,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bgfg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bf1 #bjah,mrs4 ,murray introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to make improvements to certain wildfire and disaster recovery programs of the ,federal ,government1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,disaster ,recovery ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,state individual assistance programs ,title ,,iii of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eada et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cbh4 ,state individual assistance programs 7a7 ,incentive for individual assistance programs ,a ,state may receive an increased ,federal share for financial assistance under subsection 7c7 if the ,state develops and implements an individual assistance program that authorizes the ,state government to provide financial assistance1 and if necessary1 direct services1 to individuals and households in the ,state who1 as a direct result of a major disaster or an event that does not trigger a major disaster declaration1 have necessary expenses and serious needs in cases in which the individuals and households are unable to meet such expenses through other means4 7b7 ,eligibility criteria 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall publish minimum eligibility criteria for a ,state individual assistance program established under subsection 7a7 that receives an increased ,federal share for financial assistance under subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,considerations ,in formulating the minimum eligibility criteria required under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall consider-- 7,a7 the total taxable resources of the individual ,state or other measure of fiscal capacity1 as appropriate2 7,b7 the variation of total taxable resources1 or other measures of fiscal capacity1 among the individual ,state2 and 7,c7 the historical frequency of declarations made pursuant to sections #dja and #eja4 7#c7 ,publication deadline ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall publish-- 7,a7 interim minimum eligibility criteria required under paragraph 7#a7 not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this section2 and 7,b7 final minimum eligibility criteria required under paragraph 7#a7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section4 7c7 ,increased federal share for financial assistance to individuals and households ,if1 at the time of the declaration of a major disaster1 a ,state has in effect an individual assistance program that meets the criteria published under subsection 7b71 the ,president may increase to #ajj percent1 with respect to the major disaster1 the percentage described in section #djh7;g77#b77;,a74 4 #c4 ,community shelter assistance program 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iii of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacca et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking section #cbb and inserting the following3 #cbb4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,emergency food and shelter grants ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subtitle ,b #ahj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjai4 7b7 ,disaster supplemental food and shelter grants ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subtitle ,d #ahj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjai4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 ,d ,disaster supplemental food and shelter grants #cca4 ,grants by the ,administrator ,not later than #cj days after the date on which amounts become available to carry out this subtitle1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency 7referred to in this subtitle as the ,administrator7 shall award a grant for the full amount that ,congress makes available for the program under this subtitle to the ,national ,board for the purpose of providing disaster supplemental food and shelter grants to needy individuals through private nonprofit organizations and local governments in accordance with section #ccc4 #ccb4 ,retention of interest earned 7a7 ,in general ,interest accrued on the balance of any grant to the ,national ,board under this subtitle shall be available to the ,national ,board for reallocation4 7b7 ,determination of costs ,total administrative costs shall be determined based on the total amount of funds available1 including interest and any private contributions that are made to the ,national ,board4 #ccc4 ,purposes of grants 7a7 ,eligible activities ,grants to the ,national ,board under this subtitle may be used-- 7#a7 to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter1 food1 and supportive services for any area for which the ,president declares a major disaster under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj72 7#b7 to strengthen efforts to create more effective and innovative local disaster response programs by providing funding for those programs2 and 7#c7 to conduct minimum rehabilitation of existing mass shelter facilities1 but only to the extent necessary to make facilities safe1 sanitary1 and bring facilities into compliance with local building codes4 7b7 ,limitations on activities 7#a7 ,eligible programs ,the ,national ,board may only provide funding provided under this subtitle for programs that are-- 7,a7 carried out by private nonprofit organizations and local governments2 7,b7 consistent with the purposes of this title2 and 7,c7 administered within an area for which-- 7i7 the ,president declared a major disaster under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 during the #ab-month period immediately preceding the grant2 and 7ii7 assistance has not been provided with respect to the major disaster under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagd74 7#b7 ,national ,board ,the ,national ,board may not carry out programs directly4 #ccd4 ,limitation on certain costs ,not more than #aj percent of the total amount made available for the program under this subtitle for each fiscal year may be expended for the costs of administration4 #cce4 ,disbursement of funds ,any amount made available by appropriation ,acts under this subtitle unobligated by the ,national ,board before the expiration of the #ab-month period beginning on the date on which the amount becomes available shall be transferred to the general fund of the ,treasury4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,the table of contents in section #aja7;b7 of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacja note7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cbb