,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cgjb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #aa1 #bjai,mr4 ,green of ,texas 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,wagner7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,appropriations1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to provide disaster assistance to ,states1 ,puerto ,rico1 units of general local government1 and ,indian tribes under a community development block grant disaster recovery program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reforming ,disaster ,recovery ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,community development block grant disaster recovery program 7a7 ,in general ,title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #abc4 ,,cdbg-disaster recovery assistance 7a7 ,authority2 ,use ,the ,secretary may provide assistance under this section to ,states1 including ,puerto ,rico1 units of general local government1 and ,indian tribes for necessary expenses for activities authorized under this title related to disaster relief1 resiliency1 long-term recovery1 restoration of infrastructure and housing1 mitigation1 and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas 7as such term shall be defined by the ,secretary by regulation7 resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq474 7b7 ,allocation2 coordination 7#a7 ,allocation for mitigation ,in determining the amount allocated under this section for any grantee1 the ,secretary shall include an additional amount for mitigation that is not less than #de percent of the amount allocated for such grantee for unmet needs4 7#b7 ,deadlines for allocation ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 after the enactment of an ,act making funds available for assistance under this section1 the ,secretary shall allocate for grantees1 based on the best available data all funds provided for assistance under this section within #fj days of the date of the enactment of such ,act4 7#c7 ,inapplicability of deadlines based on insufficient information ,the deadlines under paragraph 7#b7 for allocation of funds shall not apply in the case of funds made available for assistance under this section if ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency has not made sufficient information available to the ,secretary regarding relevant unmet recovery needs to make allocations in accordance with such deadlines4 ,the ,secretary shall notify the ,congress of progress on or delay in receiving the necessary information within #fj days following declaration of such a major disaster and monthly thereafter until all necessary information is received4 7#d7 ,obligation of amounts by the ,secretary ,subject to subsection 7c77#a71 the ,secretary shall provide for the disbursement of the amounts allocated for a grantee1 but shall require the grantee to be in substantial compliance with the requirements of this section before each such disbursement4 7#e7 ,coordination of disaster benefits and data with other ,federal agencies 7,a7 ,coordination of data ,the ,secretary shall coordinate with other agencies to obtain data on recovery needs1 including the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency and the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration1 and other agencies when necessary regarding disaster benefits4 7,b7 ,coordination with ,,fema ,the ,secretary shall share with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 and make publicly available1 all data collected1 possessed1 or analyzed during the course of a disaster recovery for which assistance is provided under this section including-- 7i7 all data on damage caused by the disaster2 7ii7 information on how any ,federal assistance provided in connection with the disaster is expended2 and 7iii7 information regarding the effect of the disaster on education1 transportation capabilities and dependence1 housing needs1 health care capacity1 and displacement of persons4 7,c7 ,requirements regarding eligibility for direct assistance and duplication of benefits 7i7 ,compliance ,funds made available under this subsection shall be used in accordance with section #cab of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaee71 as amended by section #abaj of the ,disaster ,recovery ,reform ,act of #bjah 7,division ,d1 ,public ,law #aae-bed71 and such rules as may be prescribed under such section4 7ii7 ,priority ,households having the lowest incomes shall be prioritized for assistance under this section until all unmet needs are satisfied for families having an income up to #abj percent of the median for the area4 7,d7 ,treatment of duplicative benefits ,in any case in which a grantee provides assistance that duplicates benefits available to a person for the same purpose from another source1 the grantee itself shall either 7i7 be subject to remedies for noncompliance under section #aaa1 or 7ii7 bear responsibility for absorbing such cost of duplicative benefits and returning an amount equal to any duplicative benefits paid to the grantee's funds available for use under this section or to the ,community ,development ,block ,grant ,disaster ,recovery ,reserve ,fund under section #abd1 unless the ,secretary issues a public determination by publication in the ,federal ,register that it is not in the best interest of the ,federal ,government to pursue such remedies4 7,e7 ,protection of personally identifiable information ,in carrying out this paragraph1 the ,secretary and the grantee shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that personally identifiable information regarding recipients of assistance provided from funds made available under this section is not made publicly available by the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development or any agency with which information is shared pursuant to this paragraph4 7c7 ,plan for use of assistance 7#a7 ,requirement ,not later than #ij days after the allocation pursuant to subsection 