FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

To reauthorize the programs and activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Title I—FEMA Reauthorization Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Federal Emergency Management Agency. Title II—Comprehensive Study of Disaster Costs and Losses Sec. 201. Comprehensive study of disaster costs and losses. Title III—Stafford Act and Other Programs Sec. 301. Reauthorization of urban search and rescue response system. Sec. 302. Reauthorization of emergency management assistance compact grants. Sec. 303. Nonprofit facilities. Sec. 304. Statute of limitations. Sec. 305. Action plan to improve field transition. Sec. 306. Simplified procedures. Sec. 307. Management costs. Sec. 308. Debts owed to the United States related to disaster assistance. Sec. 309. Statute of limitations for debts owed to the United States related to disaster assistance. Sec. 310. Technical assistance and recommendations. Sec. 311. Local impact. Sec. 312. Proof of insurance. Title IV—Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Sec. 401. Wildfire mitigation assistance. Sec. 402. Additional activities. I FEMA Reauthorization 101. Reauthorization of Federal Emergency Management Agency Section 699 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 ( Public Law 109–295 6 U.S.C. 811 (1) by striking administration and operations management and administration (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (4) for fiscal year 2016, $946,982,000; (5) for fiscal year 2017, $946,982,000; and (6) for fiscal year 2018, $946,982,000. . II Comprehensive Study of Disaster Costs and Losses 201. Comprehensive study of disaster costs and losses (a) Establishment Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall commence, through the National Advisory Council, a comprehensive study related to disaster costs and losses (referred to in the subsection as the “Study”). (b) Additional membership For the purposes of the Study, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall appoint additional qualified members to the National Advisory Council from the following: (1) Individuals that have the requisite technical knowledge and expertise on issues related to disaster costs and losses. (2) Representatives of the insurance industry. (3) Experts in and representatives of the construction and building industry. (4) Individuals nominated by national organizations representing local governments and personnel. (5) Academic experts. (6) Vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, facilities, equipment, and capabilities for emergency management services. (7) Representatives of such other stakeholders and interested and affected parties as the Administrator considers appropriate. (c) Consultation with nonmembers The National Advisory Council shall consult with other relevant agencies and groups that are not represented on the National Advisory Council to consider research, data, findings, recommendations, innovative technologies and developments, including— (1) entities engaged in federally funded research; and (2) academic institutions engaged in relevant work and research. (d) Recommendations Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Advisory Council shall convene to evaluate the following topics and develop recommendations for reducing disaster costs and losses: (1) Disaster Losses (A) Cost trends Trends in disaster costs including loss of life and injury, property damage to individuals, the private sector, and each level of government (State, local and tribal) since the enactment of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (B) Contributing factors Contributing factors such as shifting demographics and aging infrastructure and their impacts on the trends in disaster losses and costs. (2) Disaster Costs (A) Trends in declarations Trends in disaster declarations, including factors contributing to the trends. (B) Disaster assistance Disaster assistance available from all Federal sources, including descriptions of programs, eligibility and authorities, where assistance has been used geographically, how quickly the funds are used, how that assistance is coordinated among the various agencies and departments, and recommendations for ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of such assistance. (C) Costs Disaster costs borne by the private sector and individuals. (3) Disaster Roles and Responsibility Fundamental principles that should drive national disaster assistance decision making, including the appropriate roles for each level of government, the private sector and individuals. (4) Reduction of Costs and Losses (A) Mechanisms and incentives Mechanisms and incentives, including tax incentives, to promote disaster cost reduction, mitigation, and recovery, including cost data, projections for the return on investment, and measures of effectiveness. (B) Identification of challenges Identify fundamental legal, societal, geographic and technological challenges to implementation. (5) Legislative proposals Legislative proposals for implementing the recommendations in the report compiled pursuant to the requirement in section 1111 of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 ( Public Law 113–2 (e) Report to administrator and Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the National Advisory Council shall submit a report containing the data, analysis, and recommendations developed under subsection (d) to— (1) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and (3) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. The Administrator shall make the data collected pursuant to this section publically available on the Agency’s website. III Stafford Act and Other Programs 301. Reauthorization of urban search and rescue response system (a) In general Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq. 327. National urban search and rescue response system (a) Definitions In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Agency The term Agency (3) Hazard The term hazard (4) Nonemployee system member The term nonemployee System member (5) Participating agency The term participating agency (6) Sponsoring agency The term sponsoring agency (7) System The term System (8) System member The term System member (9) Task force The term task force (b) General authority Subject to the requirements of this section, the Administrator shall continue to administer the emergency response system known as the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System. (c) Functions In administering the System, the Administrator shall provide for a national network of standardized search and rescue resources to assist States and local governments in responding to hazards. (d) Task forces (1) Designation The Administrator shall designate task forces to participate in the System. The Administration shall determine the criteria for such participation. (2) Sponsoring agencies Each task force shall have a sponsoring agency. The Administrator shall enter into an agreement with the sponsoring