the following3 ,subtitle ,d--,disaster and ,supplemental ,food ,shelter ,grants,sec4 #cca4 ,grants by the ,administrator4,sec4 #ccb4 ,retention of interest earned4,sec4 #ccc4 ,purposes of grants4,sec4 #ccd4 ,limitation on certain costs4,sec4 #cce4 ,disbursement of funds4 4 #d4 ,emergency conservation program 7a7 ,maximum payments per person or legal entity ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,farm ,service ,agency1 shall amend the regulations promulgated pursuant to section #dje of the ,agricultural ,credit ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bbje7 relating to the emergency conservation program to provide that the maximum amount of payments made under section #dja or #djb of that ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bbja1 #bbjb7 per person or legal entity per natural disaster is #ejj1jjj4 7b7 ,rulemaking ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,farm ,service ,agency1 shall initiate a rulemaking to amend the regulations promulgated pursuant to section #dje of the ,agricultural ,credit ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bbje7 relating to the emergency conservation program to account for the challenges posed by the increase in frequency and intensity of wildland fire4 #e4 ,emergency watershed protection program wildfire pilot 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that additional consideration of how the ,federal ,government supports and expedites the recovery of rural areas affected by wildfires is necessary because wildfires-- 7#a7 pose unique mitigation1 management1 response1 and recovery challenges due to the unpredictable size1 location1 and duration of wildfires2 and 7#b7 7,a7 disproportionately impact rural areas2 and 7,b7 inflict long-term damage on the agricultural systems rural areas economically rely on4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible jurisdiction ,the term eligible jurisdiction means a jurisdiction within an area for which the ,president declared a major disaster in accordance with section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 for wildfire4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service4 7c7 ,pilot program ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program for the administration of the emergency watershed protection program established under section #djc of the ,agricultural ,credit ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bbjc7 in eligible jurisdictions to extend deadlines for the submission of applications and the provision of amounts under the program in accordance with subsection 7d74 7d7 ,extension of deadlines 7#a7 ,applications ,during the period described in subsection 7f71 a sponsor may apply for amounts under the emergency watershed protection program for a project within an eligible jurisdiction by submitting a request to the ,state conservationist for the ,state in which the eligible jurisdiction is located not later than-- 7,a7 #ahj days after the date on which the ,president declared the major disaster for wildfire2 7,b7 #fj days after the date on which access to site of the project becomes available1 as determined by the ,secretary2 or 7,c7 #fj days after the date of #ajj-percent containment of a wildfire for which a major disaster declaration is issued4 7#b7 ,awards 7,a7 ,in general ,during the period described in subsection 7f71 except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 not later than #cfj days after the date on which the ,secretary commits amounts to the applicable ,state conservationist for the provision of amounts under the emergency watershed protection program for a project within an eligible jurisdiction-- 7i7 the ,state conservationist shall provide the amounts to the sponsor of the project2 and 7ii7 the project shall be completed4 7,b7 ,emergency situations ,during the period described in subsection 7f71 in an emergency situation 7as determined by the ,secretary71 not later than #aj days after the date on which the ,secretary commits amounts to the applicable ,state conservationist for the provision of amounts under the emergency watershed protection program for a project within an eligible jurisdiction1 the project shall be completed4 7e7 ,reports to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date on which the pilot program is established under subsection 7c71 and once the following year1 the ,secretary shall prepare a report describing-- 7,a7 the number of applications submitted for a project under the pilot program during the #fj-;day period beginning on the date on which the pilot program is established2 7,b7 the number of applications described in subparagraph 7,a7 that were approved2 7,c7 the average time of construction of projects for which applications described in subparagraph 7,b7 were submitted2 and 7,d7 such other information as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7#b7 ,submission ,the ,secretary shall submit each report under paragraph 7#a7 to each of the following3 7,a7 ,in the ,senate3 7i7 ,the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry4 7ii7 ,the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs4 7iii7 ,the ,committee on ,appropriations4 7,b7 ,in the ,house of ,representatives3 7i7 ,the ,committee on ,agriculture4 7ii7 ,the ,committee on ,homeland ,security4 7iii7 ,the ,committee on ,appropriations4 7f7 ,duration ,the pilot program established under subsection 7c7 shall be carried out during the #b-year period beginning on the date on which the pilot program is established4 #f4 ,expanded eligibility for hazard mitigation assistance ,section #djd of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj;c7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,expanded eligibility ,notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section #dbj1 the ,president may provide hazard mitigation assistance in accordance with this section in any area in which assistance is provided under section #dbj4 4 #g4 ,hazard mitigation pilot program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#b7 ,eligible jurisdiction ,the term eligible jurisdiction means-- 7,a7 a jurisdiction within an area for which the ,president declared a major disaster in accordance with section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj72 and 7,b7 an area in which assistance is provided under section #dbj of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eahg74 7b7 ,pilot program ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish a pilot program for the administration of the hazard mitigation grant program established under