6 U.S.C. § 775 — National Emergency Family Registry and

Page 410 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 774 Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Executive Order No. 13347, referred to in text, is set out as a note under section 314 of this title. § 774. Reunification (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Child Locator Center The term ‘‘Child Locator Center’’ means the National Emergency Child Locator Center es- tablished under subsection (b). (2) Declared event The term ‘‘declared event’’ means a major disaster or emergency. (3) Displaced adult The term ‘‘displaced adult’’ means an indi- vidual 21 years of age or older who is displaced from the habitual residence of that individual as a result of a declared event. (4) Displaced child The term ‘‘displaced child’’ means an indi- vidual under 21 years of age who is displaced from the habitual residence of that individual as a result of a declared event. (b) National Emergency Child Locator Center (1) In general Not later than 180 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator, in coordination with the Attorney General of the United States, shall establish within the National Center for Miss- ing and Exploited Children the National Emer- gency Child Locator Center. In establishing the National Emergency Child Locator Center, the Administrator shall establish procedures to make all relevant information available to the National Emergency Child Locator Center in a timely manner to facilitate the expedi- tious identification and reunification of chil- dren with their families. (2) Purposes The purposes of the Child Locator Center are to— (A) enable individuals to provide to the Child Locator Center the name of and other identifying information about a displaced child or a displaced adult who may have in- formation about the location of a displaced child; (B) enable individuals to receive informa- tion about other sources of information about displaced children and displaced adults; and (C) assist law enforcement in locating dis- placed children. (3) Responsibilities and duties The responsibilities and duties of the Child Locator Center are to— (A) establish a toll-free telephone number to receive reports of displaced children and information about displaced adults that may assist in locating displaced children; (B) create a website to provide information about displaced children; (C) deploy its staff to the location of a de- clared event to gather information about displaced children; (D) assist in the reunification of displaced children with their families; (E) provide information to the public about additional resources for disaster as- sistance; (F) work in partnership with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; (G) provide technical assistance in locat- ing displaced children; (H) share information on displaced chil- dren and displaced adults with governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations providing disaster assistance; (I) use its resources to gather information about displaced children; (J) refer reports of displaced adults to— (i) an entity designated by the Attorney General to provide technical assistance in locating displaced adults; and (ii) the National Emergency Family Reg- istry and Locator System as defined under section 775(a) of this title; (K) enter into cooperative agreements with Federal and State agencies and other organizations such as the American Red Cross as necessary to implement the mission of the Child Locator Center; and (L) develop an emergency response plan to prepare for the activation of the Child Loca- tor Center. (c) Omitted (d) Report Not later than 270 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall submit to the Com- mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Transpor- tation and Infrastructure and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report describing in detail the status of the Child Locator Center, including funding issues and any difficulties or issues in establishing the Center or completing the cooperative agree- ments described in subsection (b)(3)(K). (Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 689b, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1449.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section is comprised of section 689b of Pub. L. 109–295. Subsec. (c) of section 689b of Pub. L. 109–295 amended section 11292 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law En- forcement. § 775. National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term ‘‘displaced individual’’ means an individual displaced by an emergency or major disaster; and (2) the term ‘‘National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System’’ means the Na- tional Emergency Family Registry and Loca- tor System established under subsection (b). (b) Establishment Not later than 180 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall establish a National Page 411 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 776 Emergency Family Registry and Locator Sys- tem to help reunify families separated after an emergency or major disaster. (c) Operation of System The National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System shall— (1) allow a displaced adult (including med- ical patients) to voluntarily register (and allow an adult that is the parent or guardian of a displaced child to register such child), by submitting personal information to be entered into a database (such as the name, current lo- cation of residence, and any other relevant in- formation that could be used by others seek- ing to locate that individual); (2) ensure that information submitted under paragraph (1) is accessible to those individuals named by a displaced individual and to those law enforcement officials; (3) be accessible through the Internet and through a toll-free number, to receive reports of displaced individuals; and (4) include a means of referring displaced children to the National Emergency Child Lo- cator Center established under section 774 of this title. (d) Publication of information Not later than 210 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall establish a mechanism to inform the public about the National Emer- gency Family Registry and Locator System and its potential usefulness for assisting to reunite displaced individuals with their families. (e) Coordination Not later than 90 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall enter a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the American Red Cross and other relevant private organizations that will enhance the sharing of information to facilitate reunit- ing displaced individuals (including medical pa- tients) with their families. (f) Report Not later than 270 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall submit to the appro- priate committees of Congress a report describ- ing in detail the status of the National Emer- gency Family Registry and Locator System, in- cluding any difficulties or issues in establishing the System, including funding issues. (Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 689c, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1451.) § 776. Individuals and households pilot program (a) Pilot program (1) In general The President, acting through the Adminis- trator, in coordination with State, local, and tribal governments, shall establish and con- duct a pilot program. The pilot program shall be designed to make better use of existing rental housing, located in areas covered by a major disaster declaration, in order to provide timely and cost-effective temporary housing assistance to individuals and households eligi- ble for assistance under section 5174 of title 42 where alternative housing options are less available or less cost-effective. (2) Administration (A) In general For the purposes of the pilot program under this section, the Administrator may— (i) enter into lease agreements with own- ers of multi-family rental property located in areas covered by a major disaster dec- laration to house individuals and house- holds eligible for assistance under section 5174 of title 42; (ii) make improvements to properties under such lease agreements; (iii) use the pilot program where the pro- gram is cost effective in that the cost to the Government for the lease agreements is in proportion to the savings to the Gov- ernment by not providing alternative housing; and (iv) limit repairs to those required to en- sure that the housing units shall meet Federal housing quality standards. (B) Improvements to leased properties Under the terms of any lease agreement for a property described under subparagraph (A)(ii), the value of the contribution of the Agency to such improvements— (i) shall be deducted from the value of the lease agreement; and (ii) may not exceed the value of the lease agreement. (3) Consultation In administering the pilot program under this section, the Administrator may consult with State, local, and tribal governments. (4) Report (A) In general Not later than March 31, 2009, the Adminis- trator shall submit to the appropriate com- mittees of Congress a report regarding the effectiveness of the pilot program. (B) Contents The Administrator shall include in the re- port— (i) an assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot program under this section, in- cluding an assessment of cost-savings to the Federal Government and any benefits to individuals and households eligible for assistance under section 5174 of title 42 under the pilot program; (ii) findings and conclusions of the Ad- ministrator with respect to the pilot pro- gram; (iii) an assessment of additional authori- ties needed to aid the Agency in its mis- sion of providing disaster housing assist- ance to individuals and households eligible for assistance under section 5174 of title 42, either under the pilot program under this section or other potential housing pro- grams; and (iv) any recommendations of the Admin- istrator for additional authority to con- tinue or make permanent the pilot pro- gram.