agency with respect to the participation of each task force in the System. (3) Composition (A) Participating agencies A task force may include, at the discretion of the sponsoring agency, one or more participating agencies. The sponsoring agency shall enter into an agreement with each participating agency with respect to the participation of the participating agency on the task force. (B) Other individuals A task force may also include, at the discretion of the sponsoring agency, other individuals not otherwise associated with the sponsoring agency or a participating agency. The sponsoring agency of a task force may enter into a separate agreement with each such individual with respect to the participation of the individual on the task force. (e) Management and technical teams The Administrator shall maintain such management teams and other technical teams as the Administrator determines are necessary to administer the System. (f) Appointment of system members into Federal service (1) In general The Administrator may appoint a System member into Federal service for a period of service to provide for the participation of the System member in exercises, preincident staging, major disaster and emergency response activities, and training events sponsored or sanctioned by the Administrator. (2) Nonapplicability of certain civil service laws The Administrator may make appointments under paragraph (1) without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. (3) Relationship to other authorities The authority of the Administrator to make appointments under this subsection shall not affect any other authority of the Administrator under this Act. (4) Limitation A System member who is appointed into Federal service under paragraph (1) shall not be considered an employee of the United States for purposes other than those specifically set forth in this section. (g) Compensation (1) Pay of system members Subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may impose by regulation, the Administrator shall make payments to the sponsoring agency of a task force— (A) to reimburse each employer of a System member on the task force for compensation paid by the employer to the System member for any period during which the System member is appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1); and (B) to make payments directly to a nonemployee System member on the task force for any period during which the non-employee System member is appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1). (2) Reimbursement for employees filling positions of system members (A) In general Subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may impose by regulation, the Administrator shall make payments to the sponsoring agency of a task force to reimburse each employer of a System member on the task force for compensation paid by the employer to an employee filling a position normally filled by the System member for any period during which the System member is appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1). (B) Limitation Costs incurred by an employer shall be eligible for reimbursement under subparagraph (A) only to the extent that the costs are in excess of the costs that would have been incurred by the employer had the System member not been appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1). (3) Method of payment A System member shall not be entitled to pay directly from the Agency for a period during which the System member is appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1). (h) Personal injury, illness, disability, or death (1) In general A System member who is appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1) and who suffers personal injury, illness, disability, or death as a result of a personal injury sustained while acting in the scope of such appointment shall, for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 (2) Election of benefits (A) In general If a System member (or, in the case of the death of the System member, the System member’s dependent) is entitled— (i) under paragraph (1) to receive benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 (ii) to receive benefits from a State or local government by reason of the same personal injury, illness, disability, or death, the System member or dependent shall elect to receive either the benefits referred to in clause (i) or (ii). (B) Deadline A System member or dependent shall make an election of benefits under subparagraph (A) not later than 1 year after the date of the personal injury, illness, disability, or death that is the reason for the benefits or until such later date as the Secretary of Labor may allow for reasonable cause shown. (C) Effect of election An election of benefits made under this paragraph is irrevocable unless otherwise provided by law. (3) Reimbursement for State or local benefits Subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may impose by regulation, in the event that a System member or dependent elects benefits from a State or local government under paragraph (2)(A), the Administrator shall reimburse the State or local government for the value of those benefits. (i) Certain benefits In the case of a death or disability, a System member (or in the case of the death of the System member, the System member’s dependent) shall be able to apply for the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program (as described in subpart 1 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. chapter 46, subchapter XII) if the System member meets the requirements of a public safety officer 42 U.S.C. 3796b (j) Liability A System member appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1), while acting within the scope of the appointment, is deemed an employee of the Federal Government under section 1346(b) of title 28, United States Code, and chapter 171 of that title, relating to tort claims procedure. (k) Employment and reemployment rights With respect to a System member who is not a regular full-time employee of a sponsoring agency or participating agency, the following terms and conditions apply: (1) Service Service as a System member is deemed service in the uniformed services chapter 43 (2) Preclusion Preclusion of giving notice of service by necessity of appointment under this section is deemed preclusion by military necessity (l) Licenses and permits If a System member holds a valid license, certificate, or other permit issued by any State or other governmental jurisdiction evidencing the member’s qualifications in any professional, mechanical, or other skill or type of assistance required by the System, the System member is deemed to be performing a Federal activity when rendering aid involving such skill or assistance during a period of appointment into Federal service under subsection (f)(1). (m) Advisory committee (1) In general The Administrator shall establish and maintain an advisory committee to provide expert recommendations to the Administrator in order to assist the Administrator in administering the