The authority to implement the disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) program authorized by section 410 of the Stafford Act, and the authority to issue regulations, are currently delegated to the Secretary of Labor.

(a) The Administrator will assure that adequate stocks of food will be ready and conveniently available for emergency mass feeding or distribution in any area of the United States which suffers a major disaster or emergency.

(b) In carrying out the responsibilities in paragraph (a) of this section, the Administrator may direct the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase food commodities in accordance with authorities prescribed in section 413(b) of the Stafford Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person otherwise eligible for any kind of replacement housing payment under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91–646) shall be denied such eligibility as a result of his being unable, because of a major disaster as determined by the President, to meet the occupancy requirements set by such Act.

(a) Legal services, including legal advice, counseling, and representation in non fee-generating cases, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, may be provided to low-income individuals who require them as a result of a major disaster. For the purpose of this section, low-income individuals means those disaster victims who have insufficient resources to secure adequate legal services, whether the insufficiency existed prior to or results from the major disaster. In cases where questions arise about the eligibility of an individual for legal services, the Regional Administrator or his/her representative shall make a determination.

(b) Disaster legal services shall be provided free to such individuals. Fee-generating cases shall not be accepted by lawyers operating under these regulations. For purposes of this section, a fee-generating case is one which would not ordinarily be rejected by local lawyers as a result of its lack of potential remunerative value. Where any question arises as to whether a case is fee-generating as defined in this section, the Regional Administrator or his/her representative, after any necessary consultation with local or State bar associations, shall make the determination. Any fee-generating cases shall be referred by the Regional Administrator or his/her representative to private lawyers, through existing lawyer referral services, or, where that is impractical or impossible, the Regional Administrator may provide a list of lawyers from which the disaster victim may choose. Lawyers who have rendered voluntary legal assistance under these regulations are not precluded from taking fee-generating cases referred to them in this manner while in their capacity as private lawyers.

(c) When the Regional Administrator determines after any necessary consultation with the State Coordinating Officer, that implementation of this section is necessary, provision of disaster legal services may be accomplished by:

(1) Use of volunteer lawyers under the terms of appropriate agreements;

(2) Use of Federal lawyers, provided that these lawyers do not represent an eligible disaster victim before a court or Federal agency in a matter directly involving the United States, and further provided that these lawyers do not act in a way which will violate the standards of conduct of their respective agencies or departments;

(3) Use of private lawyers who may be paid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency when the Regional Administrator has determined that there is no other means of obtaining adequate legal assistance for qualified disaster victims; or

(4) Any other arrangement the Regional Administrator deems appropriate.

The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall coordinate with appropriate Federal agencies and the appropriate national, state and local bar associations, as necessary, in the implementation of the disaster legal services programs.

(d) In the event it is necessary for FEMA to pay lawyers for the provision of legal services under these regulations, the Regional Administrator, in consultation with State and local bar associations, shall determine the amount of reimbursement due to the lawyers who have provided disaster legal services at the request of the Regional Administrator. At the Regional Administrator's discretion, administrative costs of lawyers providing legal services requested by him or her may also be paid.

(e) Provision of disaster legal services is confined to the securing of benefits under the Act and claims arising out of a major disaster.

(f) Any disaster legal services shall be provided in accordance with subpart A of these regulations, Non-discrimination in disaster assistance.

(a) Purpose. This section establishes the policy, standards, and procedures for implementing section 416 of the Act, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training. FEMA will look to the Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), as the delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

(b) Definitions. (1) Assistant Administrator means the head of the Disaster Assistance Directorate; the official who approves or disapproves a request for assistance under section 416 of the Act, and is the final appeal authority.

(2) Crisis means any life situation resulting from a major disaster or its aftermath which so affects the emotional and mental equilibrium of a disaster victim that professional mental health counseling services should be provided to help preclude possible damaging physical or psychological effects.

(3) Crisis counseling means the application of individual and group treatment procedures which are designed to ameliorate the mental and emotional crises and their subsequent psychological and behavioral conditions resulting from a major disaster or its aftermath.

(4) Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) means the person appointed by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator to coordinate Federal assistance in an emergency or a major disaster.

(5) Grantee means the State mental health agency or other local or private mental health organization which is designated by the Governor to receive funds under section 416 of the Act.

(6) Immediate services means those screening or diagnostic techniques which can be applied to meet mental health needs immediately after a major disaster. Funds for immediate services may be provided directly by the Regional Administrator to the State or local mental health agency designated by the Governor, prior to and separate from the regular program application process of crisis counseling assistance.

(7) Major disaster means any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, winddriven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm or drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.

(8) Project Officer means the person assigned by the Secretary, DHHS, to monitor a crisis counseling program, provide consultation, technical assistance, and guidance, and be the contact point within the DHHS for program matters.

