IB 
Union Calendar No. 667 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8728 
[Report No. 118–816] 
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 
DECEMBER 5, 2024 
Additional sponsors: Mr. MOYLAN, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, and Mr. KILEY 
DECEMBER 5, 2024 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 13, 2024] 
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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 Disaster 
Relief Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR COVERED SMALL 
DISASTERS. 
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et. seq) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘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 disaster. 
‘‘(b) CALCULATION.—Notwithstanding the require-
ments of section 206.47(b) of title 44, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, a payment under subsection (a) shall be equal to 
the amount that is 80 percent of the total estimated cost 
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of assistance under the Public Assistance Program for a cov-
ered small disaster in the area of jurisdiction 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. 
‘‘(2) FINAL PAYMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A payment under this 
section may not be increased or decreased based 
on actual costs calculated for a covered small 
disaster. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding sub-
paragraph (A), the Administrator may adjust a 
payment under this section in the event of un-
foreseen circumstances at no fault of the appli-
cant. 
‘‘(3) SELECTION OF OPTION.—A State or Indian 
tribal government may designate to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency on an annual basis 
the interest of such State or Indian tribal government 
in participating in the small disaster authority. 
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‘‘(4) INDICATION.—A State or Indian tribal gov-
ernment shall indicate at the time of the submission 
of a request for a major disaster declaration that such 
State or Indian tribal government is requesting as-
sistance for such incident under this section. 
‘‘(5) TIMING REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator 
and the State or Indian tribal government shall— 
‘‘(A) reach an agreement on the amount 
under subsection (b) not later than 90 days after 
the incident; or 
‘‘(B) administer the incident under the pro-
cedures and authorities for the Public Assistance 
Program. 
‘‘(6) ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN.—To be eligible for 
assistance under this section, a State or Indian tribal 
government shall have an approved administrative 
plan in place at the time of the obligation of funds 
provided under this section. 
‘‘(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 Gov-
ernor or governing body of such State or Indian tribal gov-
ernment if such funds— 
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‘‘(1) address impacts and needs resulting from 
the declared disaster incident; 
‘‘(2) are provided to State, Indian tribal govern-
ment, territorial and local government agencies, and 
private non-profit entities eligible for Public Assist-
ance Program funding; and 
‘‘(3) are used in a manner that complies with 
applicable environmental, historic preservation, and 
civil rights laws (including the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 
(54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.)) and any applicable resil-
iency standards under section 203. 
‘‘(e) COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULA-
TIONS.—A State or Indian tribal government shall be re-
sponsible for ensuring compliance under subsection (d)(3). 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to affect the eligibility of a State 
or Indian tribal government for assistance under section 
404. 
‘‘(g) REPORT TO FEMA.—A State or governing body 
of an Indian tribal government shall submit to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency an annual report of ex-
penses for a covered small disaster in the area of jurisdic-
tion of the respective State or Indian tribal government. 
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‘‘(h) 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. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED SMALL DISASTER.—The term ‘cov-
ered small disaster’ means a major disaster declared 
under section 401 or an emergency declared under 
section 501 with estimated damage eligible under the 
Public Assistance Program of less than or equal to 
125 percent of the State’s per capita indicator. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—The term 
‘Public Assistance Program’ means the programs 
under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502.’’. 
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