA5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Availability of experts</header><text>In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Administrator may accept and utilize the personnel and services of any other Federal agency, and appoint and fix the compensation of temporary personnel without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, or employ experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of such title, without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1A2FFB34F2564D8C8EAC48C11E6A8217"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The Administrator shall complete the study required under subsection (a) not later than September 30 of the second full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id227D557E492543A4BEEA5AAD9676C51C"><enum>106.</enum><header>Cooperative coverage fairness</header><subsection id="id5FC9DFEFAD904C329CA3BA30617060C1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4013">42 U.S.C. 4013</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="id932787252D924825ABDA9F76EB9CE008"><subsection id="id549F7D24097241BCB22A5C2485CF79D3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Cooperatives</header><paragraph id="id94691430B2FD4C86AA316D93C4A01B06"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>cooperative building</term> has the meaning given the term in section 1312(d).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAC3B2ED5FE90476A97B0ABBC29830EF0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Equal treatment with condominiums</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an owner of a share of a cooperative building shall be eligible to purchase flood insurance coverage under the national flood insurance program on the same terms as a condominium owner.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id75E5E74A82764B09828DB402B4077D2D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Payment of claims</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idD13F3024C9424AFB9203671DBAD864AE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="id4A97DA4A901F49F8A118B18DBA1B6A3F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the subsection heading, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">and cooperative</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">condominium</header-in-text></quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBB1FFC8724F4475683E84354EFF64663"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, or owners of a share of a cooperative building,</quote> after <quote>condominium owners</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79F00C9EF00140AB8B0FD824B919CA5D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or cooperative association</quote> after <quote>condominium association</quote> each place that term appears; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8DF9476BCE5644E5BA32DC365C850CCD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" act-name="" id="idB86CF2AFADE141C99141A2D7201CC45A"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA31AAE7A21B849B194DD5863A3C5032D"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>cooperative association</term> and <term>cooperative building</term> have the meanings given the terms by the Administrator.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1E00482B6F4E483EB2121A7C30DA946D"><enum>107.</enum><header>Coverage limits</header><subsection id="id8E70C07FA7F8445FB8B0FE670EBC3E56"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4013">42 U.S.C. 4013</external-xref>), as amended by section 106(a), is amended—</text><paragraph id="id93548AE8213F4E28B03772D55A9F0B85"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="idEBABA295EAAC4913B7E2FBD7DFB4379A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>In addition to any other terms and conditions under subsection (a), such regulations</quote> and inserting <quote>The Administrator</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8C1BF054CC12473BA644675A0A895785"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="id38AA749B437449A3BBC0635637710605"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>shall be made</quote> and inserting <quote>may be made</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id3EDE5CE78DED4064BB70FD87D2E9152D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$250,000</quote> and inserting <quote>the baseline amount</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEB3088D7182249E2BF371F493AE695B8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><clause id="idDD49920FF14B4BDE9B42A098368574E0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>shall be made</quote> and inserting <quote>may be made</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id7EAD2213F70B4A449847D9101090E5BE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$100,000</quote> and inserting <quote>50 percent of the baseline amount</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA47778A0BE8C44F0A8BB00BC4974F29C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="id307EAE806DA34E6DB9412F105DBF5A3C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>shall be made</quote> each place that term appears and inserting <quote>may be made</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id972AAC0D594C436C98F33A97ED273164"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$500,000</quote> each place that term appears and inserting <quote>200 percent of the baseline amount</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id78C2BB31B0944F71895057C3FC0C8EAF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="idE93D585155FF4D6CADD902AB9C6E281E"><subsection id="idEFFDB26005654FA9A0B4750D236A80B6"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), in this section, the term <term>baseline amount</term> means an amount determined by the Administrator that is equal to the maximum original principal obligation of a conventional mortgage secured by a single-family residence that may be purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association, as established under the seventh sentence of section 302(b)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1717">12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)</external-xref>), which the Administrator may not—</text><paragraph id="idB721CA6B2E9E4A8388AA4AB8374071ED"><enum>(1)</enum><text>increase more than once every 5 years;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id987171D233894921BC22E0ECBA53B0A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>increase with respect to any particular property pursuant to the 11th or 12th sentence of such section 302(b)(2); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0296BFBCDD0E466FB612662D50E1FA15"><enum>(3)</enum><text>decrease.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4FAD3391C27449E09563DF473ADA9A9B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority of Administrator To sell policies</header><text>The Administrator may sell a policy for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program that meets the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 1306(b) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4013">42 U.S.C. 4013(b)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), without regard to—</text><paragraph id="id58804019237348908BE3861A2FF8B6AD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>section 61.6 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD25C6374AF6A4201A4DEBDE7A8916516"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any other provision of law.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idBEFC7AEF8CC047F5BD935E87B4344C0C"><enum>108.</enum><header>Study on participation rates</header><subsection id="id76edabe8e6d4417e9e18f95cf480ba5e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text><paragraph id="id3861960341bc4171b35bc7131c8aa4f3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>500-year floodplain</term> has the meaning given the term in section 100202(a) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/40/4004">40 U.S.C. 4004(a)</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1367f9c29bfd42b0bb353e396687f462"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the terms <term>Federal agency lender</term>, <term>improved real estate</term>, and <term>regulated lending institution</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 3(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4003">42 U.S.C. 4003(a)</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5d227db75c4e439c95dd5a95dff639b3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>property with a Federally backed mortgage</term> means improved real estate or a mobile home securing a loan that was—</text><subparagraph id="id84f37560244a49648ff3d95b9777ba2e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>made by a regulated lending institution or Federal agency lender; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id17617d3705f94781a0c7839a51ac60f2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD849381A7F644A2585999B58720E119A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study that proposes to address, through programmatic and regulatory changes, how to increase the rate at which properties in the United States are covered by flood insurance.</text></subsection><subsection id="id49321746d23f491ebc8ac555ffff33f1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In conducting the study required under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text><paragraph id="id6343CE8F0A404F17BAA16FE9B6F973A9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consider—</text><subparagraph id="idF269722EFEAF4AD9A0DF1A8644385525"><enum>(A)</enum><text>expanding participation in the National Flood Insurance Program beyond areas having special flood hazards to areas of moderate or minimum risk with respect to flooding;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idECEE486F5C5141D2A5E315E044769FAB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>automatically enrolling consumers in the National Flood Insurance Program and providing those consumers with the opportunity to decline such enrollment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCA59EBEA1011486B93CF037072BCEA4C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>bundling flood insurance coverage that diversifies risk across all or multiple forms of peril;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idBC151A5DD7E34E62BE19CDB216227922"><enum>(2)</enum><text>determine—</text><subparagraph id="id10c7e2ab13644322b2cc0a1fc3f28f47"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the percentage of properties with Federally backed mortgages located in an area having special flood hazards that are covered by flood insurance that satisfies the requirement under section 102(b) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4012a">42 U.S.C. 4012a(b)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc1b4a9e08a834532b31d87e39ea43076"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the percentage of properties with Federally backed mortgages located in the 500-year floodplain that are covered by flood insurance that would satisfy the requirement described in subparagraph (A) if that requirement applied to such properties; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3c5035c2267c4db18f8bd347bee3b2d0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>conduct a comprehensive assessment of the economic and social impacts of implementing Risk Rating 2.0 (or any substantially similar methodology) during the 20-year period beginning in the year in which the assessment is made, which shall include an evaluation of the effect that such implementation will have, during that 20-year period, on—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7fa3db8d66d04c44b6dbff25e89e4f8e"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the affordability and availability of flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9b129b35632b4373804337266eebbdc5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>property values;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef8fbb069d1a4a8c9439b7804ac7fb45"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the amount of Federal disaster aid for properties that are not covered by flood insurance, whether under the National Flood Insurance Program or otherwise; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1de2c20be3c4b81b6c20fe879622f08"><enum>(D)</enum><text>non-Federal Government revenues.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idEC26AFD935A549CAAF99EAD462B2DB42"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report regarding the results of the study conducted under subsection (b).</text></subsection></section><section id="idBBA0ED4A12694A8F94C5F189D0164806"><enum>109.</enum><header>National Flood Insurance Act definitions regarding the Write Your Own Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1370(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4121">42 U.S.C. 4121(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id1438E798AC924412BD677F67185DBC7A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (14), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idBCC4B9A8356940B191A06F7F2F07734F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (15), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7C793ECE7C024CFA96F4AD06442A3203"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id79E12A0813FD4440A967C37CB9EB3E00" act-name=""><paragraph id="id346EFAD7D5BA4C348B9CEF6A0844B3FF"><enum>(16)</enum><text>the term <term>Write Your Own Program</term> means the program under which the Federal Emergency Management Agency enters into a standard arrangement with private property insurance companies to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3F5AE1D14EF24C4BA2FFEF16B3C558CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>sell contracts for Federal flood insurance under their own business lines of insurance; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE94F37DFC9794115991EA1035F5BDD8D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>adjust and pay claims arising under the contracts described in subparagraph (A); and </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCC056960C8264A1786573C63F2458A68"><enum>(17)</enum><text>the term <term>Write Your Own Company</term> means a private property insurance company that participates in the Write Your Own Program.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Mitigation and mapping</header><section id="id1EBDB7D930A2413FAF0454212FC5DC23"><enum>201.</enum><header>Mitigation for high-risk properties</header><subsection id="id44339A0FDD8C4F6791A489CF608F400F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id53F883317F0C4B98A3D613EFA7D49ED6"><subsection id="id578750A0B611479C9DE4371FBA2079F7"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Flood mitigation activities</header><text>The President shall set aside from the Disaster Relief Fund an amount equal to 10 percent of the average amount appropriated to the Fund during the preceding 10 fiscal years to provide assistance for mitigation activities under section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104c">42 U.S.C. 4104c</external-xref>) for—</text><paragraph id="idF9DD189E327E4A92B4D6F797615DCB95"><enum>(1)</enum><text>severe repetitive loss structures; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE2F9A7BF1328410BA036D4B58ED89067"><enum>(2)</enum><text>properties insured under the national flood insurance program with the largest increase in the actuarial risk for the property compared to the actuarial risk for the previous fiscal year as a result of Risk Rating 2.0, as in effect on October 1, 2021.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idbf034d99909e4b71b510e75f1a8bd98e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The amendment made to section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>) by subsection (a) shall apply to funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8D3B1BBDE6554F7E96601CDF2C4605DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text>Effective on October 5, 2023, section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>) is amended by redesignating subsection (n), as added by subsection (a) of this section, as subsection (m).</text></subsection></section><section id="H7CDF7F6D22E54AF6978B286524B02033"><enum>202.</enum><header>Increased cost of compliance coverage</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1304(b) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H518CD20B387848F28350B1DCB9828620"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEB9A16BAC6004D67998D41F32266CAAC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA93635A119AF45FF9B602B03B30A498C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAB6199FD140A4E66A308F3B25AA31C6E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (4) as subparagraph (F), and adjusting the margins accordingly;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB060205C8BD74C30ABFC81C228DC045B"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H46CC3037A13F429E855C790A533E1164"><subparagraph id="H259D641D7CBA4D0FB0A86697F8352F37"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">properties identified by the Administrator as priorities for mitigation activities before the occurrence of damage to or loss of property which is covered by flood insurance;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12AE5EB0FC7949DFA703AC52F7EAF096"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">properties outside an area having special flood hazards if the communities in which the properties are located have, under section 1361, established land use and control measures for the areas in which the properties are located; and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HE97E0AF2D8E44931A6A7F915BB942275"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by inserting before <quote>The national flood insurance program</quote> the following: <quote>(1) <header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">In general</header-in-text>.—</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H237D84BDE1144A6E8DC4BE7D26CEF28E"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in the flush text following subparagraph (F)(iv), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>The Administrator</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF4F725DA41A14D41A93FE97B6DD0F5FD"><paragraph id="H6E7F4A27C68B4D41A813C79CDD2A14D5" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Premium</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H1C3093DD75F045B985469060C3FEF5E5"><enum>(8)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A8167D380FE40FC8468E5D5DAD8ADD8"><paragraph id="HE761FC2E80D349AB9AF5DEC75EBCAA9C" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Amount of coverage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each policy for flood insurance coverage made available under this title shall provide coverage under this subsection having an aggregate liability for any single property of $120,000.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9CA62423685C4B32B4702F7FCA135E13" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Eligible mitigation activities</header><subparagraph id="H90A3AB67557645C7952A148D2AD40BE3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Eligible mitigation methods the cost of which is covered by coverage provided under this subsection shall include—</text><clause id="H51FE33D3F99E4C448C1DE1601D3B305D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>alternative methods of mitigation identified in the guidelines issued pursuant to section 1361(d);</text></clause><clause id="HC6974055098745BF87D8DBA9026B1E63"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>pre-disaster mitigation projects for eligible structures; and</text></clause><clause id="H287416D9F89E4A4681D96DF3C5F5EC19"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">costs associated with the purchase, clearing, and stabilization of property that is part of an acquisition or relocation project that complies with subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6415A2DF88C04F108BCEEC57184A435A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Acquisition and relocation project eligibility and requirements</header><clause id="H7784DC227545479298A36B4264DD3A6D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An acquisition or relocation project shall be eligible to receive assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iii) only if—</text><subclause id="H34B0F0B87A1F41AB83EB735B25A3DCDC"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any property acquired, accepted, or from which a structure will be removed shall be dedicated and maintained in perpetuity for a use that is compatible with open space, recreational, or wetland and natural floodplain management practices; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H88ADFFD3872B4D5FA9E6507823EBC5A3"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any new structure erected on such property will be—</text><item id="H907A77D6AA654EEDA93EB26EE35FBA9C"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>a public facility that is open on all sides and functionally related to a designated open space;</text></item><item id="HA7EE1856610041CB8B90C58AF47CE913"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>a restroom; or</text></item><item id="HD1AABFB8F2064975A5FD204BB9D2277D"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>a structure that the Administrator approves in writing before the commencement of the construction of the structure.</text></item></subclause></clause><clause id="H8883868064E542B5AD23B70A59CB3FCF"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Further assistance</header><text>If an acquisition or relocation project is assisted pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iii)—</text><subclause id="H5D07A10F808143368715C26D191003D4"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">no person may apply to a Federal entity for disaster assistance with regard to any property acquired, accepted, or from which a structure was removed as part of such acquisition or relocation project; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H2CA621CAE1A34A2B8D74A285B77B268C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>no Federal entity may provide disaster assistance for such property.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H89635FAAABAC4CA0A77D944815D918D3"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Requirement to maintain flood insurance coverage</header><subclause id="HABFCF0C8509F4A4FB79DEA02D6E74601"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any assisted structure shall, at all times, maintain insurance against flood damage, in accordance with Federal law, for the life of such structure.</text></subclause><subclause id="H2D2754CE39A9447180B78BA91DE24CF7"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Transfer of property</header><item id="H088D228BC49B4145BA7763E819BDF023"><enum>(aa)</enum><header>Duty to notify</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If any part of a property on which an assisted structure is located is transferred, the transferor shall, not later than the date on which such transfer occurs, notify the transferee in writing, including in all documents evidencing the transfer of ownership of the property, that such transferee is required to—</text><subitem id="H3D8374F9F9964DF3BE45ABC7E13387E7"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>obtain flood insurance in accordance with applicable Federal law with respect to such assisted structure, if such structure is not so insured on the date on which the structure is transferred; and</text></subitem><subitem id="H3EE95AB183444591A48EA289C512D3B8"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>maintain flood insurance in accordance with applicable Federal law with respect to such structure.</text></subitem></item><item id="H433188A234E342D98C752A6A876ACB23"><enum>(bb)</enum><header>Failure to notify</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a transferor fails to make a notification in accordance with item (aa) and such assisted structure is damaged by a flood disaster, the transferor shall pay the Federal Government an amount equal to the amount of any disaster relief provided by the Federal Government with respect to such assisted structure.</text></item></subclause><subclause id="H776D136441B74A0AA1E7D771D28DEB2D"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Assisted structure defined</header><text>For the purposes of this clause, the term <term>assisted structure</term> means a structure on property that is part of an acquisition or relocation project assisted pursuant to subparagraph (A) that was, as part of such acquisition or relocation project—</text><item id="HD7CA3F17EE6246D188ED73C633C014AD"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">altered;</text></item><item id="HB84906E47B07430C9F6035EC423DFEC0"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>improved;</text></item><item id="H84A68502053343FA847F9C31FFCDAABE"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>replaced;</text></item><item id="HA8BD5808F74247AC99B9AE8DF160AD29"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>repaired; or</text></item><item id="H8160D2CD5BFC4E34B12A2AE2C26CBF85"><enum>(ee)</enum><text>restored.</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD789CC2C12B843C4915684260B7A6359"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Eligible structure defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this paragraph, the term <term>eligible structure</term> means any structure that—</text><clause id="HACFE7A57057940D9AB5A449553367C49"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was constructed in compliance with the Flood Insurance Rate Map and local building and zoning codes in effect on the date of construction of the structure; and</text></clause><clause id="HB49C7BF0F28E430AB58C9720746504FD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has not previously been altered, improved, replaced, or repaired using assistance provided under this subsection.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H63C0D104AECF4FBE88E29CFB09F53A63" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Treatment of coverage limits</header><text>Any amount of coverage provided for a property pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered or counted for purposes of any limitation on coverage applicable to such property under section 1306(b) and any claim on such coverage shall not be considered a claim for purposes of section 1307(h) or subsection (a)(3) or (h)(3) of section 1366.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6CB44B3F39234344886C5AC0E040B620" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may implement this subsection by adopting 1 or more standard endorsements to the Standard Flood Insurance Policy by publication of such standards in the Federal Register, or by comparable means.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id240EF3FF4D0A445793DA28E6C3E21CA5"><enum>203.</enum><header>Flood mitigation assistance grants</header><subsection id="id3A60CA06AC15456EBAFBEB2EB021ADF0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program priority</header><text>Section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104c">42 U.S.C. 4104c</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idB4B4B62BE53642E6B3DFAA3FEC3521AF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="idC49B5FB341934D6E9C8F13EE956E6821"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id82905586A0844D9BA39D1EA487AF1642"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the second sentence of the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>assistance shall be</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" act-name="" id="id3B7D50409869405B892EC39E49E0FBB6"><text>assistance shall—</text><paragraph id="idF151ADC7E5E54F68A7289DD5A4C72DFC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAC7E92BD979A4BD6AE6EC044BB2D1D32"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(C), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8D83EF4148BA4F5FACCA326BF19426F3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="idBB103A1A3F9B4C43B9CD901E215C6AAB"><paragraph id="idF882E2E04F4F48CD8690FFDEBA2AEE81"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in addition to the requirement under paragraph (1)(C), give priority to properties—</text><subparagraph id="id69D91AC7AB6044268C44EAF6E1B0E07D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>that are repetitive loss structures;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC0E5D21517FB4766BE1D1A7B735986B4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to which the Administrator makes a determination that the premium rates with respect to a policy for flood insurance coverage under this title—</text><clause id="id5EA203EE592F4A9E8D7A0F691C9D3497"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are unaffordable; or</text></clause><clause id="idE98272A2F7B74444B65467748180C64C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>will soon become unaffordable as a result of a risk adjustment under Risk Rating 2.0, as in effect on the date of that determination; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF200663455274EFABB49B86B7CAE1D80"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for which aggregate losses exceed the replacement value of the properties.