6 U.S.C. § 776 — Individuals and households pilot program

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. Page 412 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 777 (b) Pilot program project approval The Administrator shall not approve a project under the pilot program after December 31, 2008. (Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 689i, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1454.) § 777. Public assistance pilot program (a) Pilot program (1) In general The President, acting through the Adminis- trator, and in coordination with State and local governments, shall establish and conduct a pilot program to— (A) reduce the costs to the Federal Gov- ernment of providing assistance to States and local governments under sections 5170b(a)(3)(A), 5172, and 5173 of title 42; (B) increase flexibility in the administra- tion of sections 5170b(a)(3)(A), 5172, and 5173 of title 42; and (C) expedite the provision of assistance to States and local governments provided under sections 5170b(a)(3)(A), 5172, and 5173 of title 42. (2) Participation Only States and local governments that elect to participate in the pilot program may participate in the pilot program for a par- ticular project. (3) Innovative administration (A) In general For purposes of the pilot program, the Ad- ministrator shall establish new procedures to administer assistance provided under the sections referred to in paragraph (1). (B) New procedures The new procedures established under sub- paragraph (A) may include 1 or more of the following: (i) Notwithstanding section 5172(c)(1)(A) of title 42, providing an option for a State or local government to elect to receive an in-lieu contribution in an amount equal to 90 percent of the Federal share of the Fed- eral estimate of the cost of repair, restora- tion, reconstruction, or replacement of a public facility owned or controlled by the State or local government and of manage- ment expenses. (ii) Making grants on the basis of esti- mates agreed to by the local government (or where no local government is involved, by the State government) and the Admin- istrator to provide financial incentives and disincentives for the local government (or where no local government is involved, for the State government) for the timely or cost effective completion of projects under sections 5170b(a)(3)(A), 5172, and 5173 of title 42. (iii) Increasing the Federal share for re- moval of debris and wreckage for States and local governments that have a debris management plan approved by the Admin- istrator and have pre-qualified 1 or more debris and wreckage removal contractors before the date of declaration of the major disaster. (iv) Using a sliding scale for the Federal share for removal of debris and wreckage based on the time it takes to complete de- bris and wreckage removal. (v) Using a financial incentive to recycle debris. (vi) Reimbursing base wages for employ- ees and extra hires of a State or local gov- ernment involved in or administering de- bris and wreckage removal. (4) Waiver The Administrator may waive such regula- tions or rules applicable to the provisions of assistance under the sections referred to in paragraph (1) as the Administrator determines are necessary to carry out the pilot program under this section. (b) Report (1) In general Not later than March 31, 2009, the Adminis- trator shall submit to the appropriate com- mittees of Congress a report regarding the ef- fectiveness of the pilot program under this section. (2) Contents The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) an assessment by the Administrator of any administrative or financial benefits of the pilot program; (B) an assessment by the Administrator of the effect, including any savings in time and cost, of the pilot program; (C) any identified legal or other obstacles to increasing the amount of debris recycled after a major disaster; (D) any other findings and conclusions of the Administrator with respect to the pilot program; and (E) any recommendations of the Adminis- trator for additional authority to continue or make permanent the pilot program. (c) Deadline for initiation of implementation The Administrator shall initiate implementa- tion of the pilot program under this section not later than 90 days after October 4, 2006. (d) Pilot program project duration The Administrator may not approve a project under the pilot program under this section after December 31, 2008. (Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 689j, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1455.) PART D—PREVENTION OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE § 791. Advance contracting (a) Initial report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall submit a report under paragraph (2) identifying— (A) recurring disaster response require- ments, including specific goods and services, for which the Agency is capable of con- tracting for in advance of a natural disaster