,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cjib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #bg1 #bjba,mr4 ,padilla 7for himself and ,mr4 ,wyden7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act to improve the provision of certain disaster assistance1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,fema ,improvement1 ,reform1 and ,efficiency ,act of #bjba or the ,,fire ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,agency2 7#b7 the term ,agency means the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 7#c7 the term emergency means an emergency declared or determined to exist by the ,president under section #eja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaia72 7#d7 the terms ,indian tribal government1 local government1 and ,state have the meanings given such terms in section #ajb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb72 and 7#e7 the term major disaster means a major disaster declared by the ,president under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj74 #c4 ,authority for relocation projects 7a7 ,eligibility for assistance ,an eligible applicant seeking public mitigation assistance under section #djf of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagb7 or section #acff of the ,national ,flood ,insurance ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dajd;c7 may be eligible to receive such assistance for the relocation of an eligible structure if the entity-- 7#a7 demonstrates that-- 7,a7 the structure is at risk from future damage1 based on the most recently conducted hazard map or ,state or local expert risk assessment1 regardless of whether the risk is of repetitive or heavy damage2 7,b7 the overall relocation project reduces the risk to the structure and is cost effective2 and 7,c7 the overall relocation project does not increase risk to adjacent structures2 7#b7 complies with all other eligibility requirements for relocation projects2 and 7#c7 complies with ,federal requirements for the project4 7b7 ,applicability ,subsection 7a7 shall apply to a major disaster declared by the ,president on or after the date of enactment of this ,act4 #d4 ,red flag warnings and predisaster actions ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,national ,weather ,service of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 shall-- 7#a7 conduct a study of1 develop recommendations for1 and initiate a process for the use of ,red ,flag ,warnings and similar weather alert and notification methods1 including the use of emerging technologies1 to establish-- 7,a7 plans and actions1 consistent with law1 that can be implemented prior to a wildfire event1 including pre-impact disaster declarations and surge operations1 that can limit the impact1 duration1 or severity of the fire2 and 7,b7 mechanisms to increase interagency collaboration to expedite the delivery of disaster assistance2 and 7#b7 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 comprehensive report regarding the study described in paragraph 7#a71 including any recommendations of the ,administrator1 and the activities of the ,administrator to carry out paragraph 7#a74 #e4 ,assistance for wildfire damage ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall brief the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate regarding-- 7#a7 the application for assistance and consistency of assistance provided by the ,agency in response to wildfires2 and 7#b7 the kinds of damage that result from wildfires4 #f4 ,,gao report on gaps ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states 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 that examines-- 7#a7 gaps in the policies of the ,agency related to wildfires1 when compared to other hazards2 7#b7 disparities in regulations and guidance issued by the ,administrator1 including any oversight of the programs of the ,agency1 when addressing impacts of wildfires and other hazards2 7#c7 ways to shorten the period of time between the initiating of and the distribution of assistance1 reimbursements1 and grants2 7#d7 the effectiveness of the programs of the ,agency in addressing wildfire hazards2 7#e7 ways to improve the ability of the ,agency to assist ,states1 local governments1 and ,indian tribal governments to prepare for1 respond to1 recover from1 and mitigate against wildfire hazards2 7#f7 revising the application process for assistance relating to wildfires to more effectively assess uninsured and underinsured losses and serious needs2 and 7#g7 with respect to the community development block grant disaster recovery and mitigation programs authorized under title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq47-- 7,a7 establishing clear triggers for the appropriation of funds related to those programs based on the declaration of a major disaster that reaches identified thresholds2 and 7,b7 amending title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq47 to permanently establish the requirements for those programs and allow for the development of pre-disaster action plans4 #g4 ,crisis counseling cultural competency ,section #daf of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eahc7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,the ,president and inserting the following3 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7b7 ,cultural competency ,the ,president shall1 in consultation with affected ,states1 local governments1 and ,indian tribal governments and cultural experts1 ensure that any individual providing professional counseling services to victims of a major disaster as authorized under subsection 7a71 including those working for nonprofit partners and recovery organizations1 is appropriately trained to address-- 7#a7 cultural competency and respectful care practices2 and 7#b7 impacts from major disasters in communities1 and to individuals1 with socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds4 4 #h4 ,case management cultural competency ,section #dbf of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eahi;d7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,the ,president and inserting the following3 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7b7 ,cultural competency ,the ,president shall1 in consultation with affected ,states1 local governments1 and ,indian tribal governments and cultural experts1 ensure that any individual providing case management services to victims of a major disaster as authorized under subsection 7a71 including those working for nonprofit partners and recovery organizations1 is appropriately trained to address-- 7#a7 cultural competency and respectful care practices2 and 7#b7 impacts from major disasters in communities1 and to individuals1 with socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds4 4 #i4 ,study and plan for disaster housing assistance 7a7 ,study ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 conduct a study and develop a plan1 consistent with law1 under which the ,agency will address providing housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or emergencies when presented with challenges such as-- 7,a7 the lack of proof of ownership or ownership documentation2 7,b7 the presence of multiple families within a single household2 and 7,c7 the near loss of a community1 with the majority of homes destroyed in that community1 including as a result of a wildfire1 earthquake1 or other event causing a major disaster2 and 7#b7 make recommendations for legislative changes needed to address-- 7,a7 the unmet needs of survivors of major disasters or emergencies who are unable to document or prove ownership of the household2 7,b7 the presence of multiple families within a single household2 and 7,c7 the near loss of a community1 with the majority of homes destroyed in that community1 including as a result of a wildfire1 earthquake1 or other event causing a major disaster4 7b7 ,comprehensive report ,the ,administrator 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 that provides a detailed discussion of the plans developed under subsection 7a77#a7 and the recommendations of the ,administrator under subsection 7a77#b74 7c7 ,briefing ,not later than #cj days after submission of the report and recommendations under subsection 7b71 the ,administrator shall brief the committees described in subsection 7b7 on the findings and any recommendations made pursuant to this section4 #aj4 ,reimbursement ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall brief the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate regarding the extent to which the ,agency is using housing solutions proposed by a ,state or local government to reduce the time or cost required to implement housing solutions after a major disaster4 #aa4 ,wildfire insurance study by the national academies 7a7 ,study 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall seek to enter into an agreement with the ,national ,academy of ,sciences to conduct a study of-- 7,a7 potential solutions to address the availability and affordability of insurance for wildfire perils in all regions of the ,united ,states1 including consideration of a national all natural hazards insurance program2 7,b7 the ability of ,states1 communities1 and individuals to mitigate wildfire risks1 including the affordability and feasibility of such mitigation activities2 7,c7 the current and potential future effects of land use policies and building codes on the potential solutions2 7,d7 the reasons why many properties at risk of wildfire lack insurance coverage2 7,e7 the role of insurers in providing incentives for wildfire risk mitigation efforts2 7,f7 the state of catastrophic insurance and reinsurance markets and the approaches in providing insurance protection to different sectors of the population of the ,united ,states2 7,g7 the role of the ,federal ,government and ,state and local governments in providing incentives for feasible wildfire risk mitigation efforts and the cost of providing assistance in the absence of insurance2 7,h7 the state of modeling and mapping wildfire risk and solutions for accurately and adequately identifying future wildfire risk2 7,i7 approaches to insuring wildfire risk in the ,united ,states2 and 7,j7 such other issues that may be necessary or appropriate for the report4 7#b7 ,consultation ,the agreement to conduct the study described in subsection 7a71 shall require that1 in conducting the study1 the ,national ,academy of ,sciences shall consult with ,state insurance regulators1 consumer organizations1 representatives of the insurance and reinsurance industry1 policyholders1 and other organizations and experts1 as appropriate4 7b7 ,submission ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress the results of the study commissioned under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 #ab4 ,increased cap for emergency declarations based on regional cost of living ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall brief the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate regarding the benefits and drawbacks of establishing a maximum amount for assistance provided for an emergency that is based on the cost of living in the region in which the emergency occurs4 #ac4 ,facilitating disposal of temporary transportable housing units to survivors ,section #djh7;d77#b77;,b77i7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagd7;d77#b77;,b77i77 is amended by inserting 1 with priority given to a survivor of a major disaster who suffered a property loss as a result of the major disaster after any person4 #ad4 ,deadline on code enforcement and floodplain management cost eligibility ,section #djf7;a77#b77;,d7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagb7;a77#b77;,d77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking period of not more than #ahj days and all that follows and inserting the following3 period of-- 7i7 except as provided in clause 7ii71 not more than #a year after the major disaster is declared2 or 7ii7 for flooding and other natural catastrophes1 including a major disaster declared in relation to a fire or earthquake1 not more than #a year after the date on which incident occurs or the major disaster is declared4 4 #ae4 ,permit applications for ,tribal upgrades to ,emergency ,operations ,centers ,section #fad7;a7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaif;c7a77 is amended by inserting and ,indian tribal governments after grants to ,states4