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id476078573C8D498CB7B3F5C3E37A2307"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="idF1FEFCB010FA4C91A5FB223FC2FEFB2A"><paragraph id="idCA1953CA069D4B12A712A84F6B899BAD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Unaffordable</header><text>The term <term>unaffordable</term> means, with respect to the premium rates for a policy for flood insurance coverage under this title, that, in a year, those rates are in such an amount that the housing expenses (as defined in section 1308B(a)) of the household that is the subject of the policy are, for that year, more than 30 percent of the adjusted gross income (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/62">section 62</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5D37F7694A354260B9143E19D97FD583"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional mitigation assistance</header><paragraph id="id5E0C49476A89475C881D9413EF494712"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriations from general fund of Treasury</header><text>For each of the first 5 full fiscal years after the date of enactment of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000 to the National Flood Mitigation Fund to provide mitigation assistance under this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8BC636332956424AACAAFE6445EC779C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>The authorization of appropriations under subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to authorize the transfer or crediting to the National Flood Mitigation Fund of any amounts from the National Flood Insurance Fund.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0896C71453E0489CAB0C360346F66806"><enum>204.</enum><header>Urban mitigation opportunities</header><subsection id="id21745DF192014EC69D22EC538F0911A9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Mitigation strategies</header><text>Section 1361(d)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4102">42 U.S.C. 4102(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id9EA0AAB2CBB5411BA994C4473007BF21"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id737A406E715048FA8C84A40A1FF2EB19"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0EC3D63D508A4A80BD2EE25CD1E5ECAD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="idCC69FD624846439482486AA778DCC950"><subparagraph id="id79A376D82D3A41E09894EB8088E07BF8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>with respect to buildings in dense urban environments, methods that can be deployed on a block or neighborhood scale; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6693667ABA70485199F2BACE5AA6EC6F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>elevation of mechanical systems; and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id50189CE04CF244B08BCAB6EBFC96A2A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mitigation credit</header><text>Section 1308(k) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(k)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id7C6BEED1A16E4643A1CF56018D94659E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>shall take into account</quote> and inserting</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" act-name="" id="idDCFA29A091B1478695054B87DE28A6B3"><text>shall—</text><paragraph id="id11E6858C34994C1DA54CDCCCDEB83912"><enum>(1)</enum><text>take into account</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id23AC73C6DFEF4385883F1743DD3DAD83"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), as so designated, by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8E891B0B10B44DA284130BED5E937FB9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" act-name="" id="idE186CF213BD24F0087C761C08B0F1DBA"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4C89FE2C2E23481FAFC942C648CD1989"><enum>(2)</enum><text>offer a reduction of the risk premium rate charged to a policyholder in an amount that is not less than 10 percent of that rate if the policyholder implements any mitigation method described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id13E36E9B2EAF4BAE8986283DAE4276DC"><enum>205.</enum><header>Community Rating System Regional Coordinator</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1315(b) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4022">42 U.S.C. 4022(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD179CA66BBA04F94ABDFAC2C82AB5F82"><paragraph id="id2BE29BEF3AD44586A42D110E5E9D0A52"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Regional coordinator</header><subparagraph id="id2C81488E2DF943A7B52CEBE4800590E7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall appoint a regional coordinator in each region served by a Regional Office (as defined in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/311">6 U.S.C. 311</external-xref>)) to provide technical assistance to small communities to enable those communities to effectively participate in and benefit from the community rating system program.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5E2488CED286481D93A1AE99ED1F2B4D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this paragraph, which shall remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE63B0F3FF2A649DB8AF1393EE878E666"><enum>206.</enum><header>Mitigation loan program</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3E2C9113B27A44EA9EC57203C4A97939"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <term>mitigation measure</term> means, with respect to a structure, a measure undertaken to reduce the risk of flood damage to the structure.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3F62784DC5FA4C0E99B5D58DDAC7965A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Administrator may establish a pilot program through which the Administrator may provide low-interest loans to policyholders under the National Flood Insurance Program for the purposes described in subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF4D959B6C24242D88F2B304D92470023"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Purposes of loans</header><text>A loan provided to a policyholder under the pilot program established under subsection (b) shall be used to undertake mitigation measures with respect to the insured property that cost less than the cost of the estimated amount of premiums that would be paid with respect to the property during the 50-year period beginning in the year in which the loan is made and if those mitigation measures were not undertaken.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAB113C849A40466C92DA9D742E5A1233"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sale of property</header><text>If a property with respect to which a loan has been made under this section is sold, upon that sale, the outstanding loan balance shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99D71C7379AE429780EC5100259D6DAA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be repaid using the proceeds of the sale; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7AA41F4546744C0AB23C0CF80300C5F7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>carry over to the purchaser of the property if the purchaser so consents before the execution of the sale.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF8167BE4B0DB4C8EB7EFC2A204BBC564"><enum>207.</enum><header>Revolving loan funds</header><subsection id="id6C2A0FF30DE9476398652C9EEFC6A471"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="id0FF96CBBF0D94CD084428DBB3ABD37D8"><section id="id6A94598C40FA47499708C7B80B8D51C1"><enum>1326.</enum><header>State or Tribal government revolving loan funds for flood mitigation</header><subsection id="id555C1396348144AFB7F6FE855CDF9B78"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id7E7836E4009B4DBF9357FBF9E4DFCE20"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Community rating system</header><text>The term <term>Community Rating System</term> means the community rating system program carried out under section 1315(b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2312AF7437D2433BBAD498F587E413C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Intended use plan</header><text>The term <term>intended use plan</term> means a plan prepared under subsection (d)(1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD3836177211B481080AEE9F078667BAD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Low-income geographic area</header><text>The term <term>low-income geographic area</term> means an area described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/3161">42 U.S.C. 3161(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAADFA6F0317E466C9D1FF515A957DD8C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Low-income homeowner</header><text>The term <term>low-income homeowner</term> means the owner of a primary residence, the household income of which in a taxable year is not more than 80 percent of the median income for the area in which the residence is located.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA23ACEBB589446F782BB415FFE4E0FAA"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Participating entity</header><text>The term <term>participating entity</term> means a State or Tribal government that—</text><subparagraph id="id91B3FAEABA074F43ADA3F93738C08B92"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has entered into an agreement under subsection (b)(1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6C1AE13949194025BF5637ED5F3D6038"><enum>(B)</enum><text>agrees to comply with the requirements of this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3637BEBEF1B948569DB036978ACE6259"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Pre-FIRM building</header><text>The term <term>pre-FIRM building</term> means a building for which construction or substantial improvement occurred before the later of—</text><subparagraph id="id0D485FC90F81462CB4785974FCC13295"><enum>(A)</enum><text>December 31, 1974; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2FE5AFEA98D9459F866C20F9BA1DFE8B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effective date of the rate map published by the Administrator under section 1360 for the area in which the building is located.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2C6AAE19A92A477D868DA0645AA06510"><enum>(7)</enum><header>State or Tribal government loan fund</header><text>The term <term>State or Tribal government loan fund</term> means a flood mitigation assistance revolving loan fund established by a State or Tribal government under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id28282F5B45474C90999E16C93D7166D7"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Tribal government</header><text>The term <term>Tribal government</term> means the recognized government of an Indian tribe, or the governing body of an Alaska Native regional or village corporation, that has been determined eligible to receive services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idC17B8E65A52D479D9E9D9AD581C4A344"><enum>(b)</enum><header>General authority</header><paragraph id="idBD958FC4FA274302A35A98CCA7F3A8BB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a State or Tribal government to provide a capitalization grant for the State or Tribal government to establish a revolving fund that will provide funding assistance to help homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities reduce flood risk in order to decrease—</text><subparagraph id="idDFDC388DAE6243B4851B7BC1532B050B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the loss of life and property;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id394F91245C8F48C5B1DCAEBC755694D3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the cost of flood insurance; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id122F54DF2022463FB655D8B65E23396B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Federal disaster payments.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8FD10484550E43A2AF45D24BB2B7D7AD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timing of deposit and agreements for distribution of funds</header><subparagraph id="idC80C876162CB482588CA11D2911A0382"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than the last day of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which a capitalization grant is made to a participating entity under paragraph (1), the participating entity shall—</text><clause id="id458EA2A5A0AE47DD922ECF494252CE88"><enum>(i)</enum><text>deposit the grant in the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity; and</text></clause><clause id="id007A1DBAC13A4C1E9C86DA6FBDA6EDA0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>enter into 1 or more binding agreements that provide for the participating entity to distribute the grant funds for purposes authorized under subsection (c) such that—</text><subclause id="idDAA0DFCFA80144AA9566C699C94E006A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the case of the initial grant made to a participating entity under this section, not less than 75 percent of the amount of the grant shall be distributed before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the funds are deposited in the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id1A3488389E9246878CEC3DD247F683AA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of any subsequent grant made to a participating entity under this section, not less than 90 percent of the amount of the grant shall be distributed before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date on which the funds are deposited in the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF5425A26223B4C6B8A8CB8104295CFBB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Noncompliance</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (C), if a participating entity does not comply with subparagraph (A) with respect to a grant, the Administrator shall reallocate the grant in accordance with paragraph (3)(B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72B33B9D99AC42AD947B7E10569463FC"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>The Administrator may not reallocate any funds under subparagraph (B) to a participating entity that violated subparagraph (A) with respect to a grant made during the same fiscal year in which the funds to be reallocated were originally made available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id54543A24B41844D7A26C5183186C1A20"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Allocation</header><subparagraph id="id4ED10C0D46F04F269481CE83F4250482"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall allocate amounts made available to carry out this section to participating entities—</text><clause id="id81B6119CA55F4146899072E6FB78C508"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for the participating entities to deposit in the State or Tribal government loan fund established by the participating entity; and</text></clause><clause id="idB61120EED0614264BDD8813AB4EFE735"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>except as provided in paragraph (6), in accordance with the requirements described in subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3F8C24CB8D1B45DFBC63F6703380E2A7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The requirements described in this subparagraph are as follows:</text><clause id="idA7083330E3EE4759964518F3E7ADAFAB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Fifty percent of the total amount made available under subparagraph (A) shall be allocated so that each participating entity receives the percentage amount that is obtained by dividing the number of properties that were insured under the national flood insurance program in that State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable, in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the amount is allocated by the total number of properties that were insured under the national flood insurance program in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the amount is allocated.</text></clause><clause id="idFD743E19BA4C4FC48B8B698F19B8A050"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Fifty percent of the total amount made available under subparagraph (A) shall be allocated so that each participating entity receives a percentage of funds that is equal to the product obtained under clause (iii)(IV) with respect to that participating entity after following the procedures described in clause (iii).</text></clause><clause id="id4017668A1DF1482FB53C9289273F7758"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The procedures described in this clause are as follows:</text><subclause id="id98286BAAB9904942952C4D9344886E9C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Divide the total amount collected in premiums for properties insured under the national flood insurance program in each participating entity during the previous fiscal year by the number of properties insured under the national flood insurance program in that State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable, for that fiscal year.</text></subclause><subclause id="id8B9926E07CB144C2AB85DB5138A19A0C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Add together each quotient obtained under subclause (I).</text></subclause><subclause id="idBE7B4940362F464E9685CFEDEF46B09B"><enum>(III)</enum><text>For each participating entity, divide the quotient obtained under subclause (I) with respect to that State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable, by the sum obtained under subclause (II).</text></subclause><subclause id="id2DE38464DECC41B0A80889FB8B0FECA1"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>For each participating entity, multiply the amount that is 50 percent of the total amount made available under subparagraph (A) by the quotient obtained under subclause (III).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id6795C25A187C44A2AC2C5EE3EC78FF80"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Except as provided in paragraph (5), in a fiscal year—</text><subclause id="id29E7DE66487E4E46B05C19CCBAA07E3B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a participating entity may not receive more than 15 percent of the total amount that is made available under subparagraph (A) in that fiscal year; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id529E8C82409C45D18D328BB0822957EB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>if a participating entity, based on the requirements under clauses (i) through (iii), would, but for the limitation under subclause (I) of this clause, receive an amount that is greater than the amount that the State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable, is authorized to receive under that subclause, the difference between the authorized amount and the amount otherwise due to the State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable, under clauses (i) through (iii) shall be allocated to other participating entities—</text><item id="id3C594F9B0D064D949F301A19561B69DE"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>that, in that fiscal year, have not received an amount under subparagraph (A) that is more than the authorized amount under subclause (I) of this clause; and</text></item><item id="id3D1FEBC534634815945D345F5C1CB5E4"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by using the requirements under clauses (i) through (iii), except that a participating entity may receive an allocation under this subclause only if the allocation does not result in the State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable, receiving a total amount for the fiscal year under subparagraph (A) that is greater than the authorized amount under subclause (I).</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id47E0F6F97B7545D199EF37E11D3B2417"><enum>(4)</enum><header>No revolving fund required</header><subparagraph id="id1F671C8543CF492E9DA5CCE2D3B28DF5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, and subject to subparagraph (B), a participating entity that receives less than $4,000,000 under paragraph (3)(B) in a fiscal year may distribute the funds directly in the form of grants or technical assistance for a purpose described in subsection (c)(2), without regard to whether the participating entity has established a State or Tribal government loan fund.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9BEAA7DCD2F94175899BCBA1E1D9D1FC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Matching</header><text>A participating entity that exercises the authority under subparagraph (A) in a fiscal year shall provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount that is equal to 25 percent of the amount that the participating entity receives under paragraph (3)(B) in that fiscal year for purposes described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id91B2D7FCE8CD472A92CB44AFEAE850ED"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Allocation of remaining funds</header><text>After allocating amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (3), the Administrator shall allocate any remaining amounts made available for that fiscal year to participating entities, using the procedures described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (3)(B).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id57282571F6D44C689CC70B42C8DD7BA9"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Reservation of funds</header><text>The Administrator shall reserve not more than 1.5 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section in a fiscal year—</text><subparagraph id="id65E756E79FFE4831A2F9A7A989F9FDED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for administrative costs incurred by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in carrying out this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDCB177DB47694E2EBCB67484FE9C1189"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under this section; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id35B0377F9F0B47EEB164E83E8833C028"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to enter into grant agreements with insular areas, with the grant funds to be distributed—</text><clause id="idC87F7A1224F946B99CCC8BDF37D7C5DD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>according to criteria established by the Administrator; and</text></clause><clause id="id89C6CD362BEA4FE98F4E067C20DBBE7E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for a purpose described in subsection (c)(2).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id811C89053CBA43E884A6DA026EDBE1E0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><paragraph id="idFAF9E46B3F4640C5AFBE73E10F56C160"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Amounts deposited in a State or Tribal government loan fund, including repayments of loans made from the fund and interest earned on the amounts in the fund, shall be used—</text><subparagraph id="id15C8FA2E5E014E628542BF0238435952"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consistent with paragraph (2) and subsection (g), to provide financial assistance for—</text><clause id="id8F859237D5A34A8E85AD69E458DE332C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that are eligible to participate in the national flood insurance program; and</text></clause><clause id="idB058EFBD8C30458080D7D7FAE8152717"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any local government that participates in the national flood insurance program;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51E74ADCDB6743E0A18A5BCB56966B19"><enum>(B)</enum><text>as a source of revenue and security for leveraged loans, the proceeds of which shall be deposited in the State or Tribal government loan fund; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC6ABE255D7FE4796B847DBC81B84B14A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for the sale of bonds as security for payment of the principal and interest on revenue or general obligation bonds issued by the participating entity to provide matching funds under subsection (f), if the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are deposited in the State or Tribal government loan fund.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id31943C32BC7649439457FD81D728F2A5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>A recipient of financial assistance provided through amounts from a State or Tribal government loan fund—</text><subparagraph id="idCE9F490DCDE5419D9B9370FEE524D060"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall use the amounts to reduce—</text><clause id="id21479E9CF20D450A915DDE84694C7DBA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>flood risk; or</text></clause><clause id="id8C854C2552A449E4B507D4735D02E15E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>potential claims for losses covered under the national flood insurance program;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id76D1A03B9423438A98457AFDD35F474E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall use the amounts in a cost-effective manner under requirements established by the participating entity, which may require an applicant for financial assistance to submit any information that the participating entity considers relevant or necessary before the date on which the applicant receives the assistance;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC3400C2BB4D44D99B7EA65C04DD8E9EF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>shall use the amounts for projects that—</text><clause id="id124D2CD691D84A25BAA5B0B928B497CB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>meet design and construction standards established by the Administrator;</text></clause><clause id="idAF557348B61941B3AB2E8F9785DDC41D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are located in communities that—</text><subclause id="id8A8D5786A3474B11B442FD065BF7B72A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>participate in the national flood insurance program; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idBF316B0434664408B06EACE13EB00811"><enum>(II)</enum><text>have developed a community flood risk mitigation plan that has been approved by the Administrator under section 1366;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id2ADD0F0A1B1240CBA350705C02BEDFCF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>address—</text><subclause id="idC321E94187974B1C89FAEA1DCD252081"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a repetitive loss structure or a severe repetitive loss property; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idC64F200DB43347A2B3AC2DBDA51606F5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>flood risk in the 500-year floodplain, areas of residual flood risk, or other areas of potential flood risk, as identified by the Administrator; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id7C44472FEAC94741B6FB6908B3F16FA2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>address current risk and anticipate future risk, such as sea-level rise, and flood risk resulting from wildfire;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id017D17F4B9F64DA0894A444A9B76B2D8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>may use the amounts—</text><clause id="idDC68551EDBE546AAB2A1DD85217EE4BA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for projects relating to—</text><subclause id="id965F0162FFF340039FAEE32091132C2E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>structural elevation;</text></subclause><subclause id="idBA4968FBA6284C81AD160246B7E281BE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>floodproofing;</text></subclause><subclause id="id1F8950C969304D56AAB062747D3C94B6"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the relocation or removal of buildings from the 100-year floodplain or other areas of flood risk, including the acquisition of properties for such a purpose;</text></subclause><subclause id="id456E241B37484D5C97056D8725D0E266"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>environmental restoration activities that directly reduce flood risk, including green infrastructure;</text></subclause><subclause id="id10FC9721622742BE875960D570A6CADC"><enum>(V)</enum><text>any eligible activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of section 1366(c)(3); or</text></subclause><subclause id="id039E47012ED7482AB500076775A20CB7"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>other activities determined appropriate by the Administrator;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idCB792F71098947C4B065C5533D91FA2F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with respect to a project described in clause (i), only for expenditures directly related to a project described in that clause, including expenditures for planning, design, and associated pre-construction activities; </text></clause><clause id="idC4EEF40E50334B55B3D57B85722EA9FA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to acquire, for the purposes of permanent protection, land, buildings, or a conservation easement from a willing seller or grantor, provided that—</text><subclause id="id2FB0D212F25945C2988592BD8DEB21DA"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the use of the land will be committed in perpetuity, with assurances from the recipient, that the land will only be used for open spaces, recreational use, or wetland management practices; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id4eba067c737c42a1bb444b6fb32c14c8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>no new structure will be erected on the property acquired other than—</text><item id="id6e7a6a61d8c34dad8a22131ada1dab5f"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>a public facility that is open on all sides and functionally related to a designated open space;</text></item><item id="ide6fe9fb284ff4a51ba89cf8e99dbaf74"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>a restroom; or</text></item><item id="idbe6c81dfeab04a5c856d9239aa66453a"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>a structure that the Administrator approves in writing before the commencement of a construction of the structure; and</text></item></subclause></clause><clause id="idbd535dc01c08448b9ae4c8b25e27e580"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the recipient may make no subsequent application for disaster assistance for any purpose and no such assistance will be provided to the applicant from any Federal source;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id28F9DE1C9B7E428DA53A4344727A455C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>may not use the amounts—</text><clause id="idC543364C33F544AB8B5E9B1667799731"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to construct buildings or expand existing buildings, unless the activity is for the purpose of flood mitigation;</text></clause><clause id="id53B0DE8A17D64E65BFB2948A243BF426"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to improve any structure, unless the recipient has obtained flood insurance coverage, which shall be maintained for the useful life of the structure, in an amount that is not less than the lesser of—</text><subclause id="id8E2B8D7B284A40BDA8E241800B23C03C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the eligible project costs with respect to the structure; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idFD437B4AC1674931B69592C4B86D017E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the maximum insurable limit for the structure under the national flood insurance program coverage for the structure;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id3A65F794532D480CBB7C4DFDD37AF262"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to improve a residential property with an appraised value that is not less than 125 percent of the limitation on the maximum original principal obligation of a conventional mortgage that may be purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation in the area in which the property is located, as established under section 302(b)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1717">12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)</external-xref>) and section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1454">12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="idBAA45A415476460CAE353102BE088546"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>for the direct benefit of a homeowner if the annual household adjusted gross income of the homeowner during the previous fiscal year was not less than $200,000, as annually adjusted by the Administrator to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor and rounded to the nearest $25; or</text></clause><clause id="idAC9AD8C5028A4FD790A36DB9046F999A"><enum>(v)</enum><text>to acquire real property or an interest in real property unless the property is purchased from a willing seller; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBD109DFF5C8C4C90BAC9282BD37CC950"><enum>(F)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, shall, in using those amounts, give priority to projects that assist low-income homeowners and low-income geographical areas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4B900E0DC7764E84BE91DD69CA7107E3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Intended use plans</header><paragraph id="id550A0B00E8264569B29A4230E701E934"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>After providing the opportunity for public review and comment, each participating entity shall annually prepare a plan that identifies, for the year following the date of issuance of the intended use plan, the intended uses of the amounts available in the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC59DEAFDD822414E828DC5754C7A77FB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation during preparation</header><text>Each participating entity, in preparing an intended use plan, shall ensure that the State or Tribal government agency with primary responsibility for floodplain management—</text><subparagraph id="idBE2C038D33AA43A083E456CE993B6D75"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provides oversight with respect to the preparation of the intended use plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89842DD7DDB641EFA6F187D87C146EA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consults with any other appropriate State or Tribal government agency, including agencies responsible for coastal and environmental management.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8FE88491A07F41B5B1374693E6356A33"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>A participating entity shall, in each intended use plan—</text><subparagraph id="id913F7398A30B4C7D82CAC5D67A0ACBED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>include—</text><clause id="id9AAA4A9FB631478099BD091B49A7ABA3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an explanation of the mitigation and resiliency benefits the participating entity intends to achieve, including by—</text><subclause id="id621F81F4F9E640E7AB0508043C0134D3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>reducing future damage and loss associated with flooding;</text></subclause><subclause id="idD9E8D53C9515458188554FDF3E5A6FEA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>reducing the number of severe repetitive loss properties and repetitive loss structures in the State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable;</text></subclause><subclause id="id946579690CDA43A9BB52D6D335EB3695"><enum>(III)</enum><text>decreasing the number of flood insurance claims in the State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id43C390F459804013995A8C8F60EB7F6C"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>increasing the rating under the Community Rating System for communities in the State or Tribal government jurisdiction, as applicable;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id3888DEB175334A1499D9C3381A0E8D4A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>information with respect to the availability of, and the application process for receiving, financial assistance from the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity;</text></clause><clause id="id309B3D98A72C4C93919F7B7D77FDD561"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the criteria and methods established for the distribution of amounts from the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity;</text></clause><clause id="id5DE6102F321140A085C43BC41980FFE2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the amount of financial assistance that the participating entity anticipates providing to—</text><subclause id="idA1B78459AC2A4494A9A5E6877CE2AC94"><enum>(I)</enum><text>local government projects; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idB2CDE5D1903D421E9254545642D98BFD"><enum>(II)</enum><text>projects for homeowners, business, or nonprofit organizations;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idF6B49DDB75544CB2B4D074DE3071E400"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the expected terms of the assistance provided under clause (iv); and</text></clause><clause id="id2BC66CFBFE79429F95FAAE87FA72E8C4"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>a description of the financial status of the State or Tribal government loan fund and the short-term and long-term goals of the State or Tribal government loan fund; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF0B7808470E8437CADC61CAE6363DFC6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide, to the maximum extent practicable, that priority for the use of amounts from the State or Tribal government loan fund shall be given to projects that—</text><clause id="idF1B3B9B8B65640A8A719FFA8C9D50648"><enum>(i)</enum><text>address severe repetitive loss properties and repetitive loss structures;</text></clause><clause id="id352B26BD96A240278DE6E2A08B5965EA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>assist low-income homeowners and low-income geographic areas; and</text></clause><clause id="id943E4108CEC54E21A2A963F0D22FB78D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>address flood risk for pre-FIRM buildings.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id716021E0D4044209AD88018C3CEE1AC7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>Each participating entity shall publish and periodically update a list of all projects receiving funding from the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity, which shall include identification of—</text><subparagraph id="id9C07524990F140AA88B296096A7CC6A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the community in which the project is located;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF6B29D1C67204797AF8A99BEDC9FEBA0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the type and amount of assistance provided for each project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC49E669920E4498EB2A1610FE152143D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the expected funding schedule and date of completion of each project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id05CCB6820D974E5B8078692539E6D551"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Fund management</header><text>Amounts in a State or Tribal government loan fund shall—</text><paragraph id="id855829B6CA0B49219C9A079672FB5BA6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>remain available for providing financial assistance under this section until distributed;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE562EB307B3E4EC794FD9579F0213BCE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if the amounts are not required for immediate distribution or expenditure, be invested in interest-bearing obligations; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75B732DFDECF49B993C150B261F4FF77"><enum>(3)</enum><text>except as provided in subsection (i), include only—</text><subparagraph id="id30731674C708466F8747AE170EA7B937"><enum>(A)</enum><text>amounts received from capitalization grants made under this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA6095E88772B4DD6989FB914858324C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>repayments of loans made from the fund; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBF8BB62EC356438DA1F903C977601E9B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>interest earned on amounts in the fund.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6701DCF388454AA5B480A5EC42C97095"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Matching funds</header><paragraph id="id57DE924DF30441DC9F75250984C67CA9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Full grant</header><text>On or before the date on which a participating entity receives a capitalization grant, the participating shall deposit into the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity, in addition to the amount of the capitalization grant, an amount from non-Federal sources that is not less than 20 percent of the total amount of the capitalization grant.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4EC765EDE4E145C9966973D4D6F28B4E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reduced grant</header><text>If, with respect to a capitalization grant, a participating entity deposits in the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity an amount from non-Federal sources that is less than 20 percent of the total amount of the capitalization grant that the participating entity would otherwise receive, the Administrator shall—</text><subparagraph id="id14F2E7F4E60147ED819CA355D9EA5F98"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reduce the amount of the capitalization grant received by the participating entity to the amount that is 5 times the amount so deposited; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60B244AAB475419CAACF0BBAF60F6D91"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in accordance with subsection (b)(5), allocate the difference between the amount that the participating entity would have received if the participating entity had complied with paragraph (1) and the amount of the reduced grant that the participating entity receives under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF0F4943A2D314EC3ADD3BC7C3928070E"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Types of assistance</header><text>Unless otherwise prohibited by law of a participating entity, the participating entity may use the amounts deposited into a State or Tribal government loan fund under this section only—</text><paragraph id="id5E0068319DE74D7DA9D46B529391C4AF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to make a loan, on the condition that—</text><subparagraph id="id40351C52EAF141E387DE32508B67EBE0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the interest rate for the loan is not more than the market interest rate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5CA43AF255FF4081B8EFF788056B6EC6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the recipient of the loan will begin making principal and interest payments on the loan not later than 1 year after the date on which the project for which the loan was made is completed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF93CD189605D4EB5B0AF9CC8F4204888"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the loan will be fully amortized not later than 20 years after the date on which the project for which the loan was made is completed, except that, in the case of a loan made for a project in a low-income geographic area or to a low-income homeowner, the State may provide a longer amortization period for the loan if that longer period—</text><clause id="id9ED0F15CEE1C45E49B1D0DBB5E2F5B1D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>ends on a date that is not later than 30 years after the date on which the project is completed; and</text></clause><clause id="idFA67B91EF95748E2A9C5C677082E564D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is not longer than the expected design life of the project;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFB50B74DB716486581BB9CBE046EAB01"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the recipient of the loan demonstrates, based on verified and documented information that, as of the date on which the loan is made, the recipient has a reasonable ability to repay the loan, according to the terms of the loan, except that this subparagraph may not be construed to authorize any reduction or limitation in efforts to comply with the requirements of subsection (c)(2)(F); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA731E6FFD1984212ABDA8785CCC476C4"><enum>(E)</enum><text>payments of principal and interest with respect to the loan will be deposited into the State or Tribal government loan fund;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCF8EF056F0394827ADEF0B45019C9E09"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to buy or refinance the debt obligation of a local government at an interest rate that is not more than the market interest rate;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7543892440FC4E9B8417A9E069127A5E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to guarantee, or purchase insurance for, a local obligation, the proceeds of which finance a project eligible for assistance under this section, if the guarantee or purchase, as applicable, would—</text><subparagraph id="idF74D5E531E4845FE917A0F44B0FB5453"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improve credit market access; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81288FF14C48417B981A3B37BA09D6D9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reduce the interest rate with respect to the obligation;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD68B4BDEF1704D3DB05105D6607B85E8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>as a source of revenue or as security for the payment of principal and interest on revenue or general obligation bonds issued by the participating entity if the proceeds of the sale of the bonds will be deposited into the State or Tribal government loan fund; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7CE1CF5CA39B45E392F71E6919CD3F69"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to earn interest on those amounts.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id558CFF1D54D84B51A7466CE5C2B1DA8E"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Assistance for low-Income homeowners and low-Income geographic areas</header><paragraph id="id827169EDA2B1484F8536AF82E2665354"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a participating entity uses amounts from a State or Tribal government loan fund to provide financial assistance under subsection (c) in a low-income geographic area or to a low-income homeowner, the participating entity may provide additional subsidization to the recipient of the assistance, including forgiveness of the principal of a loan.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD0418E2BDEA6401CB8E8311CE407D40D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>For each fiscal year, the total amount of additional subsidization provided by a participating entity under paragraph (1) may not exceed 30 percent of the amount of the capitalization grant allocated to the participating entity for that fiscal year.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB1A6724330544B9087E4E85DC23F38DD"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Administration of fund</header><paragraph id="id4272EE1419A741D48B6208D8F327F154"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A participating entity may combine the financial administration of a State or Tribal government loan fund with the financial administration of any other revolving fund established by the participating entity if—</text><subparagraph id="id143F8873AD084C2592923E1A2868C9A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>combining the administration of the funds would—</text><clause id="idF38AF3F080DE4908894DA6C2344A55B9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be convenient and avoid administrative costs; and</text></clause><clause id="id314E604AA57B440D95CB48ECFC3469BA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>not violate the law of the participating entity; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id950BAEA68E434046AF4C8475BBAECD13"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Administrator determines that—</text><clause id="id636F460F685D4E73B38C1B7080822811"><enum>(i)</enum><text>amounts obtained from a grant made under this section, amounts obtained from the repayment of a loan made from a State or Tribal government loan fund, and interest earned on amounts in a State or Tribal government loan fund will be—</text><subclause id="idA3C27C13EAC24CBA8E0F2726AEAD5C0A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>accounted for separately from amounts from other revolving funds; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idD0529CAE360C470EBB11DE4E5D810197"><enum>(II)</enum><text>used only for purposes authorized under this section; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id06078F92FC024562B48379FA9E717BB8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>after consulting with the appropriate State or Tribal government agencies, the authority to establish assistance priorities and carry out oversight and related activities, other than financial administration, with respect to flood assistance remains with the State or Tribal government agency with primary responsibility for floodplain management.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7BED25F6F8094A86BB278DEB1BFE90DB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative and technical costs</header><subparagraph id="idA2ED747CE24C47248859728FFF123948"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For each fiscal year, a participating entity may use the amount described in subparagraph (B) to—</text><clause id="idEFF8ED5205F0442C9B596F2DE8AC7557"><enum>(i)</enum><text>pay the reasonable costs of administration of the programs under this section, including the recovery of reasonable costs incurred in establishing a State or Tribal government loan fund;</text></clause><clause id="idEF38A9A29BFA4ACCACE74FBB4F4D4428"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide appropriate oversight of projects authorized under this section; and</text></clause><clause id="idC70FFFB9B16B460F8A37D2682CAFB7C4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide technical assistance and outreach to recipients in the State or Tribal government jurisdiction of amounts under this section, including with respect to updating hazard mitigation plans and participating in the Community Rating System, in an amount that is not more than 4 percent of the funds made available to the State or Tribal government jurisdiction under this section.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC1C4BBAA6CE24F84B925A7F9E11EDA3F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Description</header><text>The amount described in this subparagraph is an amount equal to the sum of—</text><clause id="id57BF70DD1AAB43DE9B824677D2F4F583"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any fees collected by a participating entity to recover the costs described in subparagraph (A)(i), regardless of the source; and</text></clause><clause id="idBBD386922ADC411F8A2CE2C89F044A9C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the greatest of—</text><subclause id="idCD740449448942659F676C16ACC03D64"><enum>(I)</enum><text>$400,000;</text></subclause><subclause id="id12F5DDA227834D60B6DACCFD35D1B468"><enum>(II)</enum><text>0.2 percent of the value of the State or Tribal government loan fund of a participating entity, as of the date on which the valuation is made; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id9983E914A78A4FC18A310B48A6AAB2AF"><enum>(III)</enum><text>an amount equal to 7 percent of all grant awards made to a participating entity for the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity under this section for the fiscal year.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id26BF45956F6247F38A703B339C33E5CB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Audit and report</header><subparagraph id="idDF2D3F4FD8F7438397A073D27B4BA40E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Audit requirement</header><text>Not less frequently than biennially, each participating entity shall conduct an audit of the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF9182053701F4E788DD8D42963233934"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Each participating entity shall submit to the Administrator a biennial report regarding the activities of the participating entity under this section during the period covered by the report, including—</text><clause id="idA97421A97373484F94E533C70B1031AA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the result of any audit conducted by the participating entity under subparagraph (A); and</text></clause><clause id="id9CF8CDC484464CFBB4C02F3B2948D4A6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a review of the effectiveness of the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity with respect to—</text><subclause id="idCD77A8EE9ED545CDBD0F1B076242D212"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the intended use plans of the participating entity; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idD64CDD3169CB493A8C425F9F759322EA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>meeting the objectives described in subsection (b)(1).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id98315951454C4F78AB8782BD57EA414F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Oversight</header><text>In conducting oversight with respect to State or Tribal government loan funds established under this section, the Administrator—</text><subparagraph id="idBAB316568BF4447C8AD9423260C6D15C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall—</text><clause id="id554057F98A4C482BA28CFF8296498D08"><enum>(i)</enum><text>periodically audit the funds in accordance with procedures established by the Comptroller General of the United States; and</text></clause><clause id="idBF24B482F0864D6D9B5E63A4F0747F89"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>not less frequently than once every 4 years, review each State or Tribal government loan fund to determine the effectiveness of the fund in reducing flood risk; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8232F89738AF4A5999B12092ECF78219"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may, at any time—</text><clause id="id32877D23EA4C4F6188C5C115D05ACA01"><enum>(i)</enum><text>make recommendations to a participating entity with respect to the administration of the State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity; or</text></clause><clause id="idB1AA97CA2FB84D51AD4748ACAC46CF15"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>require specific changes with respect to a State or Tribal government loan fund of the participating entity in order to improve the effectiveness of the fund.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id97C3DF28A95C4C16BC8662252CD01F41"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Liability protections</header><text>The Federal Emergency Management Agency shall not be liable for any claim based on the exercise or performance of, or the failure to exercise or perform, a discretionary function or duty by the Agency, or an employee of the Agency, in carrying out this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id37EA52AC7CA3452298A61297A22ABCDF"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Administrator shall promulgate such guidance or regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section, including guidance or regulations that—</text><paragraph id="id787EEBBF0C2946E7BF03BC69E968BBBB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ensure that each participating entity to which funds are allocated under this section uses the funds as efficiently as possible;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAAB10E180E6342F9A5FC5E8DD6D69552"><enum>(2)</enum><text>reduce, to the maximum extent practicable, waste, fraud, and abuse with respect to the implementation of this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id26AEBBFB88594A5AA170DAB453DECE86"><enum>(3)</enum><text>require any party that receives funds directly or indirectly under this section, including a participating entity and a recipient of amounts from a State or Tribal government loan fund, to use procedures with respect to the management of the funds that conform to generally accepted accounting standards.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA2B0CE6E7E7F4955806AA005ABE4DCF3"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal years 2024 through 2033.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idADF155F238CF419CAEB99F29487D3B3F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consideration of mitigation measures funded by State loan funds in flood insurance premium rates</header><paragraph id="id89BD8C9E0B2D463AB328E8435CF1913A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Estimated rates</header><text>Section 1307(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4014">42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)(A)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>and similar measures</quote> and inserting <quote>similar measures, any activities funded through amounts from a State or Tribal government loan fund established under section 1327</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC9D5B9387E4C4334B13DBD30DCA7152A" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Chargeable rates</header><text>Section 1308(b)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(b)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>and similar measures</quote> and inserting <quote>similar measures, any activities funded through amounts from a State or Tribal government loan fund established under section 1327</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id017150E403D344F79F0CF32B5DAE45A5"><enum>208.</enum><header>Mapping modernization</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4CC48C5A9E2C41088502DC3D5684A880"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendments to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4004">42 U.S.C. 4004 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD265279FA73848ADAD08A6DCE9910326"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 100215 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4101a">42 U.S.C. 4101a</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0FA492B57AB14672A9BC256F23119BED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8232748A5C264B3FAD9BDEE9587A23D7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id18A86235CFBF437E847C1EEE86E96EFE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as subparagraphs (B) through (F), respectively;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAD8C0E13EE394077B33C7AA607423C55"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="id151E6194EE1247AAB305AB882E8DBCA4"><subparagraph id="id420AA72C7077410284A8CF936330BD1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Director of the United States Geological Survey;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEBACC6E41E3E474EB8A0589517376891"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated—</text><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE4B7BEE5C384495FB0BE3F8A951FD802"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>16</quote> and inserting <quote>17</quote>;</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB5D3C31830DA4ADCAAEEE984CFE71DA9"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>in clause (xiii), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47C32FD74E97471B86BF2665DE2D44F5"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>in clause (xiv), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id31FB4B8292CA4ACABFEF16081CF77367"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" act-name="" id="id35020090D8ED42AF9CD7D822A14AED03"><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id373A39675CF24A0A97814195928C4604"><enum>(xv)</enum><text>an expert in the field of catastrophic risk modeling.