(9) Regional Administrator means the director of a regional office of FEMA, or the Disaster Recovery Manager, as the delegate of the Regional Administrator.

(10) Secretary means the Secretary of DHHS or his/her delegate.

(11) State Coordinating Officer (SCO) means the person appointed by the Governor to act in cooperation with the FCO.

(c) Agency policy. (1) It is agency policy to provide crisis counseling services, when required, to victims of a major disaster for the purpose of relieving mental health problems caused or aggravated by a major disaster or its aftermath. Assistance provided under this section is short-term in nature and is provided at no cost to eligible disaster victims.

(2) The Regional Administrator and Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, in fulfilling their responsibilities under this section, shall coordinate with the Secretary.

(3) In meeting the responsibilities under this section, the Secretary or his/her delegate will coordinate with the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate.

(d) State initiation of the crisis counseling program. To obtain assistance under this section, the Governor or his/her authorized representative must initiate an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services within 10 days of the date of the major disaster declaration. The purpose of the assessment is to provide an estimate of the size and cost of the program needed and to determine if supplemental Federal assistance is required. The factors of the assessment must include those described in paragraphs (f)(2) (ii) and (iii) and (g)(2) (iii) and (iv) of this section.

(e) Public or private mental health agency programs. If the Governor determines during the assessment that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Regional Administrator to identify, with the assistance of the Secretary, such an agency or organization. Preference should be given to the extent feasible and practicable to those public and private agencies or organizations which are located in or do business primarily in the major disaster area.

(f) Immediate services. If, during the course of the assessment, the State determines that immediate mental health services are required because of the severity and magnitude of the disaster, and if State or local resources are insufficient to provide these services, the State may request and the Regional Administrator, upon determining that State resources are insufficient, may provide funds to the State, separate from the application process for regular program funds (described at paragraph (g) of this section).

(1) The application must be submitted to the Regional Administrator no later than 14 days following the declaration of the major disaster. This application represents the Governor's agreement and/or certification:

(i) That the requirements are beyond the State and local governments' capabilities;

(ii) That the program, if approved, will be implemented according to the plan contained in the application approved by the Regional Administrator;

(iii) To maintain close coordination with and provide reports to the Regional Administrator; and

(iv) To include mental health disaster planning in the State's emergency plan prepared under title II of the Stafford Act.

(2) The application must include:

(i) The geographical areas within the designated disaster area for which services will be provided;

(ii) An estimate of the number of disaster victims requiring assistance;

(iii) A description of the State and local resources and capabilities, and an explanation of why these resources cannot meet the need;

(iv) A description of response activities from the date of the disaster incident to the date of application;

(v) A plan of services to be provided to meet the identified needs; and

(vi) A detailed budget, showing the cost of proposed services separately from the cost of reimbursement for any eligible services provided prior to application.

(3) Reporting requirements. The State shall submit to the Regional Administrator:

(i) A mid-program report only when a regular program grant application is being prepared and submitted. This report will be included as part of the regular program grant application;

(ii) A final program report, a financial status report, and a final voucher 90 days after the last day of immediate services funding.

(4) Immediate services program funding:

(i) Shall not exceed 60 days following the declaration of the major disaster, except when a regular program grant application has been submitted;

(ii) May continue for up to 30 additional days when a regular program grant application has been submitted;

(iii) May be extended by the Regional Administrator, upon written request from the State, documenting extenuating circumstances; and

(iv) May reimburse the State for documented, eligible expenses from the date of the occurrence of the event or incurred in anticipation of and immediately preceding the disaster event which results in a declaration.

(v) Any funds granted pursuant to an immediate services program, paragraph (f) of this section, shall be expended solely for the purposes specified in the approved application and budget, these regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicable principles prescribed in 2 CFR parts 200 and 3002.

(5) Appeals. There are two levels of appeals. If a State submits appeals at both levels, the first appeal must be submitted early enough to allow the latter appeal to be submitted within 60 days following the date of the funding determination on the immediate services program application.

(i) The State may appeal the Regional Administrator's decision. This appeal must be submitted in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the application decision, but early enough to allow for further appeal if desired. The appeal must include information justifying a reversal of the decision. The Regional Director shall review the material submitted, and after consultation with the Secretary, notify the State, in writing within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, of his/her decision;

(ii) The State may further appeal the Regional Administrator's decision to the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate. This appeal shall be made in writing within 60 days of the date of the Regional Administrator's notification of the decision on the immediate services application. The appeal must include information justifying a reversal of the decision. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, or other impartial person, shall review the material submitted, and after consultation with the Secretary and Regional Administrator, notify the State, in writing, within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, of his/her decision.

