HR 707 RH
meet disaster-related medical, dental, and funeral ex-
penses.
‘‘(2) PERSONAL
PROPERTY, TRANSPORTATION,
AND OTHER EXPENSES.—The President, in consulta-
tion with the Governor of the affected State, may pro-
vide financial assistance under this section to an in-
dividual or household described in paragraph (1) to
address personal property, transportation, and other
necessary expenses or serious needs resulting from the
major disaster.
‘‘(f) STATE ROLE.—The President shall provide for the
substantial and ongoing involvement of the affected State
in administering the assistance under this section.
‘‘(g) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—No individ-
ual or household shall receive financial assistance greater
than $25,000 under this section with respect to a single
major disaster. Such limit shall be adjusted annually to re-
flect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban
Consumers published by the Department of Labor.
‘‘(h) ISSUANCE
OF REGULATIONS.—The President
shall issue rules and regulations to carry out the program,
including criteria, standards, and procedures for determin-
ing eligibility for assistance.’’.
HR 707 RH
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 502(a)(6) (42
U.S.C. 5192(a)(6)) is amended by striking ‘‘temporary
housing’’.
(c) ELIMINATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GRANT
PROGRAMS.—Title IV (42 U.S.C. 5170–5189a) is amended
by striking section 411 (42 U.S.C. 5178).
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section shall take effect on the 545th day following the date
of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 204. REPEALS.
(a) COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS.—Section 417 (42
U.S.C. 5184) is repealed.
(b) SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE.—Section 422 (42 U.S.C.
5189) is repealed.
SEC. 205. STATE ADMINISTRATION OF HAZARD MITIGATION
PROGRAM.
Section 404 (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(c) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION BY STATES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State desiring to admin-
ister the hazard mitigation assistance program estab-
lished by this section with respect to hazard mitiga-
tion assistance in the State may submit to the Presi-
dent an application for the delegation of such author-
ity.
HR 707 RH
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—The President, in consultation
with States and local governments, shall establish cri-
teria for the approval of applications submitted under
paragraph (1). The criteria shall include, at a mini-
mum, the following:
‘‘(A) The demonstrated ability of the State
to manage the grant program under this section.
‘‘(B) Submission of the plan required under
section 201(c).
‘‘(C) A demonstrated commitment to miti-
gation activities.
‘‘(3) APPROVAL.—The President shall approve
an application submitted under paragraph (1) that
meets the criteria established under paragraph (2).
‘‘(4) WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL.—If, after ap-
proving an application of a State submitted under
paragraph (1), the President determines that the
State is not administering the hazard mitigation as-
sistance program established by this section in a
manner satisfactory to the President, the President
shall withdraw such approval.
‘‘(5) AUDITS.—The President shall provide for
periodic audits of the hazard mitigation assistance
programs administered by States under this sub-
section.’’.
HR 707 RH
SEC. 206. STATE ADMINISTRATION OF DAMAGED FACILI-
TIES PROGRAM.
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—In cooperation with States and
local governments and in coordination with efforts to
streamline the delivery of disaster relief assistance, the
President shall conduct a pilot program for the purpose of
determining the desirability of State administration of
parts of the assistance program established by section 406
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172).
(b) STATE PARTICIPATION.—
(1) CRITERIA.—The President may establish cri-
teria in order to ensure the appropriate implementa-
tion of the pilot program under subsection (a).
(2) MINIMUM NUMBER OF STATES.—The Presi-
dent shall conduct the pilot program under subsection
(a) in at least 2 States.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to Con-
gress a report describing the results of the pilot program
conducted under subsection (a), including identifying any
administrative or financial benefits. Such report shall also
include recommendations on the conditions, if any, under
which States should be allowed the option to administer
parts of the assistance program under section 406 of the
HR 707 RH
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172).
SEC. 207. STUDY REGARDING COST REDUCTION.
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study to estimate the reduction in Federal disas-
ter assistance that has resulted and is likely to result from
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 208. REPORT ON ASSISTANCE TO RURAL COMMU-
NITIES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency shall prepare and transmit to Congress a re-
port on methods and procedures that the Director rec-
ommends to accelerate the provision of Federal disaster as-
sistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) to rural
communities.
SEC. 209. STUDY REGARDING INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC IN-
FRASTRUCTURE.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study to determine the current and future ex-
pected availability of disaster insurance for public infra-
structure eligible for assistance under section 406 of the