To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-1678
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21]
Introduced: 2017-03-22
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Accounting and auditing

Administrative remedies

Department of Homeland Security

Disaster relief and insurance

Evidence and witnesses

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Government information and archives

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-22
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any administrative action to recover any payment made to a state or local government for disaster or emergency assistance initiated in any forum (with exceptions for fraud) after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for project completion, as certified by the grantee (currently, after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for the disaster or emergency). </p> <p>Such revised prohibition shall apply to any such payment provided on or after January 1, 2004. Any administrative action to recover such a payment that is pending on the date of enactment of this bill shall be terminated.</p>

action_date: 2017-04-28
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p>(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any administrative action to recover any payment made to a state or local government for disaster or emergency assistance initiated in any forum (with exceptions for fraud) after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for project completion, as certified by the grantee (currently, after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for the disaster or emergency). </p> <p>Such revised prohibition shall apply to any such payment provided on or after January 1, 2004. Any administrative action to recover such a payment that is pending on the date of enactment of this bill shall be terminated.</p>

action_date: 2017-05-03
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any administrative action to recover any payment made to a state or local government for disaster or emergency assistance initiated in any forum (with exceptions for fraud) after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for project completion, as certified by the grantee (currently, after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for the disaster or emergency). </p> <p>Such revised prohibition shall apply to any such payment provided on or after January 1, 2004. Any administrative action to recover such a payment that is pending on the date of enactment of this bill shall be terminated.</p> <p>The bill makes the same report change with respect to the deadline: (1) for any dispute arising under such Act for which there shall be a presumption that accounting records were maintained that adequately identify the source and application of funds provided for financially assisted activities, and (2) by which the inability of the government to produce source documentation supporting expenditure reports shall not constitute evidence to rebut such presumption.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1678 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 22, 2017 Ms. Frankel of Florida (for herself and Mr. Webster of Florida ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes.

1. Statute of limitations (a) In general Section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking Except and inserting Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and except ; and (2) by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee . (b) Applicability (1) In general With respect to disaster or emergency assistance provided to a State or local government on or after January 1, 2004— (A) no administrative action may be taken to recover a payment of such assistance after the date of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) ), as amended by subsection (a); and (B) any administrative action to recover a payment of such assistance that is pending on such date of enactment shall be terminated if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended by subsection (a). (2) Limitation This section, including the amendments made by this section, may not be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any administration action completed before the date of enactment of this Act.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 57 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1678 [Report No. 115–100] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 22, 2017 Ms. Frankel of Florida (for herself and Mr. Webster of Florida ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure April 28, 2017 Additional sponsors: Mr. Mast and Ms. Wilson of Florida April 28, 2017 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes.

1. Statute of limitations (a) In general Section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking Except and inserting Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and except ; and (2) by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee . (b) Applicability (1) In general With respect to disaster or emergency assistance provided to a State or local government on or after January 1, 2004— (A) no administrative action may be taken to recover a payment of such assistance after the date of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) ), as amended by subsection (a); and (B) any administrative action to recover a payment of such assistance that is pending on such date of enactment shall be terminated if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended by subsection (a). (2) Limitation This section, including the amendments made by this section, may not be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any administration action completed before the date of enactment of this Act.

April 28, 2017 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1678 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes.

1. Statute of limitations (a) In general Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking Except and inserting Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and except ; and (B) by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1) by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee ; and (B) in paragraph (3) by inserting for project completion as certified by the grantee after final expenditure report . (b) Applicability (1) In general With respect to disaster or emergency assistance provided to a State or local government on or after January 1, 2004— (A) no administrative action may be taken to recover a payment of such assistance after the date of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) ), as amended by subsection (a); and (B) any administrative action to recover a payment of such assistance that is pending on such date of enactment shall be terminated if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended by subsection (a). (2) Limitation This section, including the amendments made by this section, may not be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any administration action completed before the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives May 3, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1678 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 4, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes.

1. Statute of limitations (a) In general Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking Except and inserting Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and except ; and (B) by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1) by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee ; and (B) in paragraph (3) by inserting for project completion as certified by the grantee after final expenditure report . (b) Applicability (1) In general With respect to disaster or emergency assistance provided to a State or local government on or after January 1, 2004— (A) no administrative action may be taken to recover a payment of such assistance after the date of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1) ), as amended by subsection (a); and (B) any administrative action to recover a payment of such assistance that is pending on such date of enactment shall be terminated if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended by subsection (a). (2) Limitation This section, including the amendments made by this section, may not be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any administration action completed before the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives May 3, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk