I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8728 
To establish alternate procedures for lump sum payments for certain covered 
small disasters, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2024 
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. MOSKOWITZ) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish alternate procedures for lump sum payments 
for certain covered small disasters, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘State-Managed Dis-
aster Relief Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR COVERED SMALL 
DISASTERS. 
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘TITLE VIII—ALTERNATIVE PRO-
CEDURES 
FOR 
COVERED 
SMALL DISASTERS 
‘‘SEC. 801. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR COVERED 
SMALL DISASTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Governor of a State or the 
governing body of an Indian tribal government for the 
area in which a covered small disaster occurs may request 
a lump sum payment of the estimated damages calculated 
under subsection (b) for such disaster in lieu of any assist-
ance under the Public Assistance Program for such dis-
aster. 
‘‘(b) CALCULATION.—A payment under subsection 
(a) shall be equal to the amount that is 80 percent of the 
estimated damage eligible under the Public Assistance 
Program for a covered small disaster in the area of juris-
diction of the State or Indian tribal government requesting 
such payment. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian tribal 
government receiving a payment under this section 
may not receive assistance under the Public Assist-
ance Program with respect to the covered small dis-
aster for which a payment was accepted under this 
section. 
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‘‘(2) FINAL PAYMENT.—A payment under this 
section may not be increased or decreased based on 
actual costs calculated for a covered small disaster. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A State or Indian tribal gov-
ernment receiving a payment under this section may use 
such payment for recovery for the covered small disaster 
in any manner determined appropriate by the respective 
Governor or governing body of such State or Indian tribal 
government. 
‘‘(e) REPORT TO FEMA.—A State or governing body 
of an Indian tribal government shall submit to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency a report of expenses for 
a covered small disaster in the area of jurisdiction of the 
respective State or Indian tribal government. 
‘‘(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to affect any program in title IV or V that 
is not a Public Assistance Program. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED
SMALL
DISASTER.—The term 
‘covered small disaster’ means a major disaster de-
clared under section 401 or an emergency declared 
under section 501 with estimated damage eligible 
under the Public Assistance Program of less than 
$10,000,000. 
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‘‘(2) PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—The term 
‘Public Assistance Program’ means the programs 
under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502.’’. 
Æ 
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