System. (2) Composition The advisory committee shall be composed of members from geographically diverse areas, and shall include— (A) the chief officer or senior executive from at least three sponsoring agencies; (B) the senior emergency manager from at least two States that include sponsoring agencies; and (C) at least one representative recommended by the leaders of the task forces. (3) Inapplicability of termination requirement Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the advisory committee under this subsection. (n) Preparedness cooperative agreements (1) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator shall enter into an annual preparedness cooperative agreement with each sponsoring agency. Amounts made available to a sponsoring agency under such a preparedness cooperative agreement shall be for the following purposes: (A) Training and exercises, including training and exercises with other Federal, State, and local government response entities. (B) Acquisition and maintenance of equipment, including interoperable communications and personal protective equipment. (C) Medical monitoring required for responder safety and health in anticipation of and following a major disaster, emergency, or other hazard, as determined by the Administrator. (2) Availability of appropriations Notwithstanding section 1552(b) of title 31, United States Code, amounts made available for cooperative agreements under this subsection that are not expended shall be deposited in an agency account and shall remain available for such agreements without fiscal year limitation. (o) Response cooperative agreements The Administrator shall enter into a response cooperative agreement with each sponsoring agency, as appropriate, under which the Administrator agrees to reimburse the sponsoring agency for costs incurred by the sponsoring agency in responding to a major disaster or emergency. (p) Obligations The Administrator may incur all necessary obligations consistent with this section in order to ensure the effectiveness of the System. (q) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the System and the provisions of this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018. (2) Administrative expenses The Administrator may use not to exceed 6 percent of the funds appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (1) for salaries, expenses, and other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator in carrying out this section. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Applicability of title 5, United States Code Section 8101(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subparagraph (D) by striking and (B) by moving subparagraph (F) to appear after subparagraph (E); (C) in subparagraph (F)— (i) by striking United States Code, (ii) by adding and (D) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: (G) an individual who is a System member of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System during a period of appointment into Federal service pursuant to section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; . (2) Inclusion as part of uniformed services for purposes of USERRA Section 4303 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in paragraph (13) by inserting , a period for which a System member of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System is absent from a position of employment due to an appointment into Federal service under section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act , and a period (B) in paragraph (16) by inserting after Public Health Service, System members of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System during a period of appointment into Federal service under section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 302. Reauthorization of emergency management assistance compact grants (a) In general Subtitle A of title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5196 et seq. 617. Emergency management assistance compact grants (a) In general The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may make grants to provide for implementation of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact consented to by Congress in the joint resolution entitled Joint resolution granting the consent of Congress to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Public Law 104–321 (b) Eligible grant recipients States and the Administrator of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact shall be eligible to receive grants under subsection (a). (c) Use of funds A grant received under this section shall be used— (1) to carry out recommendations identified in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact after-action reports for the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons; (2) to administer compact operations on behalf of States, as such term is defined in the compact, that have enacted the compact; (3) to continue coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and appropriate Federal agencies; (4) to continue coordination with States and local governments and their respective national organizations; and (5) to assist State and local governments, emergency response providers, and organizations representing such providers with credentialing the providers and the typing of emergency response resources. (d) Coordination The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall consult with the Administrator of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to ensure effective coordination of efforts in responding to requests for assistance. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018. Such sums shall remain available until expended. . (b) Repeal Section 661 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 ( Public Law 109–295 6 U.S.C. 761 303. Nonprofit facilities (a) Definition of private nonprofit facility Section 102(11)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122(11)(B) (B) Additional facilities In addition to the facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term private nonprofit facility . (b) Repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities Section 406(a)(3)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3) communications, communications (including public broadcasting), 304. Statute of limitations (a) In general Section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205 (1) by striking Except Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and except (2) by striking report for the disaster or emergency report for project completion as certified by the grantee (b) Applicability (1) In general With respect to disaster or emergency assistance provided to a State or local government on or after January 1, 2004— (A) no administrative action may be taken to recover a payment of such assistance after the date of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) (B) any administrative action to recover a payment of such assistance that is pending on such date of enactment shall be terminated