S. 4205 

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty two 

An Act 

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 

establish a working group relating to best practices and Federal guidance for 

animals in emergencies and disasters, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Planning for Animal Wellness 

Act’’ or the ‘‘PAW Act’’. 

SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the 

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

(2) WORKING GROUP.—The term ‘‘working group’’ means 

the advisory working group established under subsection (b). 

(b) WORKING GROUP.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an 

advisory working group. 

(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The working group shall consist of— 

(1) not less than 2 representatives of State governments 

with experience in animal emergency management; 

(2) not less than 2 representatives of local governments 

with experience in animal emergency management; 

(3) not less than 2 representatives from academia; 

(4) not less than 2 veterinary experts; 

(5) not less than 2 representatives from nonprofit organizations working to address the needs of households pets and 

service animals in emergencies or disasters; 

(6) representatives from the Federal Animal Emergency 

Management Working Group; and 

(7) any other members determined necessary by the 

Administrator. 

(d) DUTIES.—The working group shall— 

(1) encourage and foster collaborative efforts among individuals and entities working to address the needs of household 

pets, service and assistance animals, and captive animals, as 

appropriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, 

and recovery; and 

(2) review best practices and Federal guidance, as of the 

date of enactment of this Act, on congregate and noncongregate 

sheltering and evacuation planning relating to the needs of 

household pets, service and assistance animals, and captive 
S. 4205—2 

animals, as appropriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. 

(e) NO COMPENSATION.—The members of the working group 

shall serve on the working group on a voluntary basis. 

(f) GUIDANCE DETERMINATION.—Not later than 1 year after 

the date of enactment of this Act, the working group shall determine 

whether the best practices and Federal guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are sufficient. 

(g) NEW GUIDANCE.—Not later than 540 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, if the Administrator, in consultation with 

the working group, determines that the best practices and Federal 

guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are insufficient, the Administrator, in consultation with the working group, shall publish 

updated Federal guidance. 

(h) SUNSET.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the working 

group shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the 

date of enactment of this Act. 

(2) EXTENSION.—The Administrator may extend the date 

described in paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines 

an extension is appropriate. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.