Disaster Mitigation Act of 1999

Summary

Disaster Mitigation Act of 1999 - Title I: Predisaster Hazard Mitigation - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Act) to authorize the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program of technical and financial assistance to States and local governments that implement predisaster mitigation activities to reduce injuries and loss of life and property damage and destruction, including damage to critical infrastructures and facilities. Authorizes the Director to provide financial assistance from the National Predisaster Mitigation Fund (established under this Act) to each State and local government that has identified all natural disaster hazards in its jurisdiction and has demonstrated its ability to form effective public-private disaster mitigation partnerships, to be used: (1) principally to implement the predisaster hazard mitigation measures contained in proposals approved by the Director; (2) to support effective public-private partnerships; (3) to ensure that new community development and construction is disaster resistant; and (4) to improve the assessment of a community's natural hazards vulnerabilities or establish a community's mitigation priorities. (Sec. 103) Increases from 15 to 20 percent the maximum contribution for hazard mitigation costs with respect to a major disaster declared under the Act after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 104) Directs the President to designate as a natural disaster mitigation zone each area in which commonly recurring natural hazards (floods, hurricanes and severe winds, seismic events) create a substantial likelihood of disasters that may require assistance under the Act. Requires flood and wind zones identified under the national flood insurance program to be so designated as such zones. Requires the President to direct all appropriate Federal agencies to integrate, or develop and maintain, comprehensive all-hazard maps using global information systems technology. Authorizes the President to identify appropriate disaster mitigation policies, requiring such policies to include certain wind impact standards. Requires Federal buildings to be designed and constructed in accordance with voluntary minimum building codes, test methods, specifications, and the mitigation policies identified by the President. Authorizes the President to provide certain incentives to encourage builders to implement such codes, specifications, and policies. (Sec. 105) Directs the President to establish an interagency task force to coordinate the implementation of predisaster mitigation programs administered by the Federal Government. Title II: Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Assistance - Amends the Act to direct the President to promulgate regulations under which States, communities, and other disaster assistance applicants are required to protect property through adequate levels of insurance or self-insurance. (Sec. 202) Directs the President to: (1) establish management cost rates for disaster preparedness and mitigation assistance grantees and subgrantees; (2) review such rates at least every three years; and (3) promulgate regulations to define costs to be included in such management costs. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the President to make contributions to: (1) a State or local government for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of a public facility damaged or destroyed by a major disaster and for associated expenses; and (2) to the owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility for such purposes (with specified conditions). Limits the Federal share of assistance provided to 75 percent of such costs, with an authorized Federal share reduction for a facility: (1) that has previously been damaged on more than one occasion by the same type of event; and (2) has not implemented mitigation measures. Authorizes a State or local government or owner of a public nonprofit facility, in lieu of restoring a facility, to receive a Federal contribution (limited to a 75 percent Federal share) and to repair or restore other facilities, construct new facilities, or fund hazard mitigation measures. Provides funding limits. Provides for the determination of eligible costs and the modification of such costs. Requires the President, acting through the FEMA Director, to establish an expert panel for the determination of such costs. (Sec. 204) Rewrites temporary housing assistance provisions of the Act. Authorizes the President to provide financial assistance and, if necessary, direct services to households that, as a direct result of a major disaster, have necessary expenses and serious needs and are unable to meet such expenses and needs through other means, including insurance proceeds or loans or other financial assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) or another Federal agency. Authorizes the President to provide financial or other appropriate assistance (for up to 18 months) to households that are displaced or whose primary residences are rendered uninhabitable as a result of a major disaster. Authorizes the President to provide the following types of housing assistance: (1) financial assistance to households to rent alternate housing, existing rental units, manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, or other readily fabricated dwellings; (2) housing units directly to households who would be unable to use the financial assistance; (3) up to $5,000 each to households for emergency repairs necessary to return residences, utilities, and related infrastructure to a habitable or functioning condition; and (4) financial or direct assistance to construct permanent housing in insular areas outside the continental United States and other remote locations if no alternative housing resources are available, temporary housing assistance is unavailable or infeasible, and the household has applied and been determined ineligible for an SBA disaster loan. Sets forth terms and conditions governing the location and disposal of fabricated dwellings provided under this section. Authorizes the President to provide financial assistance: (1) on a temporary basis in the form of mortgage or rental payments to individuals or families who, because of financial hardship, are at risk of dispossession or eviction after a major disaster; (2) to meet disaster-related medical, dental, or funeral expenses; and (3) to address disaster-related personal property, transportation, and other expenses or needs. Requires the substantial involvement of affected States in administering assistance under this section. Limits to $25,000 the maximum amount of financial assistance that a household may receive for a single major disaster. (Sec. 205) Authorizes a State to apply to the President for delegation of the authority to administer the hazard mitigation grant program under the Act. (Sec. 206) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on an estimate of the reduction in Federal assistance that has resulted and is likely to result from the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 207) Authorizes the President to provide assistance to local governments (currently, only States) for the management and control of any fire on public or private forest land or grassland which threatens destruction that would constitute a major disaster. (Sec. 208) Requires the President to provide an opportunity for public comment before adopting any new or modified policy governing implementation of the FEMA-administered major disaster public assistance program. Requires consultation with program grantees. (Sec. 209) Prohibits major disaster community loans from exceeding $5 million. Prohibits further assistance to a community that is in arrears on payments under a previous loan. Title III: Miscellaneous - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add, for purposes of eligibility for public safety officers' death benefits, individuals serving in a public agency, with FEMA, or with a State or local emergency management agency and performing official duties relating to a major disaster that are determined to be hazardous duties. (Sec. 304) Prohibits the initiation of an administrative action to recover any payment made to a State or local government for emergency or disaster assistance under the Act after three years from date of transmission of the final expenditure report for such emergency or disaster. Provides a rebuttable assumption that adequate records were maintained identifying the source and application of such funds. (Sec. 305) Designates Texas Task Force One in College Station, Texas, as a federally recognized member of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System.

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Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 16 May 2000

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• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 16 May 2000

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 16 May 2000

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 October 1999

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• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 October 1999

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 5 October 1999

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