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></item></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3A95C979F34B46D39081AFF94B20C742"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), in the second sentence, by striking <quote>paragraph (1)(E)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)(F)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id86C899B7E3C1431DB692F9A13DF36C63"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id02BF9DBCAEDD49BF9694E09D6D3C3C3A" act-name=""><paragraph id="idB2170B02BE734E3E852DF7C09A65E126"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conflicts of interest</header><text>A member of the Council—</text><subparagraph id="idD813DDFAC600437AAAD85D254A5C629B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may not, while serving on the Council, be employed or retained by—</text><clause id="id208608EBB09C465C998CCDBE2414B617"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a Federal Emergency Management Agency contractor or consultant; or</text></clause><clause id="idE2728A08240640AAAD97546165127BB7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a nongovernmental entity that was awarded a Federal grant during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the member was appointed to the Council; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id97FF00FDC15C4AAF89EBCBAE6DA4F6D3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may not have been employed by a Federal Emergency Management Agency contractor or consultant during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the member was appointed to the Council.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD97FC7AC6AD47ACB6479DCDC4A43E56"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE28509FE72744CAAAA314F9B6E8EF262"><subsection commented="no" id="id697fa62e0d3a44139b5ed41295b48bb4"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Private or community flood maps</header><paragraph id="id35b1d927e9f8466489a9d581da823162"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Standards and procedures</header><text>In addition to the other duties of the Council under this section, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Council shall develop and establish a set of standards, guidelines, and procedures for—</text><subparagraph id="id0ae83d048e084598862c01d74dc5bc61"><enum>(A)</enum><text>State and local governments, federally or State-recognized metropolitan planning organizations (commonly known as <quote>MPOs</quote>), federally or State-recognized councils of local governments, and federally or State-recognized rural transportation planning organizations to use in mapping flood risks and developing alternative maps to the flood insurance rate maps developed by the Administrator; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id821552ecbf984c74ac07b108e760f59b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>certification, by the Administrator not later than 90 days after the date on which a map developed under subparagraph (A) is submitted to the Administrator, for use under the National Flood Insurance Program in the case of any area covered by a flood insurance rate map developed or approved by the Administrator that has not been updated or reissued during the preceding 3-year period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc8a563864f2344009e8e97a8815e466b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment</header><text>On and after the date on which the Administrator certifies a map under paragraph (1)(B), and subject to the requirements of section 1363 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104">42 U.S.C. 4104</external-xref>), the map—</text><subparagraph id="ideb17915c428546e4a6924020bc0978f4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be considered the flood insurance rate map in effect for all purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program with respect to the area covered by the map; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7e08a6f38b7144889c404be344bf01d6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may not be revised, updated, or replaced in accordance with the standards, guidelines, and procedures established under paragraph (1) before the expiration of the 3-year period beginning on that date of certification.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2176c69806aa4664bfecfd2f1121ab3a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exemption from rulemaking</header><text>Until the date on which the Administrator promulgates regulations implementing paragraphs (1) and (2), the Administrator may adopt policies and procedures, notwithstanding any other provision of law, necessary to implement those paragraphs without regard to section 553 of title 5, United States Code, and without conducting regulatory analyses otherwise required by statute, regulation, or Executive order.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE5FEF67AB4304BDE84D992E52AA43104"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 100216 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4101b">42 U.S.C. 4101b</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="idD3E95B9075444A51A7012EC0D7EECB27"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)—</text><clause id="idE3A189FF64804405810622DD8C9F2C86"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text><subclause id="id1BFE4F4AB9A14421A9850289662D6F66"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text><item id="idde508548e1cf45d296d7423e8f71a7c3"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in clause (v), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></item><item id="id37aa6e8bfc7f4202820c8993c9e87949"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>in clause (vi), by adding <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text></item><item id="id324c3df6b65949799d16d3a97ba27e50"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>by inserting after clause (vi) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8116d16686fa4977af4c56498a000806"><clause id="idf2b7355de2134b69bd2b48d56d71569a"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>all other areas of the United States that are not described in clauses (i) through (vi);</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></item></subclause><subclause id="idFC0F3A6BC7F3468E8922280E6BA1F1F2"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subclause><subclause id="id7D2ED5A3AFD749159F4E623C05ED5CB1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, including the most recently available and best remote sensing technology;</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id0614F54BEC684D76B9D101D0C2CCEDE9"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="idA72C108D4F904EBC86A0A942BCEB9239"><subparagraph id="id86C9E6FF50024603A710BAB401AB4478"><enum>(D)</enum><text>when appropriate, partner with other Federal agencies, States, and private entities in order to meet the objectives of the program; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1946400800E54A019BBC6EA3EE34A3FB"><enum>(E)</enum><text>consult and coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to obtain the most up-to-date maps and other information of those agencies, including information relating to topography, water flow, watershed characteristics, and any other issues that are relevant to identifying, reviewing, updating, maintaining, and publishing National Flood Insurance Program rate maps.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="id57229C3C8E6F4EDF894F93C1820936FA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><subclause id="idC346AA487E8241ACBE38C5B1A13EA9BC"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;</text></subclause><subclause id="id19428A7303334B62BFFE7819923850E3"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;</text></subclause><subclause id="id93BD0A04B230461999805478523D76B8"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>Administrator shall include—</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" act-name="" id="id6C731A1590464D59A15852826E3D9D83"><text>Administrator—</text><subparagraph id="id88E8E736E2EA4A6A8FF9E82D282F0350"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall include—</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="id7BE097BCE5F943D89684024F40230B01"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)(v), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id153646C7526E4045B9B22C88FF0A69BB"><enum>(V)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" act-name="" id="id9497B0C0BF2343928EEACD88077F5F93"><subparagraph id="idC40562E87C7A48CEA6DA21F614244983"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may include—</text><clause id="id155AC698F15447B680D5217A8FF4A4F3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any relevant information that is obtained under paragraph (1)(E); and</text></clause><clause id="idADE0559AA78F49918E937BEA496F7C00"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>cadastral features, including, for each cadastral feature—</text><subclause id="id9D4139F9682A475C96F52A29AB9AD05E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the associated parcel identification data for that feature; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCB347F0C471C496EB59995294103692D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, using public and private sector address data, the address of that feature.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79DEC86EC68E4A54B28A42919543A671"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(2)—</text><clause id="H555C474BB5B44B64A05EC7869629EFDF"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="HEF00AB4CAFFB474EB57DDF7F9C674B35"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></clause><clause id="HACBA47B747A1493986346DFE9935B368"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD82E280421E949D29CF74A5DB5C3FF46"><subparagraph id="HEACE1DCAAF8B4C1CAF5AF5D153727B6C"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 5 years after the date on which the National Geodetic Survey completes the modernization of the National Spatial Reference System in 2022, updated to conform with the geospatial data provided by that system; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD753C9D3371249C38C421F55DF997787"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">spatially accurate in accordance with the common protocols for geographic information systems under applicable law.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id11B3B9E78132460CB03E70AE6CA716B2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC2A11903B8D34492A53E2E3DBC8F2FED"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (e) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDF36C5F490214C8E8F527CC9E82C18C0"><subsection id="id1F53326273EC4B76A7B5561E16102405"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Incorporating building-Specific flood risk information</header><paragraph id="id71504fc39b514b6c990d3a10146e7899"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><subparagraph id="id8F1C37F135DD46B89EE76B8B37B0687F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the <short-title>National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2023</short-title>, the Administrator, in coordination with, and as recommended by, the Technical Mapping Advisory Council, shall establish a dynamic, database-derived digital display environment for flood hazard risk production and dissemination.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB191F484974C425D8F5EC97D784B719E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consultation with States and communities</header><text>In designing and constructing the environment under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall—</text><clause id="id960102DB14754A648E4D1971120EAFD3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>leverage and partner with States and communities that have successfully implemented the same approach; and</text></clause><clause id="id5467888D928440ADA0EBE56A0A439362"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>consider adopting the techniques and technologies used by States and communities described in clause (i) and applying them nationwide.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id84717c3464dd4ee48be5533d487f8250"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Digital display</header><subparagraph id="idC34EE93D70B446528FAF038A995B531F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall create a digital display prompted through dynamic querying of a spatial, relational building database that includes—</text><clause id="id30fe7e5782e344659293223f9ea890ac"><enum>(i)</enum><text>special flood hazard areas and base flood elevations for purposes of lender compliance with the requirements under section 102 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4012a">42 U.S.C. 4012a</external-xref>); and</text></clause><clause id="ida8017dd853c141d5ab342c3ab393f646"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>structure-specific flood risk information, including, for each property address—</text><subclause id="idd60ab9a856014516b7b9d5af79898745"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the spatial footprint and elevation of the structure relative to special flood hazard areas and base flood elevations;</text></subclause><subclause id="idce77fc2786264cd7b9c8a043ada6a776"><enum>(II)</enum><text>elevation data applicable to the property;</text></subclause><subclause id="id8a7145e703634b5da0fcb50ceb1638ec"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any letter of map changes;</text></subclause><subclause id="idc2d909829ea34378b61bf28fcfd2859d"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, the full risk premium rate estimated for the structure under section 1307(a)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4014">42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)</external-xref>) based on elevation data and, where applicable, the level of protection provided by levee systems;</text></subclause><subclause id="id90a42637281444e4a4630d9da218ed62"><enum>(V)</enum><text>the disclosure described in section 1308(l) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(l)</external-xref>), which shall include—</text><item id="id13FDA0191355419DA210E11493ED7F3D"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the extent to which, if any, the chargeable premium rate applicable to the property is less than the full risk premium rate under section 1307(a)(1) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4014">42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)</external-xref>); and</text></item><item id="id316AE84AAB194FA191122F6F25F971D9"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>an explanation of the difference described in item (aa) and the methodology used to rate the property;</text></item></subclause><subclause id="id3fc11ca85ffb4de5972028537fab8eb0"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>the estimated cost to repair the structure in the case of damage from floods with recurrence intervals ranging from the 10 percent annual chance event to the 0.2 percent annual chance event;</text></subclause><subclause id="id5c7053e355954e6b94b4411d3e7285a1"><enum>(VII)</enum><text>the cost-effectiveness of mitigating the structure using common methods and how the chargeable premium rate would change based on each mitigation method; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idbafc2b68672b4a829a2c51d7df3ce5ca"><enum>(VIII)</enum><text>the claims history of the structure, including the amount and date of each loss.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDAE777914B034FCDA62A6E803043B343"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Privacy requirements</header><text>With respect to the database described in subparagraph (A), including any data used to create that database, the Administrator may not disseminate the database to any person other than the owner or leaseholder of a property identified in the database.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc941f2668aed4c49a6a95d0167f44ab0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Database</header><subparagraph id="id849ACD536597495597FEAE820D65D823"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text><clause id="id821F694DD2F34626B0FBBED6913D8940"><enum>(i)</enum><text>develop a spatial, relational database of buildings for which flood hazard has been identified through the National Flood Insurance Program; and</text></clause><clause id="id0C5516B0F31B4146A7D6FFB903164B28"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>obtain the data necessary to support the digital display created under paragraph (2).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id600812F376EA49E0B885544AA94B8A7B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Data</header><text>The data obtained under subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum—</text><clause id="id37d29da10f35405d822cac0a89b5ee09"><enum>(i)</enum><text>footprints and elevations (including lowest adjacent grade and first floor) from Light Detection and Ranging (commonly known as <quote>LiDAR</quote>) data collections or other data collection methods that meet or exceed the standards for buildings, as determined by the Administrator;</text></clause><clause id="id2ffee92def254c5c8a801a1ad6a9a060"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>elevation data;</text></clause><clause id="id1a6bdd7d414f4fe38275277c70300c02"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>parcel, address, and imagery data necessary for the identification, assessment, and reduction of flood hazards for individual properties;</text></clause><clause id="id43a80a402eb44ab08d355bdc80b73556"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>flood insurance rate maps, studies, and supporting data;</text></clause><clause id="id021565c5d6cf4359b7f8f70993efab2f"><enum>(v)</enum><text>letters of map change; and</text></clause><clause id="id0c23899037334dd1b8ff6d03fba81c23"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>any other data that the Administrator determines necessary to collect to meet the objectives of this section.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3ba2c9d80253401f8496ff8998108925"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Data procurement</header><text>The Administrator shall obtain any data necessary to establish the environment under paragraph (1), including by—</text><subparagraph id="ida5841b11b7014f59ae6e8ebd27ba0f70"><enum>(A)</enum><text>directing communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, by regulation, to collect and supply information, including elevation data, for each structure that obtains a construction or other development permit within—</text><clause id="id5182A5C4408B4B578499CDA9D3EBCE5D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a special flood hazard area; or</text></clause><clause id="id177B5D4AB11A477F9319631AC09EF3D0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an advisory special flood hazard area adopted by the community;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0c0e624477ae4675b6b3412cc413cc91"><enum>(B)</enum><text>issuing guidelines and standards, as determined by the Administrator;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4216a228f117436bbaf1714d9b8e6e5a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>partnering with other Federal, State, local, and private stakeholders to the greatest extent possible to obtain and share existing data that meets or exceeds the standards determined by the Administrator under subparagraph (B); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb7e031c2d923474e83b77ed213d94e74"><enum>(D)</enum><text>contracting with private companies to obtain new LiDAR data collections or elevation data.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id851c26668f8940fa94646d09004f4195"><enum>(5)</enum><header>NFIP premium credit</header><text>The Administrator shall provide a 1-time premium credit of not more than $500 to a policyholder for the purchase of an elevation certificate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb8c9ba170ad54fd6a6c5c899f28dafbf"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Mass letters of map change</header><text>In coordination with States and communities that have successfully implemented a dynamic, database-derived digital display environment for flood hazard risk production and dissemination, the Administrator shall issue guidelines for the adoption and integration into the program established under subsection (a) of LiDAR-based letter of map amendment approaches.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6293d87dfa0646ccaae9e524d5ca5138"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>The Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives an annual progress report on the implementation of this subsection, which shall include recommendations to reduce the cost and improve the implementation of this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBA8ADBF292E441B1A00462CA780840CE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in subsection (g), as so redesignated—</text><clause id="id7F2B6C05717E40B9BDE7DC7A766956BC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>this section $400,000,000</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id8710C3EDA80B4D559B671897330A4A1B"><text>this section—</text><paragraph id="id9F822B9DE4B2426691808DD7463E388B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$500,000,000</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id83480FD77C334799B007673ACEB7C827"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idEA2E880FD8BD4CD99271FC6BAF62948F"><text>; and</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43987921B8D642D284799A1EB4A3A487"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDF18DA56384A4370AC9BBE27C6306447"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appeals</header><paragraph id="id850ABF1D35DC41C5B7C0258EE31F9B50"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="id43B95B869EA84D22AA8C0D9C96CA64B0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Right to appeal</header><text>Section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4101">42 U.S.C. 4101</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5C8C7CC2918D4EFD87B5B444F8EC5725"><subsection id="idCA16A257A9944CD8ACE5711FA514BD5B"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Appeals of existing maps</header><paragraph id="idDA836081948348C78F5005176597C0BF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Right to appeal</header><text>Subject to paragraph (6), a State or local government, or the owner or lessee of real property, that makes a formal request to the Administrator to update a flood insurance rate map that the Administrator denies may at any time appeal the denial in accordance with this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idDF7AAA8AED744C8ABBDBEC2A817F32BF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Basis for appeal</header><text>The basis for an appeal under this subsection shall be the possession of knowledge or information that—</text><subparagraph id="idC32AAA256B3747BF87FCFD70407A0E9B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the base flood elevation level or designation of any aspect of a flood insurance rate map is scientifically or technically inaccurate; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFD6D36E576BF4DE7A5CFA5859FBA8740"><enum>(B)</enum><text>factors exist that mitigate the risk of flooding, including ditches, banks, walls, vegetation, levees, lakes, dams, reservoirs, basin, retention ponds, and other natural or manmade topographical features.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4758AAEC658042329DBDFE12C13F9581"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Appeals process</header><subparagraph id="id55245F8407A84AE8882AE7BFBCB72DD0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Administrative adjudication</header><text>The Administrator shall determine an appeal under this subsection by making a final adjudication on the record, after providing an opportunity for an administrative hearing.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC2943488E6D94713BCC108D88175B8CF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Rights upon adverse decision</header><clause id="id5E47864DBB9B459C8B3222DB80812A0C"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Optional arbitration</header><text>If an appeal determined under subparagraph (A) does not result in a decision in favor of the State, local government, owner, or lessee, that party may request that an appeal of the adverse decision be heard— </text><subclause id="id07C67D5225374AC0A31D13C2FD20B0F1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>through independent, non-binding arbitration; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idE1BEB8613D3942389AA66AF504610010"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by the Scientific Resolution Panel provided for in section 1363A.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id601D60A5A10A4040BFBA6576EC3ABA0F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Process</header><text>Notwithstanding any provision of section 1363A(c)(4) regarding the binding nature of the recommendations of the Scientific Resolution Panel, the Administrator shall establish a process for the purposes of clause (i) under which an arbitrator or the Scientific Resolution Panel, as applicable, provides a non-binding recommendation to the Administrator.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA988295752EE42F99F006FFB95F6F902"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Relief</header><subparagraph id="idEBDE5334C1084F39850949ACD101F12D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Wholly successful appeals</header><text>If the Administrator determines in an appeal under this subsection that the property of a policyholder that had been included in a special flood hazard area under the flood insurance rate map is actually not in a special flood hazard area—</text><clause id="id635E58FD9C1E409D8F2C791E0A902727"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the policyholder may cancel the policy at any time during the year in which the Administrator makes the determination; and</text></clause><clause id="id50DF918E47F741EA92421D2815E37DBB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Administrator shall provide the policyholder a refund equal to the amount of—</text><subclause id="id0E2070AF1D4040BEA557F7D8486F7C24"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any premiums that the policyholder paid during the year described in clause (i); and</text></subclause><subclause id="idA865A5F169EC4EB3971DA6A1057092E2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any premiums that the policyholder paid for flood insurance coverage that the policyholder was required to purchase or maintain during the 2-year period preceding the year described in clause (i).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF70C824ABE53444EA4F3E6795DABE7F9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Partially successful appeals</header><text>If the Administrator determines in an appeal under this subsection that mitigating factors have reduced, but not eliminated, the risk of flooding to a property, the Administrator shall—</text><clause id="idAB4BB5F0B0274704A569609838BB8843"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reduce the amount of flood insurance coverage required to be maintained for the property by the ratio of the successful portion of the appeal as compared to the entire appeal; and</text></clause><clause id="id6C6AA048F2A244F7B86E6F6FF206A0AE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide the policyholder a refund equal to the difference between—</text><subclause id="id59AA3C4E9CE142BAA3E06D66E6A72080"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the amount of any premiums that the policyholder paid during the period—</text><item id="id57CF844F1CCF464DBE88AD7A4CE62526"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>beginning on the later of—</text><subitem id="idF4B896AEA6214E7C9C1416AE3A996F01"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>the date on which the mitigating factor was created; or</text></subitem><subitem id="id39DE79B28B934E078FE120E74C7CFEBB"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>January 1 of the second year preceding the date on which the determination is made; and</text></subitem></item><item id="id086E673F3AE1499A9E9D904DFA8294E8"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>ending on the date on which the reduction in the amount of flood insurance required, as described in clause (i), takes effect; and</text></item></subclause><subclause id="id87FDCA19D46F459894904B7ED7EA7E2E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the amount of premiums that the policyholder would have been required to pay if the reduced amount of flood insurance coverage required, as described in clause (i), had been in effect during the period described in subclause (I) of this clause.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A2A0C5ABBCB4F7C9F02FB86BF48F235"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Additional relief</header><text>The Administrator may provide additional refunds in excess of the amounts required under subparagraphs (A) and (B) if the Administrator determines that such additional refunds are warranted.