7b77#a7 of all of the funds made available by an appropriations ,act for assistance under this section and before the ,secretary obligates any of such funds for a grantee1 the grantee shall submit a plan to the ,secretary for approval detailing the proposed use of all funds1 which shall include1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 criteria for eligibility for each proposed use of funds1 including eligibility limits on income and geography1 and a description of how each proposed use of such funds will comply with all civil rights and fair housing laws and will address unmet needs relating to disaster relief1 resiliency1 long-term recovery1 restoration of infrastructure and housing1 mitigation1 and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas1 including assistance to impacted households experiencing homelessness as defined by section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb7 or at risk of homelessness as defined by section #dja of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacfj72 7,b7 an agreement to share data1 disaggregated by the smallest census tract1 block group1 or block possible for the data set1 with ,federal agencies and other providers of disaster relief1 which shall include information the grantee has regarding the matters described in subsection 7b77#d77;,b72 7,c7 identification of officials and offices responsible for administering such funds and processes and procedures for identifying and recovering duplicate benefits2 and 7,d7 a plan for ensuring compliance with the ,fair ,housing ,act1 which may include1 at the election of the grantee1 providing for partnerships with local fair housing organizations and funding set-aside for local fair housing organizations to handle complaints relating to assistance with amounts made available for use under this section4 7#b7 ,approval ,the ,secretary shall1 by regulation1 specify criteria for approval of plans under paragraph 7#a71 including approval of substantial amendments to such plans4 7#c7 ,disapproval ,the ,secretary shall disapprove a plan or substantial amendment to a plan if-- 7,a7 the plan or substantial amendment does not meet the approval criteria2 7,b7 based on damage and unmet needs assessments of the ,secretary and the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,administration or such other information as may be available1 the plan or amendment does not address equitable allocation of resources-- 7i7 between infrastructure and housing activities2 and 7ii7 between homeowners1 renters1 and persons experiencing homelessness2 7,c7 the plan or amendment does not provide an adequate plan for ensuring that funding provided under this section is used in compliance with the ,fair ,housing ,act2 7,d7 the plan or amendment does not prioritize the one-for-one replacement1 with cost adjustment where appropriate1 of damaged dwelling units in public housing1 in projects receiving tax credits pursuant to section #db of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 or in projects assisted under section #bjb of the ,housing ,act of #aiei 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #agjaq71 under section #haa of the ,cranston-,gonzalez ,national ,affordable ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hjac71 under the ,,home ,investment ,partnerships ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abgba et seq471 under the community development block grant program under this title1 or by the ,housing ,trust ,fund under section #acch of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aiib 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #defh72 or 7,e7 the plan or amendment does not provide a process to provide applicants-- 7i7 notice by grantee of applicant's right to appeal any adverse action or inaction2 7ii7 right to full discovery of applicant's entire application file2 and 7iii7 right to appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction in the vicinage of the applicant's residence at the time of the appeal4 7#d7 ,public consultation ,in developing the plan required under paragraph 7#a71 a grantee shall1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 consult with affected residents1 stakeholders1 local governments1 and public housing authorities to assess needs2 7,b7 publish the plan in accordance with the requirements set forth by the ,secretary1 including a requirement to prominently post the plan on the website of the grantee for not less than #ad days2 7,c7 ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited ,english proficiency2 and 7,d7 publish the plan in a manner that affords citizens1 affected local governments1 and other interested parties a reasonable opportunity to examine the contents of the plan and provide feedback4 7#e7 ,resubmission ,the ,secretary shall permit a grantee to revise and resubmit a disapproved plan or plan amendment4 7#f7 ,timing 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall approve or disapprove a plan not later than #fj days after submission of the plan to the ,secretary4 ,the ,secretary shall immediately notify the applicant of the ,secretary's decision4 7,b7 ,disapproval ,if the ,secretary disapproves a plan1 not later than #ae days after such disapproval the ,secretary shall inform the applicant in writing of 7,a7 the reasons for disapproval1 and 7,b7 actions that the applicant could take to meet the criteria for approval4 7,c7 ,amendments2 resubmission ,the ,secretary shall1 for a period of not less than #de days following the date of disapproval1 permit amendments to1 or the resubmission of1 any plan that is disapproved4 ,the ,secretary shall approve or disapprove a plan amendment not less than #cj days after receipt of such amendments or resubmission4 7,d7 ,grant agreements ,subject to subsection 7b77#c71 the ,secretary shall ensure that all grant agreements necessary for prompt disbursement of funds allocated to a grantee are executed within #fj days of approval of grantee's plan4 