section #djd of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj;c7 in eligible jurisdictions to-- 7#a7 include additional wildfire-specific eligible activities described in subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 facilitate the timely disbursement of awards using new procedures adopted under subsection 7d74 7c7 ,additional eligible activities ,an eligible jurisdiction may use amounts received under this section to-- 7#a7 support the adoption and implementation of fire-adapted community programs2 7#b7 create or expand defensible spaces that are not more than #cjj feet from a structure2 7#c7 develop emergency preparedness and communications materials for individuals with limited ,english proficiency2 7#d7 organize and plan for the deployment of interagency1 multi-jurisdictional burned area emergency response teams on non-,federal lands2 and 7#e7 carry out any other wildfire hazard mitigation project as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7d7 ,new procedures 7#a7 ,approval of projects ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator may adopt new procedures to provide assistance to eligible jurisdictions to carry out activities and projects under this section4 7#b7 ,goals of procedures ,the new procedures adopted under paragraph 7#a7 shall further the goals of-- 7,a7 reducing the cost to the ,federal ,government of providing assistance2 7,b7 increasing the flexibility in the administration of assistance2 7,c7 expediting the provision of assistance to eligible jurisdictions2 and 7,d7 providing financial incentives and disincentives for an eligible jurisdiction for the timely and cost-effective completion of activities and projects using assistance provided under this section4 7#c7 ,participation ,participation in the new procedures adopted under paragraph 7#a7 shall be at the election of an eligible jurisdiction1 consistent with procedures determined by the ,administrator4 7#d7 ,minimum procedures ,the new procedures adopted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,making grants on the basis of fixed estimates1 if the eligible jurisdiction agrees to be responsible for any actual costs that exceed the estimate4 7,b7 ,providing an option for an eligible jurisdiction to elect to receive an in-lieu contribution1 without reduction1 on the basis of estimates of the costs and expenses associated with executing and managing projects4 7,c7 ,consolidating1 to the extent determined appropriate by the ,administrator1 the facilities of an eligible jurisdiction as a single project based upon the estimates adopted under the procedures4 7,d7 ,if the actual costs of a project completed under the procedures are less than the estimated costs thereof1 permitting a grantee or subgrantee to use all or part of the excess funds for other activities allowed under section #djd of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj;c7 or to improve future hazard mitigation grant program operations or planning4 7,e7 ,in determining eligible costs under section #djd of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj;c71 the ,administrator shall1 at the request of an eligible jurisdiction-- 7i7 make available1 at the request of an eligible jurisdiction and where the ,administrator1 or the certified cost estimate prepared by professionally licensed engineers of the eligible jurisdiction1 has estimated an eligible ,federal share for a project of not less than #e1jjj1jjj1 an independent expert panel to validate the estimated eligible cost consistent with applicable regulations1 policies1 and guidance implementing this section2 and 7ii7 consider properly conducted and certified cost estimates prepared by professionally licensed engineers who are mutually agreed upon by the ,administrator and the eligible jurisdiction1 to the extent that those estimates comply with applicable regulations1 policy1 and guidance4 7e7 ,rulemaking 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may promulgate regulations to carry out the pilot program established under this section4 7#b7 ,applicability of notice and comment rulemaking ,section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall not apply to regulations promulgated under paragraph 7#a74 7f7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,homeland ,security shall submit to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the additional eligible activities and new procedures carried out under the pilot program4 7#b7 ,contents ,the report shall contain an assessment of the effectiveness of the additional eligible activities and new procedures described in subsections 7c7 and 7d71 respectively1 including-- 7,a7 whether the additional eligible activities and new procedures helped to improve the general speed of recovery from wildfire2 7,b7 the accuracy of the estimated costs described in subsection 7d77#d77;,d72 7,c7 whether the financial incentives and disincentives were effective2 7,d7 whether the new procedures were cost effective2 7,e7 whether the independent expert panel described in subsection 7d77#d77;,e77i7 was effective2 and 7,f7 recommendations for whether the new procedures should be continued and any recommendations for changes to the new procedures4 7g7 ,duration ,the pilot program established under this section shall be carried out during the #c-year period beginning on the date on which the pilot program is established4 #h4 ,post-wildfire flood assistance pilot program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#b7 ,public assistance program ,the term public assistance program means the public assistance grant program authorized under sections #djb1 #djc1 #djf1 #djg1 #dah1 #dai1 #dba7;d71 #ejb1 and #ejc of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj;a1 #eagj;b1 #eagb1 #eagc1 #eahe1 #eahf1 #eahh7;d71 #eaib1 #eaic74 7b7 ,establishment ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish a pilot program under which the ,administrator shall1 in an area eligible for assistance under the public assistance program as a result of a wildfire for which a major disaster was declared under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 consider damage resulting from wildfire caused or exacerbated by flooding1 mudslides1 or other subsidence events that occur during the #e-year period beginning on the date on which the major disaster was declared to be eligible for that assistance under the original major disaster declaration4 7c7 ,duration ,the pilot program established under this section shall be carried out during the #e-year period beginning on the date on which the pilot program is established4