H.R. 744: Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act

This bill, known as the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act, seeks to amend a specific part of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The main purpose of the bill is to allow excess funds that remain after a disaster recovery project to be used for certain management costs related to other disaster recovery projects.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Redesignation of Sections: The bill proposes to reorganize existing sections within the Stafford Act to better define how excess funds can be utilized.
• Use of Excess Funds: It introduces a new definition for "excess funds for management costs." This refers to the leftover money from a disaster recovery project that has not been used for its intended management costs when the grant for that project is closed.
• Availability of Funds: The bill allows the President to make these excess funds available to grantees (such as states, territories, or tribes) so they can use them for managing disaster recovery efforts.
• Permitted Uses: The excess funds can be spent on activities aimed at improving disaster preparedness, recovery, or mitigation. This includes costs associated with managing major disasters, emergencies, disaster preparedness measures, or mitigation activities.
• Duration of Availability: Any excess funds made available under this Act will stay accessible for five years, allowing grantees ample time to use them effectively.
• Applicability: The changes will apply to disaster declarations made after the enactment of this Act, and these must be funded with money appropriated after the bill becomes law.
• Reporting Requirement: The bill mandates a report from the Comptroller General of the United States within 180 days after enactment, which will assess the actual management costs during major disaster declarations to ensure that the amounts set aside for these costs are adequate.
• No Extra Funding: The bill states that no additional funds will be authorized for the implementation of these amendments.

Relevant Companies

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