#aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hfa ,,an ,,act ,to streamline the sharing of information among ,federal disaster assistance agencies1 to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance to disaster survivors1 to speed the recovery of communities from disasters1 to protect the security and privacy of information provided by disaster survivors1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,disaster ,assistance ,simplification ,act4 #b4 ,establishment of a unified disaster assistance intake process and system ,the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #gjg4 ,establishment of a unified disaster assistance intake process and system 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7#b7 ,applicant ,the term applicant means-- 7,a7 an individual1 business1 or organization that applies for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program2 7,b7 an individual1 business1 or organization on behalf of which an individual described in subparagraph 7,a7 applies for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program2 and 7,c7 an individual1 business1 or organization that seeks assistance as a beneficiary of a ,state1 local government1 or ,indian tribal government that received assistance under a disaster assistance program4 7#c7 ,disaster assistance agency ,the term disaster assistance agency means-- 7,a7 the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 and 7,b7 any ,federal agency that provides disaster assistance to individuals1 businesses1 organizations1 ,states1 local governments1 ,indian tribal governments1 communities1 or organizations that the ,administrator certifies as a disaster assistance agency in accordance with subsection 7f7 to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program4 7#d7 ,disaster assistance information ,the term disaster assistance information includes any personal1 biographical1 demographic1 geographical1 financial1 application decision1 or other information that a disaster assistance agency1 or a recipient of a ,federal block grant from a disaster assistance agency1 is authorized to collect1 maintain1 disclose1 or use to-- 7,a7 process an application for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program2 or 7,b7 otherwise carry out the purpose of a disaster assistance program4 7#e7 ,disaster assistance program ,the term disaster assistance program means-- 7,a7 a program that provides disaster assistance to individuals and households under title ,,iv or ,v in accordance with sections #djh and #ejb2 or 7,b7 any other assistance program authorized by a ,federal statute or funded with ,federal appropriations under which a disaster assistance agency awards or distributes disaster assistance to an individual1 household1 or organization1 or provides a ,federal block grant for these purposes1 that arises from a major disaster or emergency declared under section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 including-- 7i7 disaster assistance2 7ii7 long-term disaster recovery assistance2 7iii7 the post-disaster restoration of infrastructure and housing2 7iv7 post-disaster economic revitalization2 7v7 a loan authorized under section #g7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcf7;b772 and 7vi7 food benefit allotments under section #dab of this ,act and section #e7;h7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7;h774 7#f7 ,record ,the term record has the meaning given the term in section #eeb;a of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,unified disaster assistance intake process and system 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cfj days after the date of enactment of the ,disaster ,assistance ,simplification ,act1 the ,administrator shall1 in consultation with appropriate ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,indian tribal governments and entities1 develop and establish a unified intake process and system for applicants for disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency to-- 7,a7 facilitate a consolidated application for any form of disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the assistance2 7,b7 carry out the purposes of disaster assistance programs swiftly1 efficiently1 fairly1 and in accordance with applicable laws and privacy and data protections2 and 7,c7 support the detection1 prevention1 and investigation of waste1 fraud1 abuse1 or discrimination in the administration of disaster assistance programs4 7#b7 ,capabilities of the consolidated application system ,the unified intake process and system established under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 accept applications for disaster assistance programs2 7,b7 allow for applicants to receive status updates on applications for disaster assistance programs2 7,c7 allow for applicants to update disaster assistance information throughout the recovery journeys of those applicants2 7,d7 allow for the distribution of information on additional recovery resources to disaster survivors that may be available in a disaster-stricken jurisdiction1 in coordination with appropriate ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal partners2 7,e7 provide disaster survivors with information and documentation on the applications of those disaster survivors for a disaster assistance program2 7,f7 allow for the distribution of application data to support faster and more effective distribution of ,federal disaster assistance1 including block grant assistance1 for disaster recovery2 7,g7 allow for disaster assistance agencies to communicate directly with disaster survivors2 and 7,h7 contain other capabilities determined necessary by the heads of disaster assistance agencies4 7#c7 ,updates ,not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,administrator receives a request from a disaster assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated application described in paragraph 7#a7 needed to administer the disaster assistance programs of the disaster assistance agency1 the ,administrator shall make those updates4 7c7 ,authorities of ,administrator ,the ,administrator may-- 7#a7 collect1 maintain1 disclose1 and use disaster assistance information1 including such information received from any disaster assistance agency1 with any other disaster assistance agency for purposes of subsection 7b77#a72 and 7#b7 subject to subsection 7d71 authorize the collection1 maintenance1 disclosure1 and use of disaster assistance information collected on or after the date of enactment of the ,disaster ,assistance ,simplification ,act by publishing a notice on a public website that-- 7,a7 includes a detailed description of-- 7i7 the specific disaster assistance information authorized to be collected1 maintained1 disclosed1 and used2 7ii7 why the collection1 maintenance1 disclosure1 or use of the disaster assistance information is necessary to carry out the purpose of a disaster assistance program2 7iii7 how the collection1 maintenance1 disclosure1 and use of disaster assistance information incorporates fair information practices2 and 7iv7 the disaster assistance agencies that will be granted access to the disaster assistance information to carry out the purpose of any disaster assistance program2 and 7,b7 provides that the submission of an application through a unified disaster application constitutes prior written consent to disclose disaster assistance information to disaster assistance agencies for the purpose of section #eeb;a7b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7d7 ,collection and sharing of records and information 7#a7 ,effect of publication of notice on public website ,the publication of a notice by the ,administrator on a public website of a revision to the system of records of the unified intake process and system established under subsection 7b77#a7 prior to any new collection1 maintenance1 disclosure1 or use of records