(g) Regular program. (1) The application must be submitted by the Governor or his/her authorized representative to the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate through the Regional Administrator, and simultaneously to the Secretary no later than 60 days following the declaration of the major disaster. This application represents the Governor's agreement and/or certification:

(i) That the requirements are beyond the State and local governments' capabilities;

(ii) That the program, if approved, will be implemented according to the plan contained in the application approved by the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate;

(iii) To maintain close coordination with and provide reports to the Regional Administrator, the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, and the Secretary; and

(iv) To include mental health disaster planning in the State's emergency plan prepared under title II of the Stafford Act.

(2) The application must include:

(i) Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance;

(ii) The geographical areas within the designated disaster area for which services will be supplied;

(iii) An estimate of the number of disaster victims requiring assistance. This documentation of need should include the extent of physical, psychological, and social problems observed, the types of mental health problems encountered by victims, and a description of how the estimate was made;

(iv) A description of the State and local resources and capabilities, and an explanation of why these resources cannot meet the need;

(v) A plan of services which must include at a minimum:

(A) The manner in which the program will address the needs of the affected population, including the types of services to be offered, an estimate of the length of time for which mental health services will be required, and the manner in which long-term cases will be handled;

(B) A description of the organizational structure of the program, including designation by the Governor of an individual to serve as administrator of the program. If more than one agency will be delivering services, the plan to coordinate services must also be described;

(C) A description of the training program for project staff, indicating the number of workers needing such training;

(D) A description of the facilities to be utilized, including plans for securing office space if necessary to the project; and

(E) A detailed budget, including identification of the resources the State and local governments will commit to the project, proposed funding levels for the different agencies if more than one is involved, and an estimate of the required Federal contribution.

(3) Reporting requirements. The State shall submit the following reports to the Regional Administrator, the Secretary, and the State Coordinating Officer:

(i) Quarterly progress reports, as required by the Regional Administrator or the Secretary, due 30 days after the end of the reporting period. This is consistent with 2 CFR 200.328, Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance;

(ii) A final program report, to be submitted within 90 days after the end of the program period. This is also consistent with 2 CFR 200.328, Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance;

(iii) An accounting of funds, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.327, Financial Reporting, to be submitted with the final program report; and

(iv) Such additional reports as the Regional Administrator, Secretary, or SCO may require.

(4) Regular program funding:

(i) Shall not exceed 9 months from the date of the DHHS notice of grant award, except that upon the request of the State to the Regional Administrator and the Secretary, the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate may authorize up to 90 days of additional program period because of documented extraordinary circumstances. In limited circumstances, such as disasters of a catastrophic nature, the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate may extend the program period for more than 90 days where he or she deems it to be in the public interest.

(ii) The amount of the regular program grant award will take into consideration the Secretary's estimate of the sum necessary to carry out the grant purpose.

(iii) Any funds granted pursuant to a regular program, paragraph (g) of this section, shall be expended solely for the purposes specified in the approved application and budget, these regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicable cost principles prescribed in subpart Q of 45 CFR part 92.

(5) Appeals. The State may appeal the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate 's decision, in writing, within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision. The appeal must include information justifying a reversal of the decision. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, or other impartial person, in consultation with the Secretary and Regional Administrator, shall review the material submitted and notify the State, in writing within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, of his/her decision.

(h) Eligibility guidelines. (1) For services. An individual may be eligible for crisis counseling services if he/she was a resident of the designated major disaster areas or was located in the area at the time of the disaster event and if:

(i) He/she has a mental health problem which was caused or aggravated by the major disaster or its aftermath; or

(ii) He/she may benefit from preventive care techniques.

(2) For training. (i) The crisis counseling project staff or consultants to the project are eligible for the specific instruction that may be required to enable them to provide professional mental health crisis counseling to eligible individuals;

(ii) All Federal, State, and local disaster workers responsible for assisting disaster victims are eligible for general instruction designed to enable them to deal effectively and humanely with disaster victims.

(i) Assignment of responsibilities. (1) The Regional Administrator shall:

(i) In the case of an immediate services program application, acknowledge receipt of the request, verify (with assistance from the Secretary) that State resources are insufficient, approve or disapprove the State's application, obligate and advance funds for this purpose, review appeals, make a determination (with assistance from the Secretary), and notify the State;

(ii) In the case of a regular program grant application:

(A) Acknowledge receipt of the request;

(B) Request the Secretary to conduct a review to determine the extent to which assistance requested by the Governor or his/her authorized representative is warranted;

(C) Considering the Secretary's recommendation, recommend approval or disapproval of the application for assistance under this section; and forward the Regional Administrator's and Secretary's recommendations and documentation to the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate;

(D) Assist the State in preliminary surveys and provide guidance and technical assistance if requested to do so; and

(E) Maintain liaison with the Secretary and look to the Secretary for program oversight and monitoring.