7d7 ,financial controls 7#a7 ,compliance system ,the ,secretary shall develop and maintain a system to ensure that each grantee has and will maintain for the life of the grant-- 7,a7 proficient financial controls and procurement processes2 7,b7 adequate procedures to ensure that all eligible families and individuals are approved for assistance with amounts made available under this section and that recipients are provided the full amount of assistance for which they are eligible2 7,c7 adequate procedures to prevent any duplication of benefits1 as defined by section #cab of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaee71 to ensure timely expenditure of funds1 and to detect and prevent waste1 fraud1 and abuse of funds2 and 7,d7 adequate procedures to ensure the grantee will maintain comprehensive and publicly accessible websites that make available information regarding all disaster recovery activities assisted with such funds1 which information shall include-- 7i7 full and unredacted copies of all requests for qualification for assistance or for procurement with such funds1 however styled2 7ii7 all responses to such requests1 subject to redactions necessary to protect personal or proprietary data2 7iii7 the identity of any entity that reviews1 evaluates1 scores1 or otherwise influences or determines the disposition of such requests2 7iv7 all reports1 however styled1 containing the reviewing individual or entity's scores1 findings1 and conclusions regarding such requests2 and 7v7 any resulting contract1 agreement1 or other disposition of such requests2 except that such procedures shall ensure that personally identifiable information regarding recipients of assistance provided from funds made available under this section shall not be made publicly available4 7#b7 ,evaluation of compliance ,the ,secretary shall provide1 by regulation or guideline1 a method for qualitatively and quantitatively evaluating compliance with the requirements under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,certification ,as a condition of making any grant1 the ,secretary shall certify in advance that the grantee has in place the processes and procedures required under subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 of paragraph 7#a74 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,administrative costs 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state1 unit of general local government1 or ,indian tribe receiving a grant under this section may use not less than #g percent and not more than #aj percent of the amount of grant funds received1 or within such other percentage as may be established pursuant to subparagraph 7,b71 for administrative costs and shall document the use of funds for such purpose in accordance with such requirements as the ,secretary shall establish4 7,b7 ,discretion to establish sliding scale ,the ,secretary may establish a series of percentage limitations on the amount of grant funds received that may be used by a grantee for administrative costs1 but only if-- 7i7 such percentage limitations are based on the amount of grant funds received by a grantee2 7ii7 such series provides that the percentage that may be so used is lower for grantees receiving a greater amount of grant funds and such percentage that may be so used is higher for grantees receiving a lesser amount of grant funds2 and 7iii7 in no case may a grantee so use more than #aj percent of grant funds received4 7#b7 ,limitations on use ,amounts from a grant under this section may not be used for activities-- 7,a7 that are reimbursable1 or for which funds are made available1 by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 including under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act or the ,national ,flood ,insurance ,program2 or 7,b7 for which funds are made available by the ,army ,corps of ,engineers4 7#c7 ,,hud administrative costs 7,a7 ,limitation ,of any funds made available for use under this section by any single appropriations ,act1 the ,secretary may use #a percent of any such amount exceeding #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for necessary costs1 including information technology costs1 of administering and overseeing the obligation and expenditure of amounts made available for use under this section4 7,b7 ,transfer of funds ,any amounts made available for use in accordance with subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 shall be transferred to the account for ,program ,office ,salaries and ,expenses--,community ,planning and ,development for the ,department2 7ii7 shall remain available until expended2 and 7iii7 may be used for administering any funds appropriated to the ,department for any disaster and related purposes in any prior or future ,act1 notwithstanding the disaster for which such funds were appropriated4 7#d7 ,inspector general ,of any funds made available for use in accordance with paragraph 7#c77;,a71 #ae percent shall be transferred to the ,office of the ,inspector ,general for necessary costs of audits1 reviews1 oversight1 evaluation1 and investigations relating to amounts made available for use under this section4 7#e7 ,capacity building ,of any funds made available for use under this section1 not more than #j4a percent or #ae1jjj1jjj1 whichever is less1 shall be made available to the ,secretary for capacity building and technical assistance1 including assistance regarding contracting and procurement processes1 to support grantees and subgrantees receiving funds under this section4 7#f7 ,compliance with storm water protections ,the ,secretary shall provide that no funds made available under this section may be used for construction1 reconstruction1 or installation of any infrastructure unless the infrastructure assisted complies with any minimum standards for protection from floods and stormwaters1 including the ,federal ,flood ,risk ,management ,standards of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#g7 ,flood risk