View Rule

Printer-Friendly Version Download RIN Data in XML

DHS/FEMA

RIN: 1660-AA18

Publication ID: Fall 2008

Title: Disaster Assistance; Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households
Abstract: This rulemaking implements section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended. It would also make further revisions to 44 CFR part 206, subpart D (the Individuals and Households Program (IHP)) and remove subpart E (Individual and Family Grant Programs). Among other things, it would implement section 686 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA) to remove the IHP subcaps; section 685 regarding semi-permanent and permanent housing construction eligibility; revise FEMA's regulations related to individuals with disabilities pursuant to PKEMRA section 689; and revise FEMA's regulations to allow for the payment of security deposits and the costs of utilities, excluding telephone service, in accordance with section 689d of PKEMRA. This regulation also would implement section 689f of PKEMRA by authorizing assistance to relocate individuals displaced from their predisaster primary residence, to and from alternate locations for short-or long-term accommodations.
Agency: Department of Homeland Security(DHS)	Priority: Other Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage
Major: Yes	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 44 CFR 206
Legal Authority: 42 USC 5174

Legal Deadline:

Action	Source	Description	Date
Final	Statutory		10/15/2002

Statement of Need: FEMA needs to revise its IHP regulations to update them based on lessons learned, comments from States about implementation of the regulations, and to implement recent legislative changes (i.e. Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006). These changes are intended to provide clear information to disaster assistance applicants, implement new authorites, and help ensure consistent administration of programs by FEMA.

Summary of the Legal Basis: This rulemaking is authorized by Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.

Alternatives: The alternative would be to not implement the new authorities provided to FEMA through post-Katrina legislation, and not take independent steps to improve upon the Individuals and Households Program. FEMA does not deem this an acceptable alternative.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Annually, FEMA pays out in excess of $100 million through the Individuals and Households Program. The proposed and interim rules were deemed significant but not economically significant because they did not cause FEMA to pay out $100 million per year more than the agency paid through its previous regulations. Although this second interim rule is expected to alter eligibility requirements, and generally expand the assistance provided through this program, preliminary estimates of the anticipated costs and benefits are not available at this time.

Risks: This action does not adversely affect public health, safety, or the environment.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	01/23/2002	67 FR 3412
NPRM Comment Period End	03/11/2002
Interim Final Rule	09/30/2002	67 FR 61446
Corrections	10/09/2002	67 FR 62896
Corrections Effective	10/09/2002
Interim Final Rule Effective	10/15/2002
Interim Final Rule Comment Period End	04/15/2003
Second Interim Final Rule	07/00/2009

Additional Information: Transferred from RIN 3067-AD25
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No	Government Levels Affected: Federal, State
Small Entities Affected: No	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Agency Contact: Julia Chiu-Guenther Recovery Directorate Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472-3100 Phone:202 212-1100 Fax:202 212-1002 Email: fema-ia-regulations@dhs.gov