if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended by subsection (a). (2) Limitation This section, including the amendments made by this section, may not be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any administration action completed before the date of enactment of this Act. 305. Action plan to improve field transition (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding the plans the agency will undertake to provide the following: (1) Consistent guidance to applicants on FEMA disaster funding procedures during the response to an emergency. (2) Appropriate record maintenance and transfer of documents to new teams during staff transitions. (3) Accurate assistance to applicants and grantees to ease the administrative burden throughout the process of obtaining and monitoring assistance. (b) Maintaining records The report shall also include a plan for implementing operating procedures and document retention requirements to ensure the maintenance of appropriate records throughout the lifecycle of the disaster. (c) New technologies Finally, the report shall identify new technologies that further aid the disaster workforce in partnering with State, local, and tribal governments and private nonprofits in the wake of a disaster or emergency to educate, assist, and inform applicants on the status of their disaster assistance applications and projects. 306. Simplified procedures Section 422(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5189 (1) by striking $35,000 $1,000,000 (2) by striking the second sentence. 307. Management costs Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165b (1) in subsection (a) by striking any administrative expense, and any other expense not directly chargeable to direct administrative cost, and any other administrative expense associated with (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking Notwithstanding (1) In general Notwithstanding . (B) by striking establish implement the following: (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) Specific Management Costs The Administrator shall provide the following percentage rates, in addition to the eligible project costs, to cover direct and indirect costs of administering the following programs: (A) Hazard mitigation A grantee under section 404 may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the total amount of the grant award under such section of which not more than 10 percent may be used by the grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs. (B) Public Assistance A grantee under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502, may be reimbursed not more than 10 percent of the total award amount under such sections, of which not more than 6 percent may be used by the grantee and 4 percent by the subgrantee for such costs. . 308. Debts owed to the United States related to disaster assistance (a) Definition In this section, the term covered assistance (1) under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174 (2) in relation to a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 42 U.S.C. 5191 (b) Waiver authority Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency— (1) subject to paragraph (2), may waive a debt owed to the United States related to covered assistance provided to an individual or household if— (A) the covered assistance was distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (B) there was no fault on behalf of the debtor; and (C) the collection of the debt would be against equity and good conscience; and (2) may not waive a debt under paragraph (1) if the debt involves fraud, the presentation of a false claim, or misrepresentation by the debtor or any party having an interest in the claim. (c) Monitoring of covered assistance distributed based on error (1) In general The Inspector General shall monitor the distribution of covered assistance to individuals and households to determine the percentage of such assistance distributed based on an error. (2) Removal of waiver authority based on excessive error rate If the Inspector General determines, with respect to any 12-month period, that the amount of covered assistance distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency exceeds 4 percent of the total amount of covered assistance distributed— (A) the Inspector General shall notify the Administrator and publish the determination in the Federal Register; and (B) with respect to any major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 309. Statute of limitations for debts owed to the United States related to disaster assistance Notwithstanding section 3716(g) of title 31, United States Code, and unless there is evidence of civil or criminal fraud, the Administrator, on behalf of the President, shall not initiate new administrative action in any forum to recover— (1) payments made to an individual or household under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174 (2) funds owed by an individual or household for assistance provided under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174 310. Technical assistance and recommendations (a) Technical assistance The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide technical assistance to a common interest community that provides essential services of a governmental nature on actions that a common interest community may take in order to be eligible to receive reimbursement from a grantee that receives funds from the Agency for certain activities performed after an event that results in a disaster declaration. (b) Recommendations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide recommendations to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on how common areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives may be eligible for assistance, including any progress the Agency has made in its explorations of this issue and the potential challenges identified since the Agency issued its report on May 22, 2014. 311. Local impact In making recommendations to the President regarding a major disaster declaration, the Administrator shall give greater weight and consideration to severe localized impact. Further, the Administrator shall make corresponding adjustments to the Agency’s policies and regulations. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall report to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the changes made to regulations and policies and the number of declarations that have been declared based on the new criteria. 