State-Managed Disaster Relief Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8728 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8728

  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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish alternate procedures for lump sum payments for certain 
            covered small disasters, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 adding at the end the following:

    ``TITLE VIII--ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES 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 
assistance under the Public Assistance Program for such disaster.
    ``(b) Calculation.--A payment under subsection (a) shall be equal 
to the amount that is 80 percent of the estimated damage eligible under 
the Public Assistance Program for a covered 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 Assistance Program with respect to 
        the covered small disaster for which a payment was accepted 
        under this section.
            ``(2) Final payment.--A payment under this section may not 
        be increased or decreased based on actual costs calculated for 
        a covered small disaster.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--A State or Indian tribal government 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 Governor or governing body of such State or Indian tribal 
government.
    ``(e) Report to FEMA.--A State or governing body of an Indian 
tribal government shall submit to the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency a report of expenses for a covered small disaster in the area of 
jurisdiction of the respective State or Indian tribal government.
    ``(f) 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.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Covered small disaster.--The term `covered 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 
        $10,000,000.
            ``(2) Public assistance program.--The term `Public 
        Assistance Program' means the programs under sections 403, 406, 
        407, and 502.''.
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