S. 861: Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act aims to improve the processes involved in providing disaster assistance to individuals, businesses, and communities affected by disasters. Here are the key points of what the bill proposes:

Unified Intake Process

The bill establishes a unified disaster assistance intake process to streamline the application for assistance. This system is intended to combine submissions for different types of disaster aid into a single, more accessible application. This aims to make applying for help easier and faster for those affected by disasters.

Development Timeline

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is required to develop and set up this unified intake process within 360 days of the bill's enactment. The development will be done in consultation with various governmental bodies at federal, state, local, and tribal levels.

Capabilities of the Unified System

The new system will:

• Accept applications for various disaster assistance programs.
• Provide status updates on those applications.
• Allow applicants to update their information throughout their recovery process.
• Distribute information about additional resources available to disaster survivors.
• Enable direct communication between disaster survivors and the agencies providing assistance.

Data Security and Privacy

The bill includes provisions to ensure the security and privacy of disaster assistance information collected. FEMA must certify that the new system complies with established data security standards before implementation. A privacy impact assessment must also be published.

Flexibility in Data Collection and Reporting

The Administrator of FEMA will have the authority to collect and share disaster assistance information among agencies to facilitate assistance. Additionally, if a major disaster is declared, FEMA may waive certain paperwork requirements to expedite assistance delivery.

Certification of Disaster Assistance Agencies

The bill allows FEMA to certify federal agencies as disaster assistance agencies after agreements are made regarding data handling and protection practices.

Accountability and Reporting

FEMA must submit annual reports to Congress detailing the implementation of the unified intake process and its effects on the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster assistance delivery. There will also be ongoing evaluations to ensure improvements are made where needed.

Procedural Clarity

The provisions in this bill clarify how disaster assistance information can be shared while ensuring that applicants are not required to navigate multiple assistance programs unnecessarily.

Relevant Companies

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