312. Proof of insurance A State shall be deemed to have proven that an applicant has satisfied the purchase of insurance requirements under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et. seq.) when an encumbrance requiring the purchase and maintenance of insurance has been placed on the title of the property receiving the benefit of the grant or assistance. This section in no way removes or reduces the insurance requirements on an applicant under the Act and in no way limits the requirement that assistance provided under the Stafford Act be reduced or eliminated when the requirements are not met. IV Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation 401. Wildfire mitigation assistance (a) In general Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5187 (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Hazard mitigation assistance Whether or not a major disaster is declared, the President may provide hazard mitigation assistance in accordance with section 404 in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under this section. . (b) Conforming amendments The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (1) in section 404(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 5170c(a) (A) by inserting before the first period , or any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under section 420 (B) in the third sentence by inserting or event under section 420 major disaster (2) in section 322(e)(1) ( 42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1) or event under section 420 major disaster (c) Authority to Transfer For major disaster relief funds made available to the Disaster Relief Fund for the specified purpose of wildfire suppression activities on Federal lands, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may authorize transfer of these funds to the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture. 402. Additional activities Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170c (f) Use of assistance Recipients of hazard mitigation assistance provided under this section and section 203 may use the assistance to conduct the following activities to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by— (1) a wildfire, including— (A) reseeding ground cover with quick-growing or native species; (B) mulching with straw or chipped wood; (C) constructing straw, rock, or log dams in small tributaries to prevent flooding; (D) placing logs and other erosion barriers to catch sediment on hill slopes; (E) installing debris traps to modify road and trail drainage mechanisms; (F) modifying or removing culverts to allow drainage to flow freely; (G) adding drainage dips and constructing emergency spillways to keep roads and bridges from washing out during floods; (H) planting grass to prevent the spread of noxious weeds; (I) installing warning signs; (J) establishing defensible space measures; and (K) reducing hazardous fuels; and (2) earthquake hazards, including— (A) improvements to regional seismic networks in support of building a capability for earthquake early warning; (B) improvements to geodetic networks in support of building a capability for earthquake early warning; or (C) seismometers, GPS receivers, and associated infrastructure in support of building a capability for earthquake early warning. . February 29, 2016 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 TITLE I--FEMA REAUTHORIZATION (Sec. 101) This bill reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through FY2018. TITLE II--COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF DISASTER COSTS AND LOSSES (Sec. 201) FEMA shall commence, through the National Advisory Council, a comprehensive study related to disaster costs and losses. The Council shall evaluate, and report on, disaster losses and costs and develop recommendations for reducing such losses and costs. TITLE III--STAFFORD ACT AND OTHER PROGRAMS (Sec. 301) The bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) to: (1) continue the administration of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System (USAR Response System), and (2) reauthorize the USAR Response System through FY2018. (Sec. 303) FEMA shall provide a plan for the development of consistent guidance to applicants on FEMA disaster funding, the maintenance of records and transfer of information, relieving administrative burdens, and the implementation of new technology tools during disaster response and recovery operations in the field. (Sec. 304) The bill amends the Stafford Act to raise the public assistance small projects threshold from $35,000 to $1 million. (Sec. 305) The bill amends the Stafford Act to establish fixed rates to reimburse states and local governments for direct and indirect administrative costs incurred to implement disaster recovery projects. (Sec. 306) Debts owed to the United States for disaster assistance may be waived if such assistance was distributed based on an error by FEMA, there was no fault on behalf of the debtor, and the collection of the debt would be against equity and good conscience. (Sec. 307) The statute of limitations for initiating a new administrative action to recover debts owed to the United States for disaster assistance is three years, unless there is evidence of civil or criminal fraud. (Sec. 308) FEMA shall: (1) provide technical assistance to common interest communities that provide essential services of a governmental nature, and (2) provide recommendations on how common areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives may be eligible for disaster assistance. (Sec. 309) FEMA shall give greater weight and consideration to severe localized impacts when making major disaster declaration recommendations to the President. (Sec. 310) A state shall be deemed to have met FEMA's proof of insurance requirements for an individual property owner when title to such property has been encumbered requiring the purchase and maintenance of insurance. (Sec. 311) FEMA shall not expand its statutory authorities as they related to floodplain management or mapping unless the requirement to do so is explicitly and specifically stated in statute. FEMA's authorities may not be construed to impute the privately-funded actions of private parties on private land to FEMA for the purpose of extending the requirement. (Sec. 312) FEMA shall be responsible for efforts to reduce the loss of life and property and to protect the Nation from an earthquake, tsunami, or a combined earthquake and tsunami event. (Sec. 313) The President shall establish a Federal Interagency Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategy and recommendations on preparation and planning for, mitigating against, responding to, recovering from, and more successfully adapting to an earthquake, tsunami, or a combined earthquake and tsunami event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The Task Force shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies for developing recommendations for a federal research strategy to advance scientific understanding of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and resulting tsunami preparedness. FEMA shall report to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the comprehensive strategy and recommendations on administrative actions to further the strategy. (Sec. 314) The President may provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided, whether or not a major disaster is declared. (Sec. 315) Recipients of hazard mitigation assistance under the Stafford Act may use such assistance to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a wildfire or earthquake hazards.