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA41B0D816B2249F48D5F79809DE2B7CC"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Recovery of costs</header><subparagraph id="id201C6BEFA01548B8812F2736412B34CE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Appeal expenses</header><text>If a State or local government, or the owner or lessee of real property, incurs any expense in connection with an appeal under this subsection that is based on a scientific or technical error made by the Administrator and that is successful in whole or part regarding the designation of the base flood elevation or any aspect of a flood insurance rate map, including elevation or designation of a special flood hazard area, the Administrator shall reimburse the State, local government, owner, or lessee in accordance with subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5F4E93CC66A240FBA4715B2E8A820EDC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reimbursable expenses</header><text>The Administrator—</text><clause id="id8F2974BA28624DF885433A611A7418B1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>may reimburse a party under subparagraph (A) for reasonable expenses described in that subparagraph—</text><subclause id="id4E2C725BC5FF40BBA6E7F8BA5C4F2C71"><enum>(I)</enum><text>including for a service provided by a surveyor, engineer, or scientific expert; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id95A2FBEA866540DB826E1C5529358CBF"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to the extent measured by the ratio of the successful portion of the appeal as compared to the entire appeal; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idA2D6DD500C244C30B1518B83DFC3851F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may not reimburse a party under subparagraph (A) for—</text><subclause id="idDAD9B87D273F44F288E654BD86157322"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the cost of legal services; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idE03415DCAC8A4285A32B2DA5196B27EE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the payment of any fee or expense, the payment of which was agreed to be contingent upon the result of the appeal.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id157F860AA4EC42DFBBB784050C40AADB"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text>The Administrator shall issue guidance to implement this subsection, which shall not be subject to the notice and comment requirements under section 553 of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD542139777174BB19F38710D0A845401"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><text>Section 1310(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4017">42 U.S.C. 4017(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="id03A88267A7B14420AA40BFD045E667A6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (7), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="id14664CBA071E4E649023C99B1B3F222E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idF9192BF1136F45D3929B58572274A42C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="id7A9B9D4CE95B490CA6A729131CF13ABA"><paragraph id="idD70131BE122D46C1BB17B430448F5738"><enum>(9)</enum><text>for providing reimbursements of expenses of flood insurance rate map appeals under section 1360(k)(5).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id357DA9FD8B784F13B8D39F8EC8A2AF7B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline for issuance of guidance</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue the guidance required under subsection (k)(6) of section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4101">42 U.S.C. 4101</external-xref>), as added by paragraph (1)(A).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB6E33C14C8CB4F23BE0BDCFF4F42FDB2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Issuance of regulations for map appeals</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue the regulations required to be issued under subsection (f) of section 1363 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104">42 U.S.C. 4104</external-xref>) and any relevant guidance to implement that subsection. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46873a4fd9784631b1c0605938810fe8"><enum>209.</enum><header>Appeals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a fair, transparent, and streamlined process to manage disputes regarding chargeable premium rates prescribed under section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015</external-xref>), as amended by this Act, including a dispute regarding, with respect to a property—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a84709b17534141ab6e6b333cad8b13"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the distance of the property from an ocean, coastline, lake, or river;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08403f5a4b9248a0bc390f10a1f7461a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the elevation of the property;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88b58464d6024b8ba91f816b9df26d5f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the ground elevation of the property;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1ec05888ad104258b0254cf4a5d35a35"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the first floor height of the property;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea5e6f345d84486babdf32ea074c89cd"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the type of foundation with respect to the property; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide828d84dc84b40ed818126c01e3d1d6e"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the quality of any levee on the property.</text></paragraph></section><section id="idf16a4b0c5e8148abafc17d1dcfdb9de3"><enum>210.</enum><header>Levee-protected areas</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 100216(b) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4101b">42 U.S.C. 4101b(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id886d8fce5043486ead69955156952573"><paragraph id="id5eb4678a24b14ac3bb5ca849f20a0bba"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Areas protected by levee systems</header><subparagraph id="id9d4fc52f06474e948ac230b9d204a0ce"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>To facilitate the implementation of this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, this paragraph shall apply to a community in which the Administrator establishes rates for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program in a levee-protected area.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89ccb51ddb2b46f6bd7ed40de478ea03"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Non-accredited levee systems</header><clause id="id46f5cef871214f7baa4caaaeda0a7772"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Assessment of protection provided by non-accredited levee systems</header><text>With respect to an area in which the pertinent levee system fails to meet the minimum design, operation, and maintenance standards of the National Flood Insurance Program described in section 65.10 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, for levee accreditation on a National Flood Insurance Program rate map under the Risk Rating 2.0 methodology (or any substantially similar methodology), the Administrator shall, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph—</text><subclause id="idF51838FA5B7F44579C71ECFF22F4DE90"><enum>(I)</enum><text>through rules issued under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, establish—</text><item id="idEE9BB5B27D244FA9A7A8FE963E8E201A"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the analysis that the Administrator will perform to determine the level of protection provided by the non-accredited levee system; and</text></item><item id="id1868AF26A7C64207AE675B5171398D07"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the procedure by which the Administrator will establish rates for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program for that area; and</text></item></subclause><subclause id="id901F02F790D64F71B57E6867AB65137A"><enum>(II)</enum><item commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD66D26E3C16C4C91BA1B61746578964C"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>issue guidance with respect to the matters described in items (aa) and (bb) of subclause (I); or</text></item><item id="idAF91275638A640B78515E69C1C46DC45" indent="up1"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>use the levee analysis and mapping procedure of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph, for purposes of updating flood insurance rate maps and establishing rates for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program, working with established Local Levee Partnership Teams or their equivalent for verification of accurate results.</text></item></subclause></clause><clause id="id9aaafcd3b57d448e8c279be7c7c4efff"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Rate for areas without sufficient data</header><text>With respect to a structure that is located in an area described in clause (i), and for which the Administrator does not have sufficient data to assess risk, the Administrator may not increase the rates for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program for that structure until the Administrator—</text><subclause id="id68992BB536E144CF84C0F7BC80555E58"><enum>(I)</enum><text>carries out clause (i) with respect to that area; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id73A1CB7368AD4B54A618CCF1666B8539"><enum>(II)</enum><text>makes available to all parties affected by the increased rate the data on which the Administrator is relying in establishing that increased rate.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd8f9905665fa462e9d78cfd46eca051e"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Mandatory purchase requirement for levee systems</header><text>In any area in which the pertinent levee system meets the minimum design, operation, and maintenance standards described in section 65.10 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, the Administrator may not— </text><clause id="id4F36BAAD6D15412D93AF081D889DCDCA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>designate the levee-protected area a special flood hazard area; or</text></clause><clause id="id90D7B9343B5A49D08321F81C4E34F1F7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>impose any requirement to purchase flood insurance for a structure located in the area.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3731d808f1d54450aa2685156cb143b5"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Appeals process</header><clause id="idA8D0807CE7874AB69921FC05EC235685"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall develop an appeals process for communities located within a levee-protected area described in this paragraph that disputes the assessment made by the Administrator of the level of protection provided by the levee or the residual risk associated with the levee.</text></clause><clause id="id94009A5AB9B94EE7A4309E1DA9424518"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Definition requirements</header><text>With respect to the appeals process established under clause (i)—</text><subclause id="idEB9A2D2655FA46EBA4F058B0B8ABE546"><enum>(I)</enum><text>subject to subclause (II), the Administrator shall make clear which definition of the terms <quote>levee</quote> and <quote>residual risk</quote> shall apply for the purposes of the appeal; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id446E8FD5717E465DBB700E9C9013761C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>an appellant in an appeal brought under that process may require that the Administrator use the definition of the term <quote>levee</quote> in section 59.1 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id593b382575054044aad7156affaf29c3"><enum>211.</enum><header>Community-wide flood mitigation activities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should consider flood mitigation activities that—</text><paragraph id="id397810252CF24E75802305AE0A00858E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide benefits to an entire floodplain or community, or to a portion of such a community;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id11BDE226419445A78DC8CCD9B964B2E5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consider all available and practicable approaches; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id48DFE70EE13B44C2A4AB2FCBBD7542EC"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Administrator determines—</text><subparagraph id="id4EFCFC698E4D4C898A0A28050406DAB5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are technically feasible;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEEC2139CAD9C425DBE9A50181B61EAFF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have the highest net benefits; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD24B08BFB4444DD8BF5D6DB4B7ABDBF5"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are consistent with mitigation plans approved by the Administrator.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id46AEBF054D94442A8FB19F814412A2DF"><enum>212.</enum><header>Premium calculator</header><subsection id="idF5AB500F8E2442AAB217AB3C6B6A24CE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text><paragraph id="id49E10FF6603E4EE79E1B791A666EBE89"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>covered property</term> means a property for which insurance is provided under the National Flood Insurance Program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id71B481F445024683A01AC519BC3A95AE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>premium rates</term> means chargeable premium rates prescribed under section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015</external-xref>), as amended by this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2396E93042CC4D8EA4D3CE42B5AE5981"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The Administrator shall take the following actions: </text><paragraph id="idB5086580B0094998A6865EA9936C70A5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, make public all formulas used by the Administrator to calculate the value of mitigation credits provided with respect to covered properties, including, at a minimum, credits for—</text><subparagraph id="id00B491C421BE4836AFF54EC191F965B2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>installing a flood opening;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89F90732BC01413AA5AC57C40309F3DF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>elevating such a property onto a post, pile, or pier; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF31EC68E843949B98C31FFFE9B61071E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>elevating machinery and equipment above the lowest floor of such a property.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idFC8C37AB6EB64A36A67BB0DDAAEA8B0B" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, establish a tool that allows members of the public to estimate premium rates for covered properties under the Risk Rating 2.0 program (or any similar methodology) within a reasonable margin of error based on user inputs, which shall include a mechanism for determining how the premium rates for a covered property would change based on taking a particular mitigation action, including an action described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1) with respect to the covered property.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0c69c3bcfb8a4259954714959cd301d8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, publish online, for each State, county, and ZIP Code in the United States, a distribution showing the median, mean, lower and upper quartiles, maximum, and minimum—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb97a4616f66b4b0fb99614f118674fea"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">premium rates; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcd143af3526549c995501c33c112d247"><enum>(B)</enum><text>full risk premium rates under section 1307(a)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4014">42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)</external-xref>), as amended by this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id991f7dcb36754983b949cc889aac08ac"><enum>213.</enum><header>Consideration of mitigation projects in flood insurance premium rates</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05717fd0159545548cc667e7ac15398d"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Estimated rates</header><text>Section 1307(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4014">42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)(A)(ii)</external-xref>), as amended by section 207(b)(1) of this Act, is amended by inserting after <quote>section 1327</quote> the following: <quote>, and any mitigation project carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers or under the community development block grant program for disaster recovery or mitigation, section 203 or 205 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>, 5135), or the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84af4d88a3414b7499ce72f9f8d18753"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chargeable rates</header><text>Section 1308(b)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015(b)(1)</external-xref>), as amended by section 207(b)(2) of this Act, is amended by inserting after <quote>section 1327</quote> the following: <quote>, and any mitigation project carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers or under the community development block grant program for disaster recovery or mitigation, section 203 or 205 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>, 5135), or the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency</quote>. </text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Solvency</header><section id="id5EE96594066247E7A6021167EA326DF2"><enum>301.</enum><header>Forbearance on NFIP interest payments</header><subsection id="idb25e3b7e58774a2685c2623c8f11ba19"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury may not charge the Administrator interest on amounts borrowed by the Administrator under section 1309(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4016">42 U.S.C. 4016(a)</external-xref>) that were outstanding as of the date of enactment of this Act, including amounts borrowed after the date of enactment of this Act that refinance debts that existed before the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd4cc6a7ffaf847649f23e8f83d2d8830"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of saved amounts</header><text>There shall be deposited into the National Flood Mitigation Fund an amount equal to the interest that would have accrued on the borrowed amounts during the 5-year period described in subsection (a) at the time at which those interest payments would have otherwise been paid, which, notwithstanding any provision of section 1367 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104d">42 U.S.C. 4104d</external-xref>), the Administrator shall use to carry out the program established under section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104c">42 U.S.C. 4104c</external-xref>).</text></subsection><subsection id="idea1a675ceb1f460f89afde7fb20003dd"><enum>(c)</enum><header>No retroactive accrual</header><text>After the 5-year period described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall not require the Administrator to repay any interest that, but for that subsection, would have accrued on the borrowed amounts described in that subsection during that 5-year period.</text></subsection></section><section id="id6F68BBF4AB794C8DAD00ACEFA0C2DACC"><enum>302.</enum><header>Cap on Write Your Own company compensation</header><subsection id="id7EAD8B41A6804E8CA3690A51AA0A8D01"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1311 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4018">42 U.S.C. 4018</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idBDA1DC63787A497ABB24EE38778E7BE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8DDE94E294074F5FA1118466F1625401"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (a) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A37682507994618A81ACDF6C76416BE"><subsection id="id929E50413B8B4AC9A381E54FA9FC3095"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation on compensation; minimum agent commissions</header><text>In negotiating with appropriate representatives of the insurance industry under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that—</text><paragraph id="id991F1A273BDA4313B6294C2778044AFA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any reimbursement paid to a property and casualty insurance company for selling, writing, and servicing flood insurance policies is not more than 22.46 percent of the aggregate amount of premiums charged by the insurance company; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB72DD9293A7040C1841355265121258F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an insurance company pays a portion of the reimbursement described in paragraph (1) to agents of the company as a commission, in an amount that is not less than 15 percent of the aggregate amount of the premiums sold by the agent.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1D11BB59793840B3A8AE05A2708D8C48"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><text>Section 1311 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4018">42 U.S.C. 4018</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is amended—</text><paragraph id="id355585E3DFA24BECA313BDB8B169BEB2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>The Administrator</quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">In general</header-in-text>.—The Administrator</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id18BEAEAD216F47BDB277255E7AC91894"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c), as so redesignated by subsection (a) of this section, by striking <quote>For purposes of subsection (a)</quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Definitions</header-in-text>.—For purposes of this section</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idC3E2CF3B426C49D6807755EFAF8EE422"><enum>303.</enum><header>Third-party service provider costs; transparency</header><subsection id="idF7DF02300FD44058B4CFACA55045FD3C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 100224(d) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4081">42 U.S.C. 4081</external-xref> note) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id30E41E4B252D4E1DB19E13734511E3FE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB0A45A52C5E54BD38B11A86DB6E253A9"><paragraph id="id0894EDED05504086A260BE47227A88F0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idC68984FF5D0242B7BCDAB3B591BCA3FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE8279A3F08744EEC8C5F610E5AFCC561"><paragraph id="idCECC4D12A6C142FEBFAA9522AA5D45A9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Vendor costs; transparency</header><text>In issuing the rule under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—</text><subparagraph id="id8E0ED151C6204FB3B236F6609D570718"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop a schedule to determine the actual costs of Write Your Own third-party service providers, including claims adjusters and engineering companies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE3E0EFBD8A094933BC24EC77EC864F8B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide that if a Write Your Own company requests reimbursement for the costs of a service or product provided to the company by a vendor, the Administrator only reimburses the company for the actual costs of the service or products; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06C591236D434905939932EEEA6437AF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>require that all reimbursements to Write Your Own companies be made public, including a description of the product or service provided to which the reimbursement pertains.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD40DC8B10C97449EB63AB4642475C21F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadline for revised rule</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a revised rule under section 100224(d) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4081">42 U.S.C. 4081</external-xref> note), as amended by subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="ida4d49ea752264fe7a1190311c0f3663d"><enum>304.</enum><header>Availability of NFIP claims data</header><subsection id="idbbe98af4fca64bc8b7b1ce0d2a20d3ad"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study required</header><paragraph id="idF8AE804D9A434FD1891B2CDCAA0F5E45"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall study the feasibility of selling or licensing the use of historical structure-specific National Flood Insurance Program claims data (referred to in this section as <term>covered claims data</term>) to nongovernmental entities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA19E311361A449E5AB9AEFAA27368E8F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, at a minimum—</text><subparagraph id="id29a0c92906f246f1b2b07165006bf2f3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>investigate 1 or more methods of providing the most specific covered claims data possible while reasonably protecting policyholder privacy;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida102e079a38c4d57bc4f2e7c249cd84a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>review existing means, as of the date of enactment of this Act, by which the Federal Government and nongovernmental entities provide leases or licenses to private persons, and the various regulations, terms, conditions, and guidance employed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6fd4ed37d39a42babf76625bbcc1bd30"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identify potential uses for covered claims data and any known risks concerning those uses, including the risk that private insurance companies will use the data to issue flood insurance policies with respect to properties that have the lowest level of flood risk, which would require the National Flood Insurance Program to issue those policies with respect to properties with higher levels of flood risk;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5df160f1a93042798e8908719462edd7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>identify mechanisms for determining the likely market value for access to covered claims data;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1C44BE8C8A014F00B446E5140E5E619C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>consider whether selling or licensing the use of covered claims data, as described in paragraph (1), would be in compliance with section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Privacy Act of 1974</quote>); </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id88C5A182CFBA4248A83094E2640F6B2C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>review the costs of researching, developing, and producing previous releases of covered claims data and identify if releasing this data has benefitted the National Flood Insurance Program in a tangible way that benefits policyholders; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id56fb414e3db6456787a1afa6be9b87fb"><enum>(G)</enum><text>recommend actions the Administrator could take, if any, to prevent unintended consequences associated with the sale or licensing for private insurance purposes covered claims data.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1c354f0a2f7c4f4da04943cde925d5a1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report by Administrator</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results and conclusions of the study conducted under subsection (a), which shall include an analysis of any recommendations made by the study.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id925FD2927E9F48B2817E54870BE6218B"><enum>305.</enum><header>Refusal of mitigation assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4104c">42 U.S.C. 4104c</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF45F37182AAE4B3197A076A052E5B3B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by inserting <quote>and, with respect to financial assistance described in paragraph (2), using amounts made available from the Disaster Relief Fund in accordance with section 203(n) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133(n)</external-xref>)</quote> after <quote>section 1367</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAC9ABDBC7F2547E18E4AE4ADEE593E5C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB61C1BDE42364EE6BEFCEB77DE4D0778"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (g) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCED0AD3C5C7A4D5DA4C2DFA86D9716D4" act-name=""><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7DE4D0A9171E4392ABD3C36F63A0C44B"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Refusal of assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFF9E716F90B1432195BD1DA5F47DFDFA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>bona fide offer of assistance</term> means an offer of assistance made by the Administrator to a policyholder under the national flood insurance program that—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02BEC10431334E13BBC16A0FC4CD9735"><enum>(A)</enum><text>relates to mitigation activities with respect to the structure insured under that program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24921027B1574BFA89D3CC04ECF07BD4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>covers 100 percent of the cost of the mitigation activities described in subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9BEC3E183E3F4F8E829EAB5B7A4C7903"><enum>(C)</enum><text>permits the policyholder to continue to live in the structure to which the policy relates; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id614C36AF1B674F7BA705E97433EBE885"><enum>(D)</enum><text>is carried out under a mitigation plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04E5A1D968D24AA8875953FBE8D46378"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Penalty</header><text>If, after the date of enactment of the <short-title>National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2023</short-title>, a policyholder under the national flood insurance program refuses a bona fide offer of assistance with respect to the property so insured, the Administrator shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, increase the chargeable risk premium rate for flood insurance under this title for the property by 25 percent each year until—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id06BBAD2C614C4274BCBF58CD96F6C951"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the policyholder accepts the bona fide offer of assistance; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA1203E4926AF4CD79CFEF35D2D724E31"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that chargeable risk premium rate is actuarially sound.