Part A-Federal Emergency Management Agency Personnel
Surge Capacity Force
(a) Establishment
(1) In general
Not later than 6 months after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan to establish and implement a Surge Capacity Force for deployment of individuals to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents.
(2) Authority
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the plan shall provide for individuals in the Surge Capacity Force to be trained and deployed under the authorities set forth in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.].
(B) Exception
If the Administrator determines that the existing authorities are inadequate for the training and deployment of individuals in the Surge Capacity Force, the Administrator shall report to Congress as to the additional statutory authorities that the Administrator determines necessary.
(b) Employees designated to serve
The plan shall include procedures under which the Secretary shall designate employees of the Department who are not employees of the Agency and shall, in conjunction with the heads of other Executive agencies, designate employees of those other Executive agencies, as appropriate, to serve on the Surge Capacity Force.
(c) Capabilities
The plan shall ensure that the Surge Capacity Force—
(1) includes a sufficient number of individuals credentialed in accordance with section 320 of this title that are capable of deploying rapidly and efficiently after activation to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents; and
(2) includes a sufficient number of full-time, highly trained individuals credentialed in accordance with section 320 of this title to lead and manage the Surge Capacity Force.
(d) Training
The plan shall ensure that the Administrator provides appropriate and continuous training to members of the Surge Capacity Force to ensure such personnel are adequately trained on the Agency's programs and policies for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
(e) No impact on agency personnel ceiling
Surge Capacity Force members shall not be counted against any personnel ceiling applicable to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(f) Expenses
The Administrator may provide members of the Surge Capacity Force with travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 for the purpose of participating in any training that relates to service as a member of the Surge Capacity Force.
(g) Immediate implementation of Surge Capacity Force involving Federal employees
As soon as practicable after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall develop and implement—
(1) the procedures under subsection (b); and
(2) other elements of the plan needed to establish the portion of the Surge Capacity Force consisting of individuals designated under those procedures.
Part B-Emergency Management Capabilities
Evacuation preparedness technical assistance
The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall provide evacuation preparedness technical assistance to State, local, and tribal governments, including the preparation of hurricane evacuation studies and technical assistance in developing evacuation plans, assessing storm surge estimates, evacuation zones, evacuation clearance times, transportation capacity, and shelter capacity.
Urban Search and Rescue Response System
(a) In general
There is in the Agency a system known as the Urban Search and Rescue Response System.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the system for fiscal year 2008, an amount equal to the amount appropriated for the system for fiscal year 2007 and an additional $20,000,000.
Metropolitan Medical Response Grant Program
(a) In general
There is a Metropolitan Medical Response Program.
(b) Purposes
The program shall include each purpose of the program as it existed on June 1, 2006.
(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program for fiscal year 2008, an amount equal to the amount appropriated for the program for fiscal year 2007 and an additional $30,000,000.
Logistics
The Administrator shall develop an efficient, transparent, and flexible logistics system for procurement and delivery of goods and services necessary for an effective and timely response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters and for real-time visibility of items at each point throughout the logistics system.
Prepositioned equipment program
(a) In general
The Administrator shall establish a prepositioned equipment program to preposition standardized emergency equipment in at least 11 locations to sustain and replenish critical assets used by State, local, and tribal governments in response to (or rendered inoperable by the effects of) natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
(b) Notice
The Administrator shall notify State, local, and tribal officials in an area in which a location for the prepositioned equipment program will be closed not later than 60 days before the date of such closure.
Basic life supporting first aid and education
The Administrator shall enter into agreements with organizations to provide funds to emergency response providers to provide education and training in life supporting first aid to children.
Improvements to information technology systems
(a) Measures to improve information technology systems
The Administrator, in coordination with the Chief Information Officer of the Department, shall take appropriate measures to update and improve the information technology systems of the Agency, including measures to—
(1) ensure that the multiple information technology systems of the Agency (including the National Emergency Management Information System, the Logistics Information Management System III, and the Automated Deployment Database) are, to the extent practicable, fully compatible and can share and access information, as appropriate, from each other;
(2) ensure technology enhancements reach the headquarters and regional offices of the Agency in a timely fashion, to allow seamless integration;
(3) develop and maintain a testing environment that ensures that all system components are properly and thoroughly tested before their release;
(4) ensure that the information technology systems of the Agency have the capacity to track disaster response personnel, mission assignments task orders, commodities, and supplies used in response to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(5) make appropriate improvements to the National Emergency Management Information System to address shortcomings in such system on October 4, 2006; and
(6) provide training, manuals, and guidance on information technology systems to personnel, including disaster response personnel, to help ensure employees can properly use information technology systems.
(b) Report
Not later than 270 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the implementation of this section, including a description of any actions taken, improvements made, and remaining problems and a description of any additional funding needed to make necessary and appropriate improvements to the information technology systems of the Agency.
Disclosure of certain information to law enforcement agencies
In the event of circumstances requiring an evacuation, sheltering, or mass relocation, the Administrator may disclose information in any individual assistance database of the Agency in accordance with section 552a(b) of title 5 (commonly referred to as the "Privacy Act") to any law enforcement agency of the Federal Government or a State, local, or tribal government in order to identify illegal conduct or address public safety or security issues, including compliance with sex offender notification laws.
Source: United States Code / CFR (uscode.house.gov, govinfo.gov) — U.S. federal law, public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105).