mitigation 7,a7 ,requirements ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall require that any structure that is located in an area having special flood hazards and that is newly constructed1 for which substantial damage is repaired1 or that is substantially improved1 using amounts made available under this section1 shall be elevated with the lowest floor1 including the basement1 at least two feet above the base flood level4 7,b7 ,alternative mitigation ,in the case of existing structures consisting of multifamily housing and row houses1 the ,secretary shall seek consultation with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 shall provide for alternative forms of mitigation 7apart from elevation71 and shall exempt from the requirement under subparagraph 7,a7 any such structure that meets the standards for such an alternative form of mitigation4 7,c7 ,definitions ,for purposes of subparagraph 7,a71 the terms area having special flood hazards1 newly constructed1 substantial damage1 substantial improvement1 and base flood level have the same meanings as under the ,flood ,disaster ,protection ,act of #aigc and the ,national ,flood ,insurance ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #djja et seq474 7f7 ,administration ,in administering any amounts made available for assistance under this section1 the ,secretary-- 7#a7 may not allow a grantee to use any such amounts for any purpose other than the purpose approved by the ,secretary in the plan or amended plan submitted under subsection 7c77#a7 to the ,secretary for use of such amounts2 7#b7 may not permit a grantee to amend a plan to retroactively approve a beneficiary's use of funds for an eligible activity other than an activity for which the funds were originally approved in the plan2 and 7#c7 shall prohibit a grantee from delegating1 by contract or otherwise1 the responsibility for inherent government functions4 7g7 ,training for grant management for subgrantees ,the ,secretary shall require each grantee to provide ongoing training to all staff and subgrantees4 7h7 ,procurement processes and procedures for grantees 7#a7 ,grantee processes and procedures ,in procuring property or services to be paid for in whole or in part with amounts from a grant under this section1 a grantee shall-- 7,a7 follow its own procurement processes and procedures1 but only if the ,secretary makes a determination that such processes and procedures comply with the requirements under paragraph 7#b72 or 7,b7 comply with such processes and procedures as the ,secretary shall1 by regulation1 establish for purposes of this section4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the requirements under this paragraph with respect to the procurement processes and procedures of a grantee are that such processes and procedures shall-- 7,a7 provide for full and open competition and require cost or price analysis2 7,b7 include requirements for procurement policies and procedures for subgrantees2 7,c7 specify methods of procurement and their applicability1 but not allow cost-plus-a-percentage-of cost or percentage-of-construction-cost methods of procurement2 7,d7 include standards of conduct governing employees engaged in the award or administration of contracts2 and 7,e7 ensure that all purchase orders and contracts include any clauses required by ,federal ,statute1 ,executive order1 or implementing regulation4 7#c7 ,noncompliance ,in the case of a grantee for which the ,secretary finds pursuant to paragraph 7#a77;,a7 that its procurement processes and procedures do not comply with paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 provide the grantee with specific written notice of the elements of noncompliance and the changes necessary to such processes and procedures to provide for compliance2 7,b7 provide the grantee a reasonable period of time to come into compliance2 and 7,c7 during such period allow the grantee to proceed with procuring property and services paid for in whole or in part with amounts from a grant under this section in compliance with the procurement processes and procedures of the grantee1 but only if the ,secretary determines that the grantee is making a good faith effort to effectuate compliance with the requirements of paragraph 7#b74 7i7 ,treatment of ,,cdbg allocations ,amounts made available for use under this section shall not be considered relevant to the non-disaster formula allocations made pursuant to section #ajf of this title 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjf74 7j7 ,waivers 7#a7 ,authority ,subject to the other provisions of this section1 in administering amounts made available for use under this section1 the ,secretary may waive1 or specify alternative requirements for1 any provision of any statute or regulation that the ,secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the ,secretary or the use by the recipient of such funds 7except for requirements related to fair housing1 nondiscrimination1 labor standards1 and the environment and except for the requirements of this section71 if the ,secretary makes a public finding that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement would not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of this title4 7#b7 ,notice and publication ,any waiver of or alternative requirement pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall not take effect before the expiration of the #e-;day period beginning upon the publication of notice in the ,federal ,register of such waiver or alternative requirement4 7#c7 ,low- and moderate-income use ,the requirements in this ,act that apply to grants made under section #ajf of this title 7except those related to the allocation7 apply equally to grants under this section unless modified by a waiver or alternative requirement pursuant to paragraph 7#a74 ,notwithstanding the preceding sentence1 the ,secretary may not grant a waiver to reduce the percentage of funds that must be used for activities that benefit