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id6e272b897de64f3a9a99026e174ed9e6"><enum>306.</enum><header>Multiple structure mitigation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1308A(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015a">42 U.S.C. 4015a(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="ided4b7b97223a4a4ea955f7110b3e0462"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The Administrator</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a424989eba040b4a0880c67421a00b7"><paragraph id="id09bc2e1270a6413fb008fe6444b3a01e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Administrator</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idf5386caaa0d647a198d7415f6519e057"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9c36c26e39374354910188df64f95a75"><paragraph id="id8c62737c464f4d5488927de7ead4f776"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relief for small businesses and nonprofits</header><subparagraph id="id40afb793f6f1485484fdf9fa13955596"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>covered small business or nonprofit organization</term> means a small business concern (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632</external-xref>)) or an organization that is described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/501">section 501(c)(3)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code that owns not fewer than 3 structures that are located on a single property.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide5c114b575f4413e828d330576d0eb6a"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>The Administrator may not impose a surcharge under this section for a policy for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program for a covered small business concern or nonprofit organization with respect to more than 2 detached units or buildings located on a single property if the covered small business or nonprofit organization certifies to the Administrator that the savings from the surcharge not being imposed shall be used for flood mitigation on the property on which the units or buildings are located.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3B22C32F22AF4369B1C802C375A64836"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Rules</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall issue rules establishing the process for submitting a certification described in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Policyholder protection and fairness</header><section id="id3E41BE6713A34B039687C4C7985A9643"><enum>401.</enum><header>Earth movement fix and engineer standards</header><subsection id="id7373B440D6E34568BB971C34553DC2AF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rebuttable presumption for foundation and structural damage</header><paragraph id="idd0094bdb1aac47e0a089bbcf38d5e08c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by section 106(b), is amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0cf40abf2a3b4db09dbdd17d5d4a0ac0"><subsection id="idf8a97d852ceb446bbe40be60561b3dce"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rebuttable presumption for foundation and structural damage</header><paragraph id="id3c4175cebcc04c178fea65409eb171c7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For the purposes of the Administrator determining coverage under the standard flood insurance policy under the national flood insurance program, a rebuttable presumption that physical damage to the foundation of, or structural damage to, a structure was not caused by earth movement shall apply if—</text><subparagraph id="id8195f119d69e442088815bdd96a83237"><enum>(A)</enum><text>flood caused direct physical change to the structure; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1e967bb047904b92a3de56d75521dad8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>there is damage to the foundation of, or structural damage to, the structure that was not present before the flood, as demonstrated by a certification from the policyholder.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id447f27d20cdb4cd59219b2b8352bb9fd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rebuttal</header><text>In determining coverage as a result of the rebuttable presumption under paragraph (1), an insurance company may rebut the presumption only by providing the Administrator with an engineering report that—</text><subparagraph id="id9CA1830A1D8A40658134A5CCC66A8F78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>meets standards issued by the Administrator under paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id09D0C255E7D94EEB89112C618F53B240"><enum>(B)</enum><text>clearly demonstrates that the physical damage to the foundation of, or structural damage to, a structure described in paragraph (1) was caused directly by earth movement that was not—</text><clause id="idb5931bf8bc4646a0ba6650821c0e3c66"><enum>(i)</enum><text>caused by the horizontal pressure from standing or slow-moving floodwater (commonly known as <quote>hydrostatic pressure</quote>);</text></clause><clause id="ideb3ca39590244c5b8f76fac94ce4e4d2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>caused by the force of floodwater that causes the vertical uplift from the underside of a horizontal foundation component, such as a concrete slab, footer, or structural floor assembly (commonly known as <quote>buoyancy</quote>);</text></clause><clause id="id4ef530c72a60419fbf48a2c122bc34e4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>caused by pressure imposed on an object, such as a wall of a building, by high-velocity floodwater or waves flowing against and around the building (commonly known as <quote>hydrodynamic force</quote>);</text></clause><clause id="id813acec7d03e4ca1899e3e6331129d34"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>caused by floodwater moving along the surface of the ground causing soil to suddenly erode or undermine, resulting in failure of a foundation or to one of the structural components of the foundation (commonly known as <quote>scouring</quote>); or</text></clause><clause id="idA575C8329BE740288DFF1FF7429B0DD7"><enum>(v)</enum><text>otherwise caused by flood.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6a72676f38da437b929f40934a4f5d91"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum standards for engineering reports</header><text>The Administrator shall issue minimum standards—</text><subparagraph id="idC4ACB1E9649C4562B93FA3A654BB8DB3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regarding the form and content of engineering reports used to assist insurance claims adjusters with respect to carrying out this subsection; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD61FDAF88DB3434A91DA62A33F84E1A5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that—</text><clause id="id7DB4B5AD8AF74851A4888CD4C754F3B4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>include a requirement that any such engineering report shall be signed and have a seal affixed by an engineer who is licensed in the State in which the property to which the claim relates is located; and</text></clause><clause id="idE5CB001E96FE4D299B82315FFFA53991"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are consistent with generally accepted practices in—</text><subclause id="id9016DDE9DB9F4451BABF47BAD238F510"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the field of forensic engineering; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id00F2C95553E94B91AB0E3332CAD74C36"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the insurance industry.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8B1FB8AD57A849B09B39ABC5DEEB083D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Documentation of condition of foundation</header><subparagraph id="id83BCF5BF8CBE4F9B9193624D19ABD7F2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the holder of a policy for flood insurance coverage made available under this title documents the condition of the foundation of a structure covered by the policy with a photograph, video recording, or otherwise, and submits the documentation to the Administrator or the Write Your Own Company that sold the policy, as applicable, the Administrator or Write Your Own Company, respectively, shall keep the documentation and use the documentation when adjusting a claim that arises under the policy.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9474BF90EE1F40219C1BDB98B40D9D56"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Notice to policyholders</header><text>The Administrator shall notify a policyholder, when the policyholder purchases or renews a flood insurance policy sold under this title, that the policyholder may document the condition of the foundation of a structure covered by the policy in accordance with subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1047D69A925D453A94931754B4760BB8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection may be construed to modify the terms and conditions of the standard flood insurance policy.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="ida7dec4cac2564f13b4cb788683246598"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to a claim with a date of loss that is on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id69a2ff2ac04d45c19282e9f51c6d218b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue the standards required under subsection (d)(3) of section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a)(1).</text></subsection></section><section id="id59227CC1FD044B85A30308E983DF4E3F"><enum>402.</enum><header>Coverage of pre-FIRM condominium basements and study on street raising</header><subsection id="id66AE0F3FF4F2482AB26B8344FBB2CA2B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Basement clarification</header><paragraph id="idBE391063B386478FAC2D1C4335886721"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1305 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4012">42 U.S.C. 4012</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="" id="id207A15C94B454F1F992EB60F0CE13B2E"><subsection id="id281325D55152417794DD353AF66F29A2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Availability of insurance for pre-FIRM condominium basements</header><paragraph id="idA19E4837003E4062895E8E1285B409B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>pre-FIRM condominium building</term> means a condominium building that was not constructed or substantially improved after the later of—</text><subparagraph id="id1CDF2A82771D4EEBBA5C7C9079CD4F60"><enum>(A)</enum><text>December 31, 1974; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEBB30EFF977F40FC9B17424C639E6805"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effective date of the initial flood insurance rate map published by the Administrator under section 1360 for the area in which the building is located.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF346C2D55C6346AA8AADBF997B78B568"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coverage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall offer an optional rider to a contract for flood insurance made available under this title that covers the basement of a pre-FIRM condominium building that serves as a separate residential unit within that condominium building.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idD858E5557E284439B008E81694B86241"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendments to regulations</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall make any amendments to the regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency that are necessary as a result of the amendment made by paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7CFA3D772E024CA090D8A37240F94EC8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study on consequences of street-Raising</header><paragraph id="id13CE17C58DA64ECBB4816CC4BD92C8BF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>affected property</term> means a property containing an area—</text><subparagraph id="idFAFDB1A00D504AD8868C602BB84B9F23"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the floor of which was located at or above grade before the community raised the street adjacent to the property; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4D9ABE82D6C54D1B80DD4E002D7BCC72"><enum>(B)</enum><text>after the street-raising described in subparagraph (A), that was designated as a basement because of the street-raising.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10AC49C085084CF5BBA14638CDF15BF4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Study; report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall study and submit to Congress a report on the consequences of street-raising on flood insurance coverage for an affected property under the National Flood Insurance Program, including the cost implications for the property owner.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3846f63b4a9a478589b210d0f85679bc"><enum>403.</enum><header>Guidance on remediation and policyholder duties</header><subsection id="id73cd587e86b64622824a0cacf5654d80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by section 401(a)(1), is amended by inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAF3FE6974FF045DBA6051A96EFF76533"><subsection id="id74d83d25c10e4a27be3e1e407a56a9f3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Guidance on mold remediation</header><paragraph id="idf4bda6d9c0464ee48d44235f55822fcf"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall issue guidance relating to the identification of reasonable actions that a policyholder of coverage for flood insurance made available under this title may take to inspect and maintain the property to which that coverage applies—</text><subparagraph id="idDB600D5A3E524CD69DFAC6171977D027"><enum>(A)</enum><text>after a flood recedes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00A1A0372DBB483785D0922328D43531"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in order to avoid damage to the property that is caused by mold, mildew, moisture, or water.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f90a37ac2064fdcbe8918554dede20c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In developing guidance under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider—</text><subparagraph id="idb51514aba8284a7f9fb8285430ea6b49"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any applicable laws and regulations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2e0246f45cce4e04901336a52086e744"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the terms and conditions of the standard flood insurance policy;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd6826b665279421e941504ed0d6d74ea"><enum>(C)</enum><text>technical best practices;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id449b78e1ad454b33abfd28746e2c86a1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the costs of remediation in relation to the condition of a property described in that paragraph; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbfa7fa6a31144502ad1d81be778bbe00"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the actions that the Administrator may reasonably expect a policyholder described in that paragraph to take, given the likely challenges faced by the policyholder after a flood.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ided6d0a6c390d4356accbb53271242566"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Regular review</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text><subparagraph id="idBFD0FC15B12E4C40AFC8D4F5FDE9D6FD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regularly review the guidance issued under paragraph (1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99412301996B49A29C23C564A81E153C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>revise the guidance issued under paragraph (1) as the Administrator determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf21bf4e9c252412199fc9e8fee65853d"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual distribution</header><text>The Administrator shall provide a copy of the guidance issued under paragraph (1) to a policyholder at the time of the purchase or renewal of a flood insurance policy sold under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="ide7070a31d6544f20b9fb6e958038a4a3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Initial issuance</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue the guidance required under subsection (e) of section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idedff06c822034c8d803730c10f0a8f54"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Accessibility, reasonableness, and degree of damage</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by inserting after subsection (e) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide1b6791cafb44db58457537472e032ba"><subsection id="id5c6a3abf5c5c4f998f5da480c0f2516f"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Exclusion of certain damage</header><text>For purposes of determining whether damage caused by mold, mildew, moisture, or water to a property shall be excluded from coverage under the standard flood insurance policy—</text><paragraph id="id2BBD611707E04C8A9846D97E5AC90E1D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>subject to paragraph (2), only the degree of damage caused by mold, mildew, moisture, or water that could have been avoided through inspection and maintenance may be excluded from that coverage; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc86659a6a35b4b8f9aeee3c325242828"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the condition of the property to which the damage relates may not be considered to be attributable to the policyholder with respect to the property, including any failure by the policyholder to inspect and maintain the property after a flood recedes, if—</text><subparagraph id="id7c640a7395ee4c90a54c4fb852778f0b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the policyholder was denied access to the property after the flood receded because of—</text><clause id="id08ef3102cb6d40ab84ad29436bfec389"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a lawful government order;</text></clause><clause id="ide15cca69286a45beb7316f80637bd2ab"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a determination by local authorities that the property—</text><subclause id="idD04439526B6745CBA4AE4C831FB37AE8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is unsafe or unstable; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idEB5F835273AF473B8536D839C51EF36C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>shall be condemned; or</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idbba2a9b5011449cf82b4464748295028"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>otherwise unsafe conditions;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd4641d55e4cf4ee2bfc041ddb4292c93"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a reasonable individual exercising reasonable judgment could not be expected to inspect, maintain, or mitigate the damage to the property under the circumstances; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide2bfb129d09f48b5a14d37b04b0ae1fe"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the policyholder faced particular challenges, including—</text><clause id="id642df599b06b488e8d6d3c30a7aef823"><enum>(i)</enum><text>practical or financial difficulty in inspecting or maintaining the property;</text></clause><clause id="id957f1a37514c43998d4e6e2aeba6b7cc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the need to address other more immediate priorities, including—</text><subclause id="id8EE087D4C2AF4DAC90960E3E8945A18E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the health and well-being of the policyholder and the family of the policyholder;</text></subclause><subclause id="id85E9636838544EDFA4B90B380AFAC8D0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the preservation of basic items;</text></subclause><subclause id="id709C49010628409EADFCD614C63C27B4"><enum>(III)</enum><text>displacement; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id0d1163d0c014499488a261d1fe566cbe"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>other issues that make inspection and maintenance of the property a near-term challenge for the policyholder; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idac27b629147b4f1ca651f25b9730a574"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the unavailability of contractors or other individuals to perform any required inspection and maintenance.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id449CD47DB0484396ABAAE8876E664F85"><enum>404.</enum><header>Appeal of decisions relating to flood insurance coverage</header><subsection id="idee07ade4a91e4a9ab0d3aa9a3b8c3b28"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Enhanced policyholder appeals process</header><paragraph id="id498FDF1F6D3C4441B02493672C2785AC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Part C of chapter II of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4081">42 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5000756ee25744438771b44830ffc2c7"><section id="id1a7f3a6aad28436990a2bb1346105a3e"><enum>1349.</enum><header>Appeal of decisions relating to flood insurance coverage</header><subsection id="id4a4453946bb2418495bf24f5cf0d3f12"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Office</term>, except as otherwise specified, means the Independent Office for Policyholder Appeals established under subsection (b).</text></subsection><subsection id="id713a26b29e004a0193fe12649a9bf87a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Independent Office for Policyholder Appeals</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish an Independent Office for Policyholder Appeals to provide for a non-adversarial and fair administrative review of appeals submitted under subsection (c)(1). </text></subsection><subsection id="idD536E0ABC7E9468791C2FD1912960F73"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeals process</header><paragraph id="iddb9732b0ae664520ad99eddb708b3724"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Right to appeal</header><text>A policyholder of a flood insurance policy issued under the national flood insurance program may appeal the denial of a claim arising under the policy in writing to the Office not later than 1 year after receipt of the denial.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id40b7327a408943d4aa7018e510cf0da8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exhaustion of administrative appeals required before filing civil action</header><text>A policyholder of a flood insurance policy issued under the national flood insurance program may not institute an action on a denied claim arising under the policy against the Administrator in a United States district court under section 1333 or 1341, as applicable, unless the policyholder has exhausted the appeals process under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id99120c1dee0d444aab43f7c9b8be0797"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties and responsibilities</header><text>In administering appeals submitted under subsection (c)(1), the Office shall—</text><paragraph id="id5617df2c0977482087bdf144e689de8e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>issue final appeal decisions through an appeal process established by the Office;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id67fbb631ea1f48c7b37c4050e272eff9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>disseminate information to appellants concerning the information that an appellant may include in the appeal submissions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide7946a7ffa7748568e834113e30039c2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide an appellant with an opportunity to discuss any issue on appeal with a claims expert in the Office;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb71e33f2ff684bcaa316baa1143d41b3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provide aggregated appeals data to the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate for use in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of that office under section 24(b) of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4033">42 U.S.C. 4033(b)</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id62744522f5d1451e8db9cd6f8f2bc006"><enum>(5)</enum><text>publish final appeal decisions to a public-facing website—</text><subparagraph id="idFD05383DAE1A44D88E110046D3E2489D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to inform the public; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46A6962977A94C1E9DCC1424807DE8A4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for awareness to support transparency and training for Write Your Own Companies and contractors of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfd489b41803b4b55995c0e38f38c5577"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Regulations</header><paragraph id="idD38EF501D3B741A697830FB1718D9410"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of implementing the appeals process under this section, the Administrator may promulgate new regulations or use regulations that were in effect on the date of enactment of this section, except that—</text><subparagraph id="idd866efd6c3b146968a16719d74649f94"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Administrator may not declare any appeal ineligible if the policyholder submits the appeal to the Office not later than 1 year after the date on which the policyholder receives the denial of the applicable claim, as required under subsection (c)(1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62a91560e7a14e5aadcd00ee03864f52"><enum>(B)</enum><text>upon receiving all information necessary to complete an appeal, the Office shall notify the appellant that the Office will make a final decision not later than 90 days after receipt of that information; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id36D10A6B1E9746CE9D80D430EB58CB93"><enum>(C)</enum><text>not later than 90 days after receipt of all information necessary to complete an appeal, the Office shall make a final decision on the appeal.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7039A30FEB3D4F50AA5F5EE99D6558EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Enforcement of final decision deadline</header><text>If the Office does not comply with the deadline under paragraph (1)(C) with respect to an appeal, and the policyholder that brought the appeal is ultimately successful, the Administrator shall pay to the policyholder interest on the claim that is the subject of the appeal, which shall—</text><subparagraph id="id7C83A6A9BB694194B0521C2E83A13EBD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>begin accruing on the date on which the policyholder submits the appeal; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF8622C6BAD0F46E0B7BC3F6BE114CD8D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be calculated using the rate of return on a 3-year Treasury bill, as in effect on the date described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9BB55B6381044ACCB9EDC4CA4B75D878"><enum>(3)</enum><header>All information necessary</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (1), the term <term>all information necessary</term> includes information obtained from a physical reinspection of the property or from an expert report, if that information is needed in order to complete the review of the appeal.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1748f997fb1641fe9716c9c111d31ae5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Liability protection</header><text>No cause of action shall lie or be maintained in any court against the United States, and any such action shall be promptly dismissed, for violation of the notification requirement under paragraph (1)(B).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id706E9BB837D54A6B821CA79C0F9FCD4B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date for new appeals process</header><text>Subsection (c) of section 1349 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id66270cc4f9534223bf52a9cd154788b4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repeal and transfer</header><paragraph id="id78D56506BF9A4226A72F471CFC16F42C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Effective on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, section 205 of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/264">Public Law 108–264</external-xref>) is repealed, and any appeals that were pending before the Administrator under that section on the day before that effective date shall be transferred to the Independent Office for Policyholder Appeals established under section 1349 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as added by subsection (a)) for disposition under such section 1349.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3F47BBF61D314D29915134644A4A0441"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><subparagraph id="id98D4A3628AD54334875F4C6AAE4CB3AE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/264">Public Law 108–264</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 712) is amended by striking the item relating to section 205.