‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2017, $946,982,000; and 
‘‘(6) for fiscal year 2018, $946,982,000.’’. 
TITLE 
II—COMPREHENSIVE 
STUDY OF DISASTER COSTS 
AND LOSSES 
SEC. 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 com-
mence, through the National Advisory Council, a com-
prehensive study related to disaster costs and losses (re-
ferred to in the subsection as the ‘‘Study’’). 
(b) ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP.—For the purposes of 
the Study, as soon as practicable after the date of enact-
ment of this section, the Administrator shall appoint addi-
tional 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 con-
struction and building industry. 
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(4) Individuals nominated by national organiza-
tions 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 Adminis-
trator considers appropriate. 
(c) CONSULTATION WITH NONMEMBERS.—The Na-
tional Advisory Council shall consult with other relevant 
agencies and groups that are not represented on the Na-
tional Advisory Council to consider research, data, find-
ings, recommendations, innovative technologies and devel-
opments, including— 
(1) entities engaged in federally funded re-
search; 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 Advi-
sory Council shall convene to evaluate the following topics 
and develop recommendations for reducing disaster costs 
and losses: 
(1) DISASTER LOSSES.— 
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(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 trib-
al) since the enactment of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.), to the extent data 
is available. 
(B) CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS.—Contrib-
uting 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 con-
tributing to the trends. 
(B) DISASTER ASSISTANCE.—Disaster as-
sistance available from all Federal sources, in-
cluding descriptions of programs, eligibility and 
authorities, where assistance has been used geo-
graphically, how quickly the funds are used, 
how that assistance is coordinated among the 
various agencies and departments, and rec-
ommendations for ways to improve the effec-
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tiveness 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 to promote disaster 
cost reduction and mitigation, 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 pro-
posals for implementing the recommendations in the 
report compiled pursuant to the requirement in sec-
tion 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 
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section, the National Advisory Council shall submit a re-
port containing the data, analysis, and recommendations 
developed under subsection (d) to— 
(1) the Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency; 
(2) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives; and 
(3) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
TITLE III—STAFFORD ACT AND 
OTHER PROGRAMS 
SEC. 301. REAUTHORIZATION OF URBAN SEARCH AND RES-
CUE 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.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 327. NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RE-
SPONSE SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Adminis-
trator’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
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‘‘(2) AGENCY.—The term ‘Agency’ means the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
‘‘(3) HAZARD.—The term ‘hazard’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 602. 
‘‘(4) NONEMPLOYEE
SYSTEM
MEMBER.—The 
term ‘nonemployee System member’ means a System 
member not employed by a sponsoring agency or 
participating agency. 
‘‘(5) PARTICIPATING AGENCY.—The term ‘par-
ticipating agency’ means a State or local govern-
ment, nonprofit organization, or private organization 
that has executed an agreement with a sponsoring 
agency to participate in the System. 
‘‘(6) SPONSORING AGENCY.—The term ‘spon-
soring agency’ means a State or local government 
that is the sponsor of a task force designated by the 
Administrator to participate in the System. 
‘‘(7) SYSTEM.—The term ‘System’ means the 
National Urban Search and Rescue Response Sys-
tem to be administered under this section. 
‘‘(8) SYSTEM
MEMBER.—The term ‘System 
member’ means an individual who is not a full-time 
employee of the Federal Government and who serves 
on a task force or on a System management or other 
technical team. 
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‘‘(2) NONAPPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
CIVIL 
SERVICE LAWS.—The Administrator may make ap-
pointments under paragraph (1) without regard to 
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service. 
‘‘(3) RELATIONSHIP
TO
OTHER
AUTHORI-
TIES.—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 Sys-
tem member on the task force for compensation 
paid by the employer to the System member for 
any period during which the System member is 
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appointed into Federal service under subsection 
(f)(1); and 
‘‘(B) to make payments directly to a non-
employee System member on the task force for 
any period during which the non-employee Sys-
tem member is appointed into Federal service 
under subsection (f)(1). 
‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMPLOYEES FILL-
ING POSITIONS OF SYSTEM MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to such terms 
and conditions as the Administrator may im-
pose by regulation, the Administrator shall 
make payments to the sponsoring agency of a 
task force to reimburse each employer of a Sys-
tem 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 mem-
ber is appointed into Federal service under sub-
section (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 
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System member not been appointed into Fed-
eral service under subsection (f)(1). 
‘‘(3) METHOD OF PAYMENT.—A System mem-
ber shall not be entitled to pay directly from the 
Agency for a period during which the System mem-
ber is appointed into Federal service under sub-
section (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, dis-
ability, or death as a result of a personal injury sus-
tained while acting in the scope of such appointment 
shall, for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 
of title 5, United States Code, be treated as though 
the member were an employee (as defined by section 
8101 of that title) who had sustained the injury in 
the performance of duty. 
‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(i) under paragraph (1) to receive 
benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 
of title 5, United States Code, by reason of 
personal injury, illness, disability, or death, 
and 
‘‘(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 Sec-
retary of Labor may allow for reasonable cause 
shown. 
‘‘(C) EFFECT OF ELECTION.—An election 
of benefits made under this paragraph is irrev-
ocable 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 
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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) LIABILITY.—A System member appointed into 
Federal service under subsection (f)(1), while acting with-
in 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, re-
lating to tort claims procedure. 
‘‘(j) 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’ for pur-
poses of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, 
relating to employment and reemployment rights of 
individuals who have performed service in the uni-
formed services (regardless of whether the individual 
receives compensation for such participation). All 
rights and obligations of such persons and proce-
dures for assistance, enforcement, and investigation 
shall be as provided for in such chapter. 
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‘‘(2) PRECLUSION.—Preclusion of giving notice 
of service by necessity of appointment under this 
section is deemed preclusion by ‘military necessity’ 
for purposes of section 4312(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, pertaining to giving notice of absence 
from a position of employment. A determination of 
such necessity shall be made by the Administrator 
and shall not be subject to judicial review. 
‘‘(k) 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, mechan-
ical, 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). 
‘‘(l) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish and maintain an advisory committee to pro-
vide expert recommendations to the Administrator in 
order to assist the Administrator in administering 
the System. 
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‘‘(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 rec-
ommended by the leaders of the task forces. 
‘‘(3) INAPPLICABILITY
OF
TERMINATION
RE-
QUIREMENT.—Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
to the advisory committee under this subsection. 
‘‘(m) 
PREPAREDNESS
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations for such purpose, the Adminis-
trator shall enter into an annual preparedness coop-
erative agreement with each sponsoring agency. 
Amounts made available to a sponsoring agency 
under such a preparedness cooperative agreement 
shall be for the following purposes: 
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‘‘(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 communica-
tions and personal protective equipment. 
‘‘(C) Medical monitoring required for re-
sponder safety and health in anticipation of and 
following a major disaster, emergency, or other 
hazard, as determined by the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Not-
withstanding section 1552(b) of title 31, United 
States Code, amounts made available for cooperative 
agreements under this subsection that are not ex-
pended shall be deposited in an agency account and 
shall remain available for such agreements without 
fiscal year limitation. 
‘‘(n) 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. 
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‘‘(o) OBLIGATIONS.—The Administrator may incur 
all necessary obligations consistent with this section in 
order to ensure the effectiveness of the System. 
‘‘(p) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the System and the provi-
sions of this section $35,180,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2016, 2017, and 2018. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—The Ad-
ministrator may use not to exceed 6 percent of the 
funds appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to 
paragraph (1) for salaries, expenses, and other ad-
ministrative 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’’ 
at the end; 
(B) by moving subparagraph (F) to appear 
after subparagraph (E); 
(C) in subparagraph (F)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘United States Code,’’; 
and 
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(ii) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (F) 
the following: 
‘‘(G) an individual who is a System mem-
ber of the National Urban Search and Rescue 
Response System during a period of appoint-
ment into Federal service pursuant to section 
327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act;’’. 