persons of low and moderate income to less than #gj percent1 unless the ,secretary specifically finds that there is compelling need to further reduce the percentage requirement and that funds are not necessary to address the housing needs of low- and moderate-income residents4 7#d7 ,prohibition ,the ,secretary may not waive any provision of this section pursuant to the authority under paragraph 7#a74 7k7 ,environmental review 7#a7 ,adoption ,notwithstanding subsection 7j77#a71 recipients of funds provided under this section that use such funds to supplement ,federal assistance provided under section #djb1 #djc1 #djd1 #djf1 #djg1 #djh7;c77#d71 #dbh1 or #ejb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq47 may adopt1 without review or public comment1 any environmental review1 approval1 or permit performed by a ,federal agency1 and such adoption shall satisfy the responsibilities of the recipient with respect to such environmental review1 approval1 or permit under section #ajd7;g77#a7 of this title 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;g77#a774 7#b7 ,release of funds ,notwithstanding section #ajd7;g77#b7 of this title 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;g77#b771 the ,secretary may1 upon receipt of a request for release of funds and certification1 immediately approve the release of funds for an activity or project assisted with amounts made available for use under this section if the recipient has adopted an environmental review1 approval or permit under paragraph 7#a7 or the activity or project is categorically excluded from review under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7l7 ,collection of information2 audits and oversight 7#a7 ,collection of information ,for each major disaster for which assistance is made available under this section1 the ,secretary shall collect information from grantees regarding all recovery activities so assisted1 including information on applicants and recipients of assistance1 and shall make such information available to the public and to the ,inspector ,general for the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development on a monthly basis using uniform data collection practices1 and shall provide a monthly update to the ,congress regarding compliance with this section4 ,information collected and reported by grantees and the ,secretary shall be disaggregated by program1 race1 income1 geography1 and all protected classes of individuals under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act1 the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij1 the ,fair ,housing ,act1 the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd1 and other civil rights and nondiscrimination protections1 with respect to the smallest census tract1 block group1 or block possible for the data set4 7#b7 ,availability of information ,in carrying out this paragraph1 the ,secretary may make full and unredacted information available to academic and research institutions for the purpose of research into the equitable distribution of recovery funds1 adherence to civil rights protections1 and other areas4 7#c7 ,protection of information ,the ,secretary shall take such actions and make such redactions as may be necessary to ensure that personally identifiable information regarding recipients of assistance provided from funds made available under this section shall not be made publicly available4 7#d7 ,audits and oversight ,in conducting audits1 reviews1 oversight1 evaluation1 and investigations1 in addition to activities designed to prevent and detect waste1 fraud1 and abuse1 the ,inspector ,general shall review programs of grantees under this section for providing disaster relief and recovery assistance to ensure such programs fulfill their agreed-upon purposes and serve all eligible applicants for disaster relief or recovery assistance4 7m7 ,best practices 7#a7 ,study ,the ,secretary shall direct the ,office ,community ,planning and ,development to collaborate with the ,office of ,policy ,development and ,research to identify best practices for grantees on issues including developing the action plan under subsection 7c7 and substantive amendments1 establishing financial controls1 building grantee technical and administrative capacity1 procurement1 compliance with ,fair ,housing ,act statute and regulations1 and use of grant funds as local match for other sources of ,federal funding4 ,the ,secretary shall publish a compilation of such identified best practices and share with all relevant grantees to facilitate a more efficient and effective disaster recovery process4 ,the compilation shall include guidelines for housing and economic revitalization programs1 including mitigation1 with sufficient model language on program design for grantees to incorporate into action plans4 ,the compilation shall include standards for at least form of application1 determining unmet need1 and income eligibility4 7#b7 ,promulgation ,after publication of the final compilation1 the ,secretary shall issue either ,federal regulations1 as part of the final rule for the above authorization or as a separate rule1 or a ,federal ,register notice that establishes the requirements which grantees must follow in order to qualify for expedited review and approval4 ,such guidance shall establish standard language for inclusion in action plans under subsection 7c7 and for establishing standardized programs and activities recognized by the ,secretary4 ,use of best practices shall not preclude grantees from standard requirements for public comment1 community engagement1 and online posting of the action plan4 ,use of promulgated best practices shall allow for an expedited review process1 under which the ,secretary will approve or disapprove such programs within #cj days4 ,the ,secretary shall publish the draft compilation of best practices on its website and allow the public #fj days to submit comments4 ,the ,secretary shall review all public comments and publish a