to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program with respect to a major disaster or emergency declared by the ,president under section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 of this ,act shall be deemed to satisfy the notice and publication requirements of section #eeb;a7e77#d7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for the entire period of performance for any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program4 7#b7 ,paperwork ,reduction ,act waiver 7,a7 ,in general ,upon the declaration of a major disaster or emergency pursuant to section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 of this ,act1 the ,administrator may waive the requirements of subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act71 with respect to the voluntary collection of information specific to the declared major disaster or emergency needed to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program4 7,b7 ,duration ,a waiver described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall be in effect for the entire period of performance for any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program with respect to a declared major disaster or emergency4 7,c7 ,transparency ,if the ,administrator waives the requirements described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,administrator shall-- 7i7 promptly post on a public website-- 7,i7 a brief justification for the waiver2 and 7,,ii7 the agencies and offices to which the waiver shall apply2 7ii7 update the information posted under clause 7i71 as applicable2 and 7iii7 comply with the requirements of subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act7 upon the expiration of the period of performance of any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program if the collection of information may be utilized for the purposes of supporting the disaster assistance program in future major disaster or emergency declarations4 7,d7 ,effectiveness of waiver ,any waiver under subparagraph 7,a7 shall take effect on the date on which the ,administrator posts information on the internet website as provided for under subparagraph 7,c74 7e7 ,data security ,the ,administrator shall facilitate the collection of disaster assistance information into a unified application only after-- 7#a7 the ,administrator certifies that the unified application substantially complies with the data security standards established pursuant to subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code1 and any other applicable ,federal information security policy2 7#b7 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security publishes a privacy impact assessment for the unified application that is similar to the privacy assessment conducted under section #bjh7;b77#a77;,b7 of the ,e-,government ,act of #bjjb 7#dd ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja note72 and 7#c7 the ,administrator1 in consultation with disaster assistance agencies1 publishes standard rules of behavior for disaster assistance agencies and personnel granted access to disaster assistance information to protect such information from improper disclosure4 7f7 ,certification of disaster assistance agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may certify a ,federal agency as a disaster assistance agency after posting an agreement between the ,administrator and the ,federal agency on a public website that contains the detailed terms of the agreement4 7#b7 ,contents of agreement ,an agreement between the ,administrator and a ,federal agency described in paragraph 7#a7 shall state that the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency and the ,federal agency will-- 7,a7 collect1 disclose1 maintain1 and use disaster assistance information in accordance with-- 7i7 this section2 and 7ii7 subject to subsection 7i77#b71 any existing policies of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency and the ,federal agency for information protection and use2 7,b7 train any personnel granted access to disaster assistance information on the rules of behavior established by the ,administrator under subsection 7e77#c72 7,c7 in the event of any unauthorized disclosure of disaster assistance information-- 7i7 not later than #bd hours after discovering the unauthorized disclosure-- 7,i7 in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the ,federal agency1 notify the ,administrator of the disclosure2 and 7,,ii7 in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 notify disaster assistance agencies of the disclosure2 7ii7 cooperate fully with the ,administrator and disaster assistance agencies in the investigation and remediation of the disclosure2 and 7iii7 cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person responsible for the disclosure2 and 7,d7 assume responsibility for any compensation1 civil liability1 or other remediation measure awarded by a judgment of a court or agreed upon as a compromise of any potential claim by or on behalf of an applicant1 including by obtaining credit monitoring and remediation services1 for an improper disclosure of disaster assistance information that is-- 7i7 caused1 directly or indirectly1 by the acts or omissions of an officer1 employee1 or contractor of the ,federal agency2 or 7ii7 from any electronic system of records that was created or maintained by the ,federal agency pursuant to section #eeb;a7e7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7g7 ,reports 7#a7 ,,fema ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 and every year thereafter for #b years1 the ,administrator1 in coordination with the heads of disaster assistance agencies1 shall submit to ,congress a report on the implementation of this section1 including-- 7,a7 how disaster assistance agencies are working together to implement the requirements under this section2 7,b7 the effect of this section on disaster survivor burden and the speed and efficiency of delivering disaster assistance2 and 7,c7 a description of any other challenges that require further legislative action4 7#b7 ,,gao ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on how the implementation of this section has affected the disaster survivor experience1 and any recommendations for improvements to the requirements under this section4 7h7 ,briefings ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this section1 and again not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,administrator shall brief ,congress on-- 7#a7 the status of the implementation of the requirements under this section2 and 7#b7 how disaster assistance agencies are working together to implement the requirements under this section4 7i7 ,rules of construction 7#a7 ,inapplicability of matching program provisions ,the disclosure and use of disaster assistance information subject to the requirements of section #eeb;a of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 among disaster assistance agencies or with ,state1 local1 or ,tribal governments carrying out disaster assistance programs shall not-- 7,a7 be construed as a matching program for the purpose of section #eeb;a7a77#h7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 or 7,b7 be subject to subsection 7e77#ab71 7o71 7p77#a77;,a77ii71 7q71 7r71 or 7u7 of section #eeb;a of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,authorities in other laws ,nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of an entity to share disaster assistance information regarding programs funded or facilitated by the entity in accordance with any other law or agency policy4 7#c7 ,applying to multiple programs ,nothing in this section shall be construed to require an applicant to apply to more than #a disaster assistance program4 7#d7 ,program authorization ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a program that is not authorized by law as of the date of enactment of this section4 4 ,passed the ,senate ,december #af1 #bjbe4,secretary