(2) INCLUSION AS PART OF UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES FOR PURPOSES OF USERRA.—Section 4303 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (13) by inserting ‘‘, a pe-
riod for which a System member of the Na-
tional Urban Search and Rescue Response Sys-
tem 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’’ 
before ‘‘, and a period’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (16) by inserting after 
‘‘Public Health Service,’’ the following: ‘‘System 
members of the National Urban Search and 
Rescue Response System during a period of ap-
pointment into Federal service under section 
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327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act,’’. 
SEC. 302. REAUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGE-
MENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title VI of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5196 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 617. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COM-
PACT GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency may make grants to 
provide for implementation of the Emergency Manage-
ment Assistance Compact consented to by Congress in the 
joint resolution entitled ‘Joint resolution granting the con-
sent of Congress to the Emergency Management Assist-
ance Compact’ (Public Law 104–321; 110 Stat. 3877). 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE GRANT RECIPIENTS.—States and the 
Administrator of the Emergency Management Assistance 
Compact shall be eligible to receive grants under sub-
section (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 
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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 orga-
nizations; 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 re-
sources. 
‘‘(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 ef-
forts 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.’’. 
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(b) REPEAL.—Section 661 of the Post-Katrina 
Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Public Law 
109–295; 6 U.S.C. 761) is repealed. 
SEC. 303. PHYSICAL TESTING STANDARDS FOR ELECTRIC 
UTILITY FACILITIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a study to 
compare the differences between— 
(1) the physical testing standards that the Ad-
ministrator applies with respect to electric utility fa-
cilities as a condition for Federal assistance; and 
(2) the physical testing standards that are ap-
plied to electric utility facilities by the electric utili-
ties industry and by the Rural Utilities Service of 
the Department of Agriculture. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 
of the Senate a report on the results of the study. 
(c) FUNDING.—The Administrator shall carry out 
this section using funds available to the Administrator for 
management and expenses. 
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SEC. 304. NONPROFIT FACILITIES. 
(a) DEFINITION
OF PRIVATE NONPROFIT FACIL-
ITY.—Section 102(11)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5122(11)(B)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL
FACILITIES.—In addi-
tion to the facilities described in subparagraph 
(A), the term ‘private nonprofit facility’ in-
cludes any private nonprofit facility that pro-
vides essential services of a governmental na-
ture to the general public (including museums, 
zoos, performing arts facilities, community arts 
centers, libraries, homeless shelters, senior cit-
izen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter 
workshops, public broadcasting facilities, and 
facilities that provide health and safety services 
of a governmental nature), as defined by the 
President.’’. 
(b) REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT OF 
DAMAGED FACILITIES.—Section 406(a)(3)(B) of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘com-
munications,’’ and inserting ‘‘communications (including 
public broadcasting),’’. 
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SEC. 305. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. 
Section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Except’’ and inserting ‘‘Not-
withstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United 
States Code, and except’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘disaster or emergency’’ and in-
serting ‘‘project completion as certified by the grant-
ee’’. 
SEC. 306. 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 Sen-
ate regarding the plans the agency will undertake for the 
following: 
(1) Consistent guidance to applicants on FEMA 
disaster funding procedures during the response to 
an emergency. 
(2) Appropriate record maintenance and trans-
fer of documents to new teams during staff transi-
tions. 
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(3) Accurate assistance to applicants and grant-
ees to ease the administrative burden 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 mainte-
nance 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 gov-
ernments and private nonprofits in the wake of a disaster 
or emergency. 
SEC. 307. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES. 
Section 422 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘$35,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$1,000,000’’. 
SEC. 308. MANAGEMENT COSTS. 
Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘direct and’’ 
before ‘‘indirect’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding’’. 
(B) by striking ‘‘establish’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘implement the following:’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) 
SPECIFIC
MANAGEMENT
COSTS.—The 
President shall award the following rates for direct 
and indirect management costs to allow grantees 
and subgrantees to be reimbursed up to the fol-
lowing percentages of the grant award to cover di-
rect and indirect management 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; and 
‘‘(B) REPAIR, 
RESTORATION, 
AND
RE-
PLACEMENT
OF
DAMAGED
FACILITIES.—A 
grantee under section 406 may be reimbursed 
not more than 10 percent of the total amount 
of the grant award under such section of which 
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