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idF5FE4BFCC1C74F8D9EF47C50F8CFFFA4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Other amendment</header><text>Section 204(a)(3) of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/264">Public Law 108–264</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 205</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1349 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcc561f8b62fe4bada1d3f2cf36b2b4a4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Judicial review reform</header><paragraph id="id3DBD53F470A941D19E09A01CF36FBE8F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Government Program With Industry Assistance</header><text>Section 1341 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4072">42 U.S.C. 4072</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id54faa0db8630489b88cbfd0a18c88e06"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>In the event the program</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id791B5E639EB24609A4933E813F48CEED"><subsection id="id6c2860ab535a4370837b8dfaca32ed5e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the program</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc20d3ac1e5ec49feae86394457a7ec24"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (a), as so designated—</text><clause id="idD853E1A17BB0416BA305D84042A30C4D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or the Administrator’s fiscal agent</quote> after <quote>upon the disallowance by the Administrator</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id555c9afd89a948edb55e6a7f364c4266"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>within one year after the date of mailing of notice of disallowance or partial disallowance by the Administrator, may institute an action against the Administrator on such claim</quote> and inserting <quote>not later than 1 year after exhausting available administrative remedies, may institute an action against the insurer on such claim</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4c3f5e190af4451089871c768a681442"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0c451df86af44c76a636a9ead95703b2"><subsection commented="no" id="id5f3bf44881f84191ba85cd54139b3541"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exhaustion of administrative remedies</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd5c4010778f5433c81f7951aa0b45877"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>For the purposes of subsection (a), a claimant exhausts available administrative remedies if—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="ideecd3ac642d34be591761ca71be02339"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the claimant submits an appeal and complies with all requirements of the appeal process established under section 1349 and other applicable requirements; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4c2455febeb04a2fbfe7be7a4d8f1e03"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Administrator—</text><clause commented="no" id="idd5a32695f90145e58cc34b6e678556a3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>issues a final decision on the appeal that partially or fully concurs with the insurer’s disallowance or partial disallowance of the claim; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id7f996ef10ef14e5792e931be897c41c6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>makes no finding regarding the appeal by the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Administrator acknowledges receipt and acceptance of the appeal.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idb91886bf27714d92b8e9e0f4d04cebdc"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header><paragraph commented="no" id="id08F600B571D743A49ABE4C3BE90FC090"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Issues raised on appeal</header><text>An action may not be instituted under this section for any issue of a claim that was not presented to the Administrator on appeal.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id7b40fa6052ce43499dcdffd4162782d6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Weight of Administrator's disposition</header><text>For purposes of this section, disposition of an appeal by the Administrator shall not be competent evidence of liability or the amount of damages.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4a608fd91bcf4633858de7a26ab8f065"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Industry program with Federal financial assistance</header><text>Section 1333 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4053">42 U.S.C. 4053</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id7DCAEEC0A04746A6AEA900EC4DFC9727"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The insurance companies and other insurers</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id38491B7F45F84D139F0534F7EED41FD5"><subsection id="idBCEC8F37B8DE467AA353473DD64867CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The insurance companies and other insurers</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7BCDA52B869D427FBD82A3867A7AAE46"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (a), as so designated, by striking <quote>within one year after the date of mailing of notice of disallowance or partial disallowance of the claim, may institute an action on such claim against such company or other insurer</quote> and inserting <quote>not later than 1 year after exhausting available administrative remedies, may institute an action on the claim against the company or other insurer</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id557E69986FF742EEBB0090166D338DE3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6546899E4DE0496D8297774C7470825F"><subsection commented="no" id="id2A045338FFEC49E482920B337EDB8754"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exhaustion of administrative remedies</header><text>For the purposes of subsection (a), a claimant exhausts available administrative remedies if—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idCB6D0B840BC945E9ABBD7EC2F4F28217"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the claimant submits an appeal and complies with all requirements of the appeal process established under section 1349 and other applicable requirements; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id193A2CC94CE84E7AB737A59B47E7FBF7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Administrator—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4EBD4F55A4EC4ACEA593911B1A8F2556"><enum>(A)</enum><text>issues a final decision on the appeal that partially or fully concurs with the insurer’s disallowance or partial disallowance of the claim; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id67F85D274A11484086872CEF3B00EA5B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>makes no finding regarding the appeal by the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Administrator acknowledges receipt and acceptance of the appeal.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id7CB09EB03F9F49BFA5D18F8A2419D7F8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header><paragraph commented="no" id="id50AEA2C4F536488B8012F8FBAAF349CF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Issues raised on appeal</header><text>An action may not be instituted under this section for any issue of a claim that was not presented to the Administrator on appeal.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id008AEFD76E374BE18BF1D7C66889BB34"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Weight of Administrator's disposition</header><text>For purposes of this section, disposition of an appeal by the Administrator shall not be competent evidence of liability or the amount of damages.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idf82f46558262401db52c82135173bc54"><enum>405.</enum><header>Accountability for underpayments and overpayments by Write Your Own companies</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1348 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4084">42 U.S.C. 4084</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef3a549de2804debb72b8fc20d335bae"><subsection id="id47B8337834324505A3966EB2EEC72B6F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Underpayments and overpayments</header><paragraph id="id77955D9C4B8642EA868AFCDDAB6A2637"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Accountability for underpayments</header><text>If the Administrator determines through any audit that the pool or an insurance company or other private organization described in subsection (a) has not adjusted a claim in accordance with adjusting standards that are in effect as of the date on which the adjustment is performed and, as a result of that failure, has underpaid or overpaid a claim of a policyholder, the penalty imposed by the Administrator with respect to such a failure may not be less for an overpayment of a claim than for an underpayment of a claim.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2842FF88BF2B448782BA81F22D437A85"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Safe harbor for certain overpayments</header><text>The Administrator may not impose a penalty on the pool or an insurance company or other private organization described in subsection (a) for overpayment of a claim of a policyholder for reasons described in paragraph (1) of this subsection if—</text><subparagraph id="id6FEED043C94E4D36BD4F8EDA304D8422"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the overpayment was not in bad faith; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC347EB461E604D17A8A18D250FEB002E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the amount of the overpayment was not more than 4 percent of the coverage limit of the policy.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id28503912a5a64a48b477fc81e4afbc39"><enum>(d)</enum><header>GAO report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and triennially thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report regarding any penalties imposed by the Administrator under subsection (c)(1).</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id4c1248133da7478cba9d87be6d7470f6"><enum>406.</enum><header>Policyholders’ right to know</header><subsection id="id3a05b7ab30aa4e89b900ea30d39ad318"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Use</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by section 403(c), is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBFBB1AAE10004815A4DC599B2506D9E3"><subsection id="idb074a38e323a43ecac1d9e7265a1abcb"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Use of technical assistance reports</header><text>When adjusting claims for any damage to or loss of property that is covered by flood insurance made available under this title, the Administrator may rely upon technical assistance reports, as defined in section 1312A(a), only if the reports are final and are prepared in compliance with applicable State and Federal laws regarding professional licensure and conduct.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="ide6641d2bdccf4158a8af0f59d822dd04"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disclosure</header><text>Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 1312 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49d34db631414c6886cc76242d806dea"><section id="idb82530c939a640f6aa30c394031a7e2f"><enum>1312A.</enum><header>Disclosure of claims documents and technical assistance reports</header><subsection id="id49e023457a7a4337ba3d18336e7592be"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text><paragraph id="id26001282F7624240B4D693F93206320A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>policyholder</term> means any person listed as a named or additional insured on the declarations page of a policy for flood insurance coverage made available under this title; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2190A38F960947F38AABE15F5EF42DF2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>technical assistance report</term> means a report created for the purpose of furnishing technical assistance to an insurance claims adjuster assigned under the national flood insurance program, including any report created by an engineer, a surveyor, a salvor, an architect, or a certified public accountant.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9750f561c9d14795b4942e632e2f25e5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Provision of copies</header><paragraph id="id9AF60863D3C448DDBF4DCD30FBBC70C1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding section 552a of title 5, United States Code, not later than 1 week after the date on which the Administrator receives a written request, or a request submitted online, from a policyholder, and with respect to a claim for loss submitted by the policyholder for any damage to or loss of property that is covered by the policy, the Administrator shall provide a true, complete, and unredacted copy of—</text><subparagraph id="idd393d8962de343f7b3415d6ad660957a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all documents that constitute the claim file of the insurance company with respect to the claim, in accordance with the memorandum issued by the Administrator on June 1, 2018, entitled <quote>Guidance for the Release of Claim File Information to Policyholders</quote> (WYO Bulletin W–18012) (or any successor document);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idef546fa2cca74a67bf18f60234192962"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any document created by any adjuster in scoping the loss, including measurements, photographs, and notes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id16b0bd52fe1f449e89278a49ee4bae0a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any estimates of damages with respect to the claim;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3b0c547284994661bc72ebc102d75430"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any draft and final technical assistance report relating to adjusting and paying or denying the claim;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44e2b65e41874a4d993aebb3ffef6b49"><enum>(E)</enum><text>any proof of loss, supplemental proofs of loss, or any equivalent notices, together with supporting documentation, with respect to the claim; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfa3bc1153b1a4c559d170e0c3ff24818"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any document relating to the denial or partial denial of the claim.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id32FE356368BB49EE947306035C283A23"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to limit the right of a policyholder to receive a disclosure under section 552a of title 5, United States Code, or any other provision of law.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3f554a9dff8c409fbb79858d2fbff035"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Direct disclosure by Write Your Own companies and direct servicing agents</header><paragraph id="idC46BEFB613564BA09C00C5E476F6B9E8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A Write Your Own Company or direct servicing agent in possession of any technical assistance report that is subject to disclosure under subsection (b) may disclose such technical assistance report without further review or approval by the Administrator.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id70F64B9D0335435BA0DD8B367F6EFC8A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Affirmative notification</header><text>A Write Your Own Company, or any other entity servicing a claim under the national flood insurance program, shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which the company or entity receives notice of a claim, notify the claimant that the claimant or an authorized representative of the claimant may obtain, upon request, a copy of any claim-related document described in subsection (b)(1) that pertains to the claimant.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id42cfbb65bfba4f31a3eff754bb555b2c"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Transmission of report without approval</header><paragraph id="idE6304295F1D94CB18CF737788F3F9A28"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>final engineering report</term> means an engineering report, survey, or other document in connection with a claim for losses covered by a policy for flood insurance coverage made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4001">42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.</external-xref>) that—</text><subparagraph id="idf94d0536120e4d97a57826eb5ef9d248"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is based on an on-site inspection;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e612939d19d472db9edf807a0e35efd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>contains final conclusions with respect to an engineering issue or issues involved in the claim; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcd9b4b6fad2a4d34a51567989beb3573"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is signed by the responsible in charge or affixed with the seal of the responsible in charge, or both.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCB314471CC1641F9842237465F5484A7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transmission</header><text>A Write Your Own Company or a National Flood Insurance Program direct servicer may, without obtaining further review or approval by the Administrator, transmit to a policyholder a final engineering report in the possession of the Write Your Own Company or the direct servicer in connection with a claim submitted by the policyholder.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3B47BD50BCAA48F8A00DEC1291A9E5AA"><enum>407.</enum><header>Termination of certain contracts under the National Flood Insurance Program</header><subsection id="id8DF95A6F6F5D44FE9C0D8BD338AE7771"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Part C of chapter II of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4081">42 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by section 404, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7722F1B004A341FEB030AD8231F03F3E"><section id="idB6AC1634661746E8A779EFCF5845FD39"><enum>1350.</enum><header>Termination of contracts</header><subsection id="idC61426A1F0B648C0A3E5BDD1F4E06423"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text><paragraph id="idCA3C55F45C1E4EB4A480DCC0A6EBD6F4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>covered entity</term> means any attorney, law firm, consultant, or third-party company that provides services to a Write Your Own company; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD53112732C7648A699F94EFB5460C357"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>Write Your Own company</term> means a company participating in the cooperative undertaking between the insurance industry and the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration that allows participating property and casualty insurance companies to write and service standard flood insurance policies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE450C21E340344FC95F0237C34FBFC34"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Termination</header><paragraph id="id25CFD51C96054AB39ABED60BF20F2AE7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may terminate a contract or other agreement between a covered entity and a Write Your Own company if the Administrator—</text><subparagraph id="idC569BE9D2C064C349C53981D77C0AEE2"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determines that the covered entity has engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the flood insurance program authorized under chapter I; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC5E36EF5A767451BB5EACD16407DDBA1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 14 days before terminating the contract or other agreement, provides notice to the covered entity of the termination.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id75DD85C1AFEA4AD088B813C65A6B2901"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Appeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall establish a process for a covered entity to appeal a termination of a contract or other agreement under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idBE77091532564148AF0D2F1EF41F5B3C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Early termination payouts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator or a Write Your Own company is not required to make any early termination payout to a covered entity with respect to a contract or agreement with the Write Your Own company that the Administrator terminates under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id531d98176ca745af99ef4c2cb91fe95e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date; applicability</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="id625d73be7fa64c1ba6ee09d6ce3cc198"><enum>(1)</enum><text>take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3aca8f8d66164d22b4f00e272766da60" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>apply to any contract or other agreement between a covered entity and a Write Your Own company (as those terms are defined in section 1349(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as added by subsection (a)) entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id8bb114120e3748618060513a03151aed"><enum>408.</enum><header>Deadline for claim processing</header><subsection id="id6d36b52aa6bf4794b16e98a7cefa39a7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by section 406(a), is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf7bf9fcfa74e4f7fa02763839c8b08d8"><subsection id="id154c0a02939e4aa1b1c68f24e6ac7e5b"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Deadline for approval of claims</header><paragraph id="id1840d28e6f364277aeafd3a5cc502465"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall provide that, in the case of a claim for damage to or loss of property that is covered by a policy for flood insurance made available under this title—</text><subparagraph id="idec44a043c5714ad6ad005f951c19a86f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 60 days after the date on which a proof of loss or comparable submission is provided to the Administrator—</text><clause id="id20a15eed031f4a57a24504cdc4de3a88"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an initial determination regarding approval of the claim for payment or disapproval of the claim shall be made; and</text></clause><clause id="idc0b7ac470c35463fbd4b726600b6b4d4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>notification of the determination described in clause (i) shall be provided to the policyholder making the claim; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd6f7bedb57e14837b5d41629939295ee"><enum>(B)</enum><text>payment of an approved claim shall be made as soon as possible after that approval.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2eaa4d4221ca41a2bb45c63bd3e4d78d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Extension of deadline</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text><subparagraph id="id18e042e211ce494ebace22c8b6bb892d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide that the period described in paragraph (1)(A) may be extended by an additional period of 30 days under extraordinary circumstances; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7bba5d9daa68405b95dcb6c12f241873"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by regulation—</text><clause id="id87A1624CF18748D2BC89B1F0AAED4403"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish criteria for—</text><subclause id="idf82ce73a563449fba85cbfb011af32aa"><enum>(I)</enum><text>demonstrating the extraordinary circumstances described in subparagraph (A); and</text></subclause><subclause id="id4b5623512c4e4c02ae7ffc3ac98cdeee"><enum>(II)</enum><text>determining to which claims the extraordinary circumstances described in subparagraph (A) apply; and</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="id0351E6031CB24E8BBA17E83F8277BE98"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide that, if the deadline imposed under paragraph (1)(A), as extended under subparagraph (A), if applicable, is not satisfied the amount of the claim to which the deadline relates shall be increased with interest, which shall begin accruing on the date on which the initial claim is filed.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idAA4A7996FD424FFDBED8B5599C4B25AD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Deadline tolled during certain communication with policyholder</header><text>The deadline under paragraph (1) shall be tolled during any period during which the Administrator or a Write Your Own Company is trying to obtain more information from a policyholder regarding a claim made by the policyholder, or is otherwise working with a policyholder to develop such a claim.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id1b1d7cffb0fc45a09883cc8421ae6eec"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any claim for damage to or loss of property that is covered by a policy for flood insurance made available under the National Flood Insurance Program that is made after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id3a0c62330e114ade8d6ad7ea0788f0b2"><enum>409.</enum><header>No manipulation of engineer reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by section 408(a), is amended by inserting after subsection (h) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id37CCA074106B4D08B39517A0F62A184B"><subsection id="idb40acdd11b0c4890801fd8f829e8b042"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Final engineering reports</header><paragraph id="id1384c51fc5d1476f985128afdf6cddfd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection—</text><subparagraph id="id41a923e2a7ee4439969b6bc47cfd70fa"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the term <term>covered claim</term> means any claim for losses covered by a policy for flood insurance coverage made available under this title; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbd30fbdde8b44405aab301a1d8cec217"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the term <term>final engineering report</term> means an engineering report, survey, or other document in connection with a covered claim that—</text><clause id="id2afe702795aa4a9c91fbd46dd7f471dc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is based on an on-site inspection;</text></clause><clause id="id37e77b8b2aef47379181320524e1da46"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>contains final conclusions with respect to an engineering issue or issues involved in the claim; and</text></clause><clause id="idd948411dc0e94a67bee9f0ed462af0e6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is signed by the responsible in charge or affixed with the seal of the responsible in charge, or both.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7df66dd6763448fe9e3d0a5eecec04a5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition on manipulation and transmission to third parties</header><text>The Administrator shall require that, in the case of any on-site inspection of a property by an engineer for the purpose of assessing any covered claim, the final engineering report—</text><subparagraph id="id054d37bf3d8f49d893f2fbe8f6af2a43"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may not—</text><clause id="id04b3f4e3d4434f0ea81ea73bfc037e2a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>include alterations by, or at the request of, anyone other than the person responsible for the report; or</text></clause><clause id="id02ba0b69521f4342be3b55933d57d05d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>be transmitted to any other person before the final engineering report is transmitted to the policyholder who submitted the covered claim; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1fbd015518f24479867b2d4133859de3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall include a certification, signed by the person responsible for the final engineering report, that the final engineering report does not contain any alterations described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id252f76bc9e4a4180b72b27c26652c3b6"><enum>410.</enum><header>Improved training of floodplain managers, agents, and adjusters</header><subsection id="id158ea045d0ce407fafd426d1b8a3da44"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Local floodplain managers</header><text>Each regional office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall—</text><paragraph id="id512acb1593254f89887c81302bca13ad"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide training to local floodplain managers, agents, and claim adjusters in the region regarding the responsibilities and procedures of local floodplain managers with respect to conducting substantial damage and substantial improvement determinations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e2591b0c99242e897e4dd2b0ff18a64"><enum>(2)</enum><text>work with applicable State agencies to provide the training described in paragraph (1); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC533DAC1C95340458691DC10D969E66D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>verify that the individuals described in paragraph (1) are completing the training described in that paragraph.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idFD03CCA1B5D94FACA6071E7042CA2438"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Major disaster training</header><text>After a flood that is declared a major disaster by the President under 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>), the Administrator shall, if determined appropriate, provide—</text><paragraph id="id01D82194893242D295EAF0E2760F15C7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>refresher training to prepare insurance claims adjusters for the unique circumstances of the major disaster; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE7DC7CAFB53C442D83F394D58E6715C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any briefings that are necessary to prepare and inform floodplain managers, agents, and claim adjusters regarding any atypical circumstances and issues arising from the natural disaster.