42 U.S.C. § 5148 — Nonliability of Federal Government

Page 6374 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 5144 599)’’ on authority of Pub. L. 105–225, § 5(b), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1499, the first section of which enacted Title 36, Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 302 of Pub. L. 93–288 was classified to section 5142 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–707. AMENDMENTS 2006—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–295 added subsec. (d). 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–707 inserted ‘‘or emer- gency’’ after ‘‘major disaster’’. § 5144. Emergency support and response teams (a) Emergency support teams The President shall form emergency support teams of Federal personnel to be deployed in an area affected by a major disaster or emergency. Such emergency support teams shall assist the Federal coordinating officer in carrying out his responsibilities pursuant to this chapter. Upon request of the President, the head of any Fed- eral agency is directed to detail to temporary duty with the emergency support teams on ei- ther a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, as is determined necessary by the President, such personnel within the administrative jurisdiction of the head of the Federal agency as the Presi- dent may need or believe to be useful for car- rying out the functions of the emergency sup- port teams, each such detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other employee status. (b) Emergency response teams (1) Establishment In carrying out subsection (a), the President, acting through the Administrator of the Fed- eral Emergency Management Agency, shall es- tablish— (A) at a minimum 3 national response teams; and (B) sufficient regional response teams, in- cluding Regional Office strike teams under section 317 of title 6; and (C) other response teams as may be nec- essary to meet the incident management re- sponsibilities of the Federal Government. (2) Target capability level The Administrator shall ensure that specific target capability levels, as defined pursuant to the guidelines established under section 746(a) of title 6, are established for Federal emer- gency response teams. (3) Personnel The President, acting through the Adminis- trator, shall ensure that the Federal emer- gency response teams consist of adequate numbers of properly planned, organized, equipped, trained, and exercised personnel to achieve the established target capability lev- els. Each emergency response team shall work in coordination with State and local officials and onsite personnel associated with a par- ticular incident. (4) Readiness reporting The Administrator shall evaluate team read- iness on a regular basis and report team readi- ness levels in the report required under sec- tion 752(a) of title 6. (Pub. L. 93–288, title III, § 303, formerly § 304, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 148; renumbered § 303, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 105(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4691; amended Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 633, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1421; Pub. L. 111–351, § 3(c)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3864.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under sec- tion 5121 of this title and Tables. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 303 of Pub. L. 93–288 was renumbered section 302 by Pub. L. 100–707 and is classified to section 5143 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2011—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–351 substituted ‘‘Admin- istrator’’ for ‘‘Director’’ wherever appearing. 2006—Pub. L. 109–295 substituted ‘‘Emergency support and response teams’’ for ‘‘Emergency support teams’’ in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted subsec. heading, and added subsec. (b). §§ 5145, 5146. Repealed. Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 105(d), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4691 Section 5145, Pub. L. 93–288, title III, § 305, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 148, related to authority of President to provide assistance in an emergency. Section 5146, Pub. L. 93–288, title III, § 306, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 148, related to cooperation of Federal agencies in rendering disaster assistance. § 5147. Reimbursement of Federal agencies Federal agencies may be reimbursed for ex- penditures under this chapter from funds appro- priated for the purposes of this chapter. Any funds received by Federal agencies as reimburse- ment for services or supplies furnished under the authority of this chapter shall be deposited to the credit of the appropriation or appropriations currently available for such services or supplies. (Pub. L. 93–288, title III, § 304, formerly § 307, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 149; renumbered § 304, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 105(d), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4691.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 304 of Pub. L. 93–288 was renumbered section 303 by Pub. L. 100–707 and is classified to section 5144 of this title. § 5148. Nonliability of Federal Government The Federal Government shall not be liable for any claim based upon the exercise or per- Page 6375 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 5150 formance of or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of a Federal agency or an employee of the Federal Government in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. (Pub. L. 93–288, title III, § 305, formerly § 308, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 149; renumbered § 305, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 105(d), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4691.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 305 of Pub. L. 93–288 was classified to section 5145 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–707. § 5149. Performance of services (a) Utilization of services or facilities of State and local governments In carrying out the purposes of this chapter, any Federal agency is authorized to accept and utilize the services or facilities of any State or local government, or of any agency, office, or employee thereof, with the consent of such gov- ernment. (b) Appointment of temporary personnel, ex- perts, and consultants; acquisition, rental, or hire of equipment, services, materials and supplies In performing any services under this chapter, any Federal agency is authorized— (1) to appoint and fix the compensation of such temporary personnel as may be nec- essary, without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in competitive service; (2) to employ experts and consultants in ac- cordance 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 Gen- eral Schedule pay rates; and (3) to incur obligations on behalf of the United States by contract or otherwise for the acquisition, rental, or hire of equipment, serv- ices, materials, and supplies for shipping, drayage, travel, and communications, and for the supervision and administration of such ac- tivities. Such obligations, including obliga- tions arising out of the temporary employ- ment of additional personnel, may be incurred by an agency in such amount as may be made available to it by the President. (c) Appointment of temporary personnel in the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is authorized to appoint temporary personnel, after serving continuously for 3 years, to positions in the Federal Emer- gency Management Agency in the same manner that competitive service employees with com- petitive status are considered for transfer, reas- signment, or promotion to such positions. An in- dividual appointed under this subsection shall become a career-conditional employee, unless the employee has already completed the service requirements for career tenure. (d) Personnel performing service responding to disasters and emergencies (1) USERRA employment and reemployment rights The protections, rights, benefits, and obliga- tions provided under chapter 43 of title 38 shall apply to intermittent personnel appointed pursuant to subsection (b)(1) to perform serv- ice to the Federal Emergency Management Agency under sections 5170 and 5191 of this title or to train for such service. (2) Notice of absence from position of employ- ment Preclusion of giving notice of service by ne- cessity of service under subsection (b)(1) to perform service to the Federal Emergency Management Agency under sections 5170 and 5191 of this title or to train for such service shall be considered preclusion by ‘‘military ne- cessity’’ for purposes of section 4312(b) of title 38 pertaining to giving notice of absence from a position of employment. A determination of such necessity shall be made by the Adminis- trator and shall not be subject to review in any judicial or administrative proceeding. (Pub. L. 93–288, title III, § 306, formerly § 309, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 149; renumbered § 306, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 105(d), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4691; amended Pub. L. 115–254, div. D, § 1222, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3454; Pub. L. 117–178, § 2, Sept. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 2110.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 306 of Pub. L. 93–288 was classified to section 5146 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–707. AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–178 added subsec. (d). 2018—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–254 added subsec. (c). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115–254 applicable to each major disaster and emergency declared by the Presi- dent on or after Aug. 1, 2017, and authorities provided under div. D of Pub. L. 115–254 applicable to each major disaster and emergency declared by the President on or after Jan. 1, 2016, except as otherwise provided, see sec- tion 1202 of Pub. L. 115–254, set out as a note under sec- tion 5121 of this title. § 5150. Use of local firms and individuals (a) Contracts or agreements with private entities (1) In general In the expenditure of Federal funds for de- bris clearance, distribution of supplies, recon-