final compilation within one year from the date of enactment4 ,the ,secretary may revise the requirements for best practices at any time after a public comment period of at least #fj days4 7n7 ,plan pre-,certification for units of general local government 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program under this subsection to provide for units of general local government to pre-certify as eligible grantees for assistance under this section4 ,the objective of such program shall be to-- 7,a7 allow grantees that have consistently demonstrated the ability to administer funds responsibly and equitably in similar disasters to utilize in subsequent years plans which are substantially similar to those the ,department has previously approved2 and 7,b7 facilitate the re-use of a plan or its substantially similar equivalent by a pre-certified grantee for whom the plan has previously been approved and executed upon4 7#b7 ,requirements ,to be eligible for pre-certification under the program under this subsection a unit of general local government shall-- 7,a7 demonstrate to the satisfaction of the ,secretary compliance with the requirements of this section2 and 7,b7 have previously submitted a plan or its substantially similar equivalent and received assistance thereunder as a grantee or subgrantee under this section1 or with amounts made available for the ,community ,development ,block ,grant--,disaster ,recovery account1 in connection with two or more major disasters declared pursuant to the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq474 7#c7 ,approval of plans 7,a7 ,expedited approval processes ,the ,secretary shall establish and maintain processes for expediting approval of plans for units of general local government that are pre-certified under this subsection4 7,b7 ,effect of pre-certification ,pre-certification pursuant to this subsection shall not-- 7i7 establish any entitlement to1 or priority or preference for1 allocation of funds made available under this section2 or 7ii7 exempt any grantee from complying with any of the requirements under1 or established pursuant to1 subsection 7c7 or 7d74 7#d7 ,duration ,pre-certification under this subsection shall be effective for a term of #aj years4 7o7 ,deposit of unused amounts in fund 7#a7 ,in general ,if any amounts made available for assistance under this section to grantees remain unexpended upon the earlier of-- 7,a7 the date that the grantee of such amounts notifies the ,secretary that the grantee has completed all activities identified in the grantee's plan for use of such amounts that was approved by the ,secretary in connection with such grant2 or 7,b7 the expiration of the #f-year period beginning upon the ,secretary obligating such amounts to the grantee1 as such period may be extended pursuant to paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall transfer such unexpended amounts to the ,secretary of the ,treasury for deposit into the ,community ,development ,block ,grant ,disaster ,recovery ,reserve ,fund established under section #abd1 except that the ,secretary may1 by regulation1 permit the grantee to retain amounts needed to close out the grant4 7#b7 ,extension of period for use of funds ,the period under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall be extended by not more than #d years if1 before the expiration of such #f-year period1 the ,secretary waives this requirement and submits a written justification for such waiver to the ,committees on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate that specifies the period of such extension4 7p7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section3 7#a7 ,grantee ,the term grantee means a recipient of funds made available under this section after its enactment4 7#b7 ,substantially similar ,the term substantially similar means1 with respect to a plan1 a plan previously approved by the ,department1 administered successfully by the grantee1 and relating to disasters of the same type4 7#c7 ,other terms ,within one year of enactment of this section1 the ,department shall issue rules to define the following terms3 7,a7 ,unmet needs4 7,b7 ,most impacted and distressed4 7,c7 ,substantial compliance4 7,d7 ,full and open competition4 7,e7 ,cost plus a percentage of cost4 7,f7 ,percentage of construction cost4 #abd4 ,community ,development ,block ,grant ,disaster ,recovery ,reserve ,fund 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states an account to be known as the ,community ,development ,block ,grant ,disaster ,recovery ,reserve ,fund 7in this section referred to as the ,fund74 7b7 ,amounts ,the ,fund shall consist of any amounts appropriated to or deposited into the ,fund1 including amounts deposited into the ,fund pursuant to section #abc7o74 7c7 ,use ,amounts in the ,fund shall be available1 pursuant to the occurrence of a major disaster declared under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act1 only for providing technical assistance and capacity building in connection with section #abc for grantees under such section that have been allocated assistance under such section in connection with such disaster to facilitate planning required under such section and increase capacity to administer assistance provided under such section4 4 7b7 ,regulations 7#a7 ,proposed rule ,not later than the expiration of the #f-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall issue proposed rules to carry out sections #abc and #abd of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd1 as added by the amendment made by subsection 7a7 of this section1 and shall provide a #ij-;day period for submission of public comments on such proposed rule4 7#b7 ,final rule ,not later than the expiration of the #ab-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall issue final regulations to carry out sections #abc and #abd of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd1 as added by the amendment made by subsection 7a7 of this section4