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id229343251FD7460F94B285222F906124"><enum>411.</enum><header>Flood insurance continuing education and training</header><subsection id="idb448718be60a4a629f1e27eef980c268"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/264">Public Law 108–264</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 712) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id8dd665b1f92f453494d2697e4b407a16"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 201 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011</external-xref> note)—</text><subparagraph id="id91106a325af747ec81565e160ce2b765"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Director of the</quote> and inserting <quote>Administrator of the</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide42e13cb685b45bfbd70ea56706d64d2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>4001</quote> after <quote>U.S.C.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id703b4dc22e39487aab0c1a128e5a43a2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking section 207 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011</external-xref> note) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6ab0d57e271f460d93a7545edc8c84d0"><section id="ideb184c0550d140a5af6f74d74304d768"><enum>207.</enum><header>Continuing education requirements for insurance agents</header><subsection id="id1a010307d81e460fa3bf038e73a297f2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Director shall require each insurance agent who sells flood insurance policies under the Program to, once every 2 years, complete a 3-hour continuing education course that—</text><paragraph id="idfbe0da93fccf466492688d6299588941"><enum>(1)</enum><text>subject to subsection (c), is approved by the insurance commissioner of the State in which the agent is a legal resident; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf0bfbbd5c9094e92a82646bf2abe5137"><enum>(2)</enum><text>focuses on issues with respect to the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9ee30e9b2fa345a0bbe0531a68ba1ed1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Failure To complete course</header><text>If an insurance agent who sells flood insurance policies does not complete a continuing education course required under subsection (a), the agent, until the date on which the agent completes the course in accordance with the requirements of this section, may not—</text><paragraph id="id5b10c4723b6b41aaadea6b48f0ca07d0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>sell flood insurance policies; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id52de2398b3d64939965824330fec3334"><enum>(2)</enum><text>perform any duties with respect to the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida7f41a86e895451dbeb01e35fb97c534"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Agents licensed in multiple States</header><paragraph id="id2bf0cfe23d984aedbaa037bb2f23ebb0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If an insurance agent who sells flood insurance policies is licensed to sell insurance in more than 1 State—</text><subparagraph id="id44369f9cf3c44207a8e7c9e7c4135438"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the agent shall submit proof of completion of a continuing education course required under subsection (a) to the insurance commissioner of each State in which the agent is licensed; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddb77916a99594882b0830c74c0676536"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each insurance commissioner to whom an insurance agent submits a proof of completion under subparagraph (A) may determine whether the course to which that proof of completion relates meets the minimum standards established by that insurance commissioner.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2c39c4f7416142aea346f69c919ec362"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect of denial</header><text>If an insurance commissioner of a State (referred to in this paragraph as the <quote>rejecting commissioner</quote>) determines under paragraph (1)(B) that a continuing education course taken in another State by an insurance agent who sells flood insurance policies does not meet the minimum standards established by the rejecting commissioner, the insurance agent may not take any action described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) until the agent satisfies the minimum requirements established by the rejecting commissioner.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id01581b9913044967a47d867f4af88bcc"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Any reference in this section to an insurance commissioner of a State shall be construed as a reference to an equivalent official with respect to any State in which there is no official who has the title of insurance commissioner.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0cab0a7cc87e4939aa5703c14b7ad3c5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text>The table of contents for the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/264">Public Law 108–264</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 712) is amended by striking the item relating to section 207 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idf716589d-26f8-4316-839d-ca34120fae6c"><toc><toc-entry level="section" idref="ideb184c0550d140a5af6f74d74304d768">Sec. 207. Continuing education requirements for insurance agents.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="idFF9F94B2AA484A2FBFC2B65445412D64"><enum>412.</enum><header>Shifting of attorney fees and other expenses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"> Section 1341 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4072">42 U.S.C. 4072</external-xref>), as amended by section 404(c), is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE4A1222F30A844E99086196BEE62B2B1"><subsection id="id07ADC96C53F247DE92077467E161AABB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Attorney fees and other expenses</header><text>A Write Your Own Company against which an action is instituted under this subsection shall be considered an agency of the United States for the purposes of section 2412(d) of title 28, United States Code.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="idE06F9898A9B24829935992B2198B6916"><enum>413.</enum><header>DOJ defense against policyholder lawsuits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (b) of section 1341 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4072">42 U.S.C. 4072</external-xref>), as added by section 404(c), is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="id429E921D41864D4097F864B49FA0D17E" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id61845DB36FDD4F20844DDEE5DFD4B546"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Representation by Department of Justice</header><text>If a claimant institutes an action under this section—</text><subparagraph id="idCD82885E22D34A1D861EA6A6ADA3E269"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Administrator shall refer the matter to the Attorney General; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44B31B267DBE4DC1B349E9154E951528"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Attorney General—</text><clause id="id873E0176F7B54F0E970F832B83A5397C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall represent the Administrator or the Write Your Own company, as applicable, in the action; and</text></clause><clause id="id03D2A2878D174210AD40C3AD4F65C4AC" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may not seek to have the court dismiss an action with potentially meritorious claims based on good faith errors or omissions by the claimant in the claimant's proof of loss.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="ide04a0a2a89494b8896f97142b68a3a9b"><enum>414.</enum><header>Reforming use of proof of loss forms</header><subsection id="id00c334bfcc7e4adc86bb199f9853b101"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4019">42 U.S.C. 4019</external-xref>), as amended by section 409, is amended by inserting after subsection (i) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0E61F42BB06F4815901F94DC36F86EFA"><subsection id="idf4232e42a7a047b3a553fc23ee731194"><enum>(j)</enum><header>No condition of payment of undisputed claim on proof of loss</header><paragraph id="id8ec73666a3694e699ad333250c2929cd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or any term or condition of a standard flood insurance policy, the Administrator—</text><subparagraph id="id706783F9E56A454A9428BD1A92D938A1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may not condition payment of an undisputed claim based on the submission of a proof of loss; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE991CBE75CED4042AA0728583D376FDE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may instead accept a report submitted by the insurance adjuster the Administrator hires to investigate the claim, if the report is signed by the policyholder, unless the Administrator determines that conditions make signature impracticable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id97beeed109ef4798b05a49fb8cbfd7e6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Refusal to accept amount paid</header><text>Upon the refusal of a policyholder to accept the amount paid under paragraph (1), the Administrator may require the policyholder to submit a proof of loss within a timeframe determined by the Administrator.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id8D7C187471F5493FA02BA2C20BFAF57A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Guidance to defense attorneys</header><text>The Administrator shall issue guidance for best practices for attorneys defending actions instituted under section 1333 or 1341, as applicable, of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4053">42 U.S.C. 4053</external-xref>, 4072) (as amended by section 404(c)) relating to how to respond to unintentional errors in a proof of loss submitted by a policyholder under the National Flood Insurance Policy.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id53391C1FB6AB4FCB8CDCEED97639B149"><enum>415.</enum><header>Agent Advisory Council</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Part C of chapter II of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4081">42 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by section 407, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3140BBA8720B4842A660CC2E570B1B90"><section id="id25B7A0E67A3F44A1BA97D92B3C4FE075"><enum>1351.</enum><header>Agent Advisory Council</header><subsection id="P230B2F964B2D2FA7F2BCA19C7588E1C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established a council to be known as the Agent Advisory Council (in this section referred to as the <term>Council</term>).</text></subsection><subsection id="P459C4E0A46310D205ABF9D8ADEDE46C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Membership</header><paragraph id="PB20CED6343E1FC2644E7C48F676EAD4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Members</header><text>The Council shall consist of—</text><subparagraph id="id874E3889FF0245F7A91142E874B14485"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Administrator, or the designee of the Administrator; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="PBFD5DAC84EC41D4188358E8E59AA911"><enum>(B)</enum><text>11 additional members appointed by the Administrator or the designee of the Administrator, of whom—</text><clause id="id3DB27934122D4CE4A80F00B4A033775D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>1 shall be a member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners;</text></clause><clause id="id3A0E7EA7C762403FAD91A07BAC257DE2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>2 shall be members of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America;</text></clause><clause id="idE366F93A85EA4A47B6B3E071D1C4C703"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>1 shall be a member of United Policyholders;</text></clause><clause id="id48917717682242C2817EE7F46427C0E3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>1 shall be a representative of the Emergency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></clause><clause id="id23E0A3CDEC934198A57C124A4CA8BF85"><enum>(v)</enum><text>1 shall be a representative of the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></clause><clause id="id211D2E516AFD4AD8BBF31891D06D44BD"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>2 shall be members of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents;</text></clause><clause id="id578b30e4b100445e996652586caabd35"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>1 shall be a representative of a recognized professional association or organization representing homebuilders or land developers;</text></clause><clause id="id3c5ad4b1fa004354b412367a36322a91"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>1 shall be a representative of a recognized professional association or organization representing the real estate industry; and</text></clause><clause id="id04F800384A5C44258F96EACBD14D594D"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>1 of whom shall be a representative of a recognized consumer protection group.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="P06B28E7146E8493294E86FA3C109C88"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><subparagraph id="id972C4BAC2F5C44C1BCAAB8A3A9710E67"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each member of the Council shall have experience with—</text><clause id="id1807B7B5078E4E3A8383E8429EF7C763"><enum>(i)</enum><text>contacting policyholders under the national flood insurance program, including with respect to applying for flood insurance and processing a claim for damage to or loss of property that is covered by flood insurance; and</text></clause><clause id="id9A6666F81FFC46B8BD4CA567EE2C6B15"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>riverine and coastal flood insurance policies.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7313298433AD4AD2BB8AE07A1B0AC510"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>The Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the membership of the Council has a balance of governmental and private members, and includes geographic diversity.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1C1306EE4D1E4D5A90402853264B2527"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Conflicts of interest</header><text>A member of the Council—</text><clause id="idc142e6e677de44f4a716618e6d1f12f9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>may not, while serving on the Council, be employed or retained—</text><subclause id="id08E32A7B96BC459E9C81EF3E4409FD2A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by a Federal Emergency Management Agency contractor or consultant; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idE9F00FE536FB4370B16555C02A90F8AA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by a nongovernmental entity that was awarded a Federal grant during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the member was appointed to the Council; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id106CFAF59DD74775B3662A74F9820B26"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may not have been employed by a Federal Emergency Management Agency contractor or consultant during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the member was appointed to the Council.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id355155B2BD3D44EA915176132460CC2E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In appointing a member of the Council from an entity described in clauses (i) through (ix) of paragraph (1)(B), the Administrator or the designee of the Administrator, as applicable, shall consult with the entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id420E276215C14E2982CCA1FBDB749A40"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chairperson</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The members of the Council shall elect 1 member to serve as the chairperson of the Council (in this section referred to as the <quote>Chairperson</quote>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="PC87FB1774A6DB306CFFBA686DADBBE5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Council shall—</text><paragraph id="id452183DEA89E4AC7AE48262C4C18766F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide recommendations to the Administrator on—</text><subparagraph id="id3359B7D17DA24A49BB9D931C038448A0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improving the customer experience for policyholders under the national flood insurance program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id10D46E0EC4A041A19FBFDFCF69BE5BAC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>training insurance agents that issue flood insurance policies; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAE747D89D26B4E79B7DCA419424E9E94"><enum>(C)</enum><text>improving the processing and handling of claims for damage to or loss of property that is covered by flood insurance; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="PE9B86E394274354DB47462B5C4E6CAE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the Administrator an annual report that includes—</text><subparagraph id="P747027A64098B95A6725BF864658E13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a description of the activities of the Council; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="P94DAF39D41D5488AF8A939BF2274D65"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a summary of recommendations made by the Council to the Administrator.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="P5C12A48542044BD66E0FF2843EFB35D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Compensation</header><paragraph id="idA4B0C1151C3D44BB92A672335F467E05"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), a member of the Council shall receive no additional compensation for serving on the Council.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8684EF4606F142C49E69A2EB7EA406CC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Travel expenses</header><text>Each member of the Council may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in performance of services for the Council.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="PCBD9EB6C44ABB85D77BA11846EC92D9"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Meetings and actions</header><paragraph id="P88D698844F2FDC112C9FCD88221B3BD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Meetings</header><subparagraph id="id840F99F994E24E1D8F50B641CAFF659E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Council shall meet not less frequently than twice each year at the request of the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the Council.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="P0EE5FB044E0442D42074C8B45EB28FC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Initial meeting</header><text>The Administrator, or a designee of the Administrator, shall request and coordinate the initial meeting of the Council.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idAD4176FE45984C2C8F979AB24FB028BC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Action by majority vote</header><text>The Council may take action by a vote of the majority of the members.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="PFBC78069465B9F246EF0FD8DE896ADC"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Officers</header><text>The Chairperson may appoint officers to assist in carrying out the duties of the Council under subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="PAC77B8F74E3F9D5A236704B2403FA89"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Staff</header><text>Upon the request of the Chairperson, the Administrator may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, personnel of the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist the Council in carrying out the duties of the Council.</text></subsection><subsection id="P716C2A6541EDD691E07AA8A421D29B5"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Powers</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Council may hold hearings, receive evidence and assistance, provide information, and conduct research as the Council considers appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection id="P1CBFC67D4250796637A559ABF678BDA"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Report to Congress and OMB</header><text>The Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an annual report on—</text><paragraph id="P576C62FC40B8C87095D6E7A8BEDBB99"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the recommendations made by the Council; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="PB1BCE5C84CEF3FB5C63D64BA7B63A5A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any recommendations made by the Council during the year covered by the report that, as of the date on which the report is submitted, have been deferred or not acted upon, together with an explanatory statement with respect to those recommendations.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05D7E36DCBDF40D3904AC9D0117AE529"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act</header><text>Section 1013 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Council.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H892E697F78D8431BA324BCA2090BA083"><enum>416.</enum><header>Disclosure of flood risk information prior to transfer of property</header><subsection id="HFD9E730C31C846F5B858D70C7A74E91D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4011">42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by section 207, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H19C01240CA314C8CAEBCA555040DC7D8"><section id="H8D67FE7B32BF4FBBA7548318DF0F6FE7"><enum>1327.</enum><header>Disclosure of flood risk information prior to transfer of property</header><subsection id="H81A3D05B3E444D84A66DEF7DA9616060"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After September 30, 2024, no new flood insurance coverage may be provided under this title for any real property unless an appropriate public body has imposed, by statute or regulation, a duty on any seller or lessor of improved real estate to provide to any purchaser or lessee (with respect to a lease for a term that is not shorter than 30 days) of the property a property flood hazard disclosure that the Administrator has determined meets the requirements of subsection (b).</text></subsection><subsection id="HF37315A3A3ED4D53A330C69396B2FBA9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disclosure requirements</header><paragraph id="id321E064A52B44418A78B9E10BC28E63C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirements for sellers</header><text>A property flood hazard disclosure for the sale of a property shall meet the requirements of this subsection only if the disclosure—</text><subparagraph id="HFFD2202852344C9FA02C44CA562CC716"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is made in writing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H498A4BD9B1AF4CE1AB43DD5AEB0382C5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>discloses any actual knowledge of the seller of—</text><clause id="H6C081B86D22A4289A40EB9E14FEC8E05"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any prior physical damage caused by flood to a structure located on the property;</text></clause><clause id="HADDA85FA79BE42FE9A123CE70AA7D93F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any prior insurance claim for a loss covered under the national flood insurance program or private flood insurance with respect to the property;</text></clause><clause id="H7B09D61C39FC4A8B97BBF2454EEAC850"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any previous notification regarding the designation of the property as a repetitive loss structure or severe repetitive loss structure (as defined in section 1366(h));</text></clause><clause id="H6597432AA30646CD81444AAE89E14DFA"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any Federal legal obligation to obtain and maintain flood insurance running with the property;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd40374e47f8f448c810dbcff38f2664a"><enum>(v)</enum><text>whether the property is located in a wetland;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7d5c55aa0c7c4c1c97f69a3c45d81c97"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether a National Flood Insurance Program Elevation Certificate has been completed for the property; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id13b858659e92457b99cff680939d3dcd"><enum>(vii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the property has received disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration, or the Department of Housing and Urban Development;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaac75974aa1748b9885b2a76987b0d9b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>discloses to the maximum extent feasible, in a manner to be determined by the Administrator—</text><clause id="idc7b2cde64d974724ad10ae2bd0e6a5c2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the relative flood risk associated with the property as indicated in flood hazard data maintained by the Administrator under this title; and</text></clause><clause id="id624c5db016444fb28c68a02f13c84f9d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the availability of and approximate cost of flood insurance for the property; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6C947A86CCD24A9F995203B95C0459FA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>is delivered by, or on behalf of, the seller to the purchaser before the purchaser becomes obligated under any contract to purchase the property.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7A77D913536046BB85904F28E0DE9834"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements for lessors</header><text>A property flood hazard disclosure for a rental property with a lease for a term that is not shorter than 30 days shall meet the requirements of this subsection only if the disclosure—</text><subparagraph id="id2BB9DFA143F646D2A0FEB374FBDB3B52"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is made in writing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7FA7CC4E1DB6403DB7A5A8AB5B293AA1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>discloses any actual knowledge of the lessor—</text><clause id="id275B65BA8FC444FE8662558677F45D88"><enum>(i)</enum><text>of any Federal legal obligation to obtain and maintain flood insurance running with the property;</text></clause><clause id="id8C0CC17B8A69460A941D5D6C2BB55BD8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>regarding any prior physical damage caused by flood with respect to the unit being leased; and</text></clause><clause id="idA2AA6802150940E3BBD4F881C8FA475A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>of the availability of coverage under this title for contents located in a structure on the property; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id808BDD55546D4F76B8C3E74C7B0D854F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is delivered by, or on behalf of, the lessor to the lessee before the lessee becomes obligated under any contract to lease the property.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id00EEB2EBE75444AFBB84A8CFAB18005B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed as preventing a State from adopting disclosure requirements in addition to the requirements of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H480DA45E8C3149979FAE140126F0BE66"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of flood insurance coverage</header><text>Section 1305(c) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4012">42 U.S.C. 4012(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HFC31A24241254E038E611DB877C5033A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>, and</quote> at the end and inserting a semicolon;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H320FEE89B00649DE9BEB0ACD929CAE10"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6D64A6C5344349A2832D6B50CD7B3D8C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H01CC9310C5D64162B38461CFDE842D6D"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE1D3FEAC3C449C4A5D6E724488B95AE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>given satisfactory assurance that, not later than October 1, 2024, property flood hazard disclosure requirements will have been adopted for the area (or subdivision) that meet the requirements of section 1327.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idDDC0177F8CEE42A5A777DE71A160CDAA"><enum>417.</enum><header>Grace period for renewal of coverage at renewal offer rate</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4015">42 U.S.C. 4015</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8457754D183A448EB9ECCE96A1DA0BC1"><subsection id="id655e39cee66341379d849b8647027f70"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Grace period for renewal of coverage at renewal offer rate</header><text>Notwithstanding section 1307(g)(1), if a policyholder renews a policy for flood insurance under this title not later than 90 days after the date on which the policy lapsed in coverage, the Administrator shall charge the same rate for the policy that the Administrator would have charged if the policyholder had renewed the policy before the lapse in coverage.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>