Disaster Assistance Fairness and Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-634
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2015-03-03
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance

Government information and archives
Latest action: action_date: 2015-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-03-03
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Disaster Assistance Fairness and Accountability Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from taking any actions to recoup from a recipient assistance provided in relation to a major disaster declared by the President on or after January 1, 2012, if: (1) the recipient's application was made in good faith and provided accurate information and the receipt of such assistance could reasonably have been expected by the recipient, or (2) the receipt of such assistance occurred more than three years before FEMA first notifies the recipient of FEMA's intent to recoup. </p> <p>Requires FEMA, in carrying out a recoupment of disaster assistance that is not prohibited under this Act, to provide documentation that demonstrates that the recipient did not apply in good faith with accurate information or could not reasonably have expected to receive such assistance.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 634 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 3, 2015 Mr. Gardner introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To prohibit the Federal Emergency Management Agency from recouping certain assistance, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disaster Assistance Fairness and Accountability Act of 2015 . 2. Recoupment of certain assistance prohibited Section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Recoupment of certain assistance (1) In general The Federal Emergency Management Agency may not take any actions to recoup covered assistance from a recipient of such assistance if— (A) the— (i) application of the recipient with respect to such assistance was made in good faith and provided accurate information; and (ii) receipt of such assistance could reasonably have been expected by the recipient; or (B) the receipt of such assistance occurred on a date that is more than 3 years before the date on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency first provides to the recipient written notification of an intent to recoup. (2) Disclosure of fault In carrying out a recoupment of covered assistance that is not prohibited under paragraph (1), the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide to the relevant recipient documentation that demonstrates the manner in which the recipient does not satisfy paragraph (1)(A). (3) Covered assistance defined In this subsection, the term covered assistance means assistance provided— (A) under this section; and (B) in relation to a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 on or after January 1, 2012. .