(2) The Secretary shall:

(i) Provide technical assistance, consultation, and guidance to the Regional Administrator in reviewing a State's application, to a State during program implementation and development, and to mental health agencies, as appropriate;

(ii) At the request of the Regional Administrator, conduct a review to verify the extent to which the requested assistance is needed and provide a recommendation on the need for supplementary Federal assistance. The review must include:

(A) A verification of the need for services with an indication of how the verification was conducted;

(B) Identification of the Federal mental health programs in the area, and the extent to which such existing programs can help alleviate the need;

(C) An identification of State, local, and private mental health resources, and the extent to which these resources can assume the workload without assistance under this section and the extent to which supplemental assistance is warranted;

(D) A description of the needs; and

(E) A determination of whether the plan adequately addresses the mental health needs;

(iii) If the application is approved, provide grant assistance to States or the designated public or private entities;

(iv) If the application is approved, monitor the progress of the program and perform program oversight;

(v) Coordinate with, and provide program reports to, the Regional Administrator, and the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate;

(vi) Make the appeal determination, for regular program grants, involving allowable costs and termination for cause as described in paragraph (j)(2) of this section;

(vii) As part of the project monitoring responsibilities, report to the Regional Administrator and Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate at least quarterly on the progress of crisis counseling programs, in a report format jointly agreed upon by the Secretary and FEMA; provide special reports, as requested by the Regional Administrator, FCO, or Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate;

(viii) Require progress reports and other reports from the grantee to facilitate his/her project monitoring responsibilities;

(ix) Properly account for all Federal funds made available to grantees under this section. Submit to the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, within 120 days of completion of a program, a final accounting of all expenditures for the program and return to FEMA all excess funds. Attention is called to the reimbursement requirements of this part.

(3) The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall:

(i) Approve or disapprove a State's request for assistance based on recommendations of the Regional Administrator and the Secretary;

(ii) Obligate funds and authorize advances of funds to the DHHS;

(iii) Request that the Secretary designate a Project Officer;

(iv) Maintain liaison with the Secretary and Regional Administrator; and

(v) Review and make determinations on appeals, except for regular program appeals involving allowable costs and termination for cause as described in paragraph (j)(2) of this section, and notify the State of the decision.

(j) Grant awards. (1) Neither the approval of any application nor the award of any grant commits or obligates the United States in any way to make any additional, supplemental, continuation, or other award with respect to any approved application or portion of any approved application.

(2) Several other regulations of the DHHS apply to grants under this section. These include, but are not limited to:

(k) Federal audits. The crisis counseling program is subject to Federal audit. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, the Regional Administrator, the DHS Inspector General, The Secretary, and the Comptroller General of the United States, or their duly authorized representatives, shall have access to any books, documents, papers, and records that pertain to Federal funds, equipment, and supplies received under this section for the purpose of audit and examination.

(a) General. FEMA sets forth procedures for the use of funds made possible by a bequest of funds from the late Cora C. Brown of Kansas City, Missouri, who left a portion of her estate to the United States for helping victims of natural disasters and other disasters not caused by or attributable to war. FEMA intends to use the funds, and any others that may be bequeathed under this authority, in the manner and under the conditions described below.

(b) Purposes for awarding funds. Money from the Cora Brown Fund may only be used to provided for disaster-related needs that have not been or will not be met by governmental agencies or any other organizations which have programs to address such needs; however, the fund is not intended to replace or supersede these programs. For example, if assistance is available from another source, including the Individual and Family Grant program and government-sponsored disaster loan assistance, then money from the Cora Brown Fund will not be available to the applicant for the same purpose. Listed below are the general categories of assistance which can be provided by the Cora Brown Fund:

(1) Disaster-related home repair and rebuilding assistance to families for permanent housing purposes, including site acquisition and development, relocation of residences out of hazardous areas, assistance with costs associated with temporary housing or permanent rehousing (e.g., utility deposits, access, transportation, connection of utilities, etc.);

(2) Disaster-related unmet needs of families who are unable to obtain adequate assistance under the Act or from other sources. Such assistance may include but is not limited to: health and safety measures; evacuation costs; assistance delineated in the Act or other Federal, State, local, or volunteer programs; hazard mitigation or floodplain management purposes; and assistance to self-employed persons (with no employees) to reestablish their businesses; and

(3) Other services which alleviate human suffering and promote the well being of disaster victims. For example, services to the elderly, to children, or to handicapped persons, such as transportation, recreational programs, provision of special ramps, or hospital or home visiting services. The funds may be provided to individual disaster victims, or to benefit a group of disaster victims.

(c) Conditions for use of the Cora Brown Fund. (1) The Cora Brown Fund is available only when the President declares that a major disaster or emergency exists under the Act, only in areas designated as eligible for Federal disaster assistance through notice in the Federal Register, and only at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate. The fund is limited to the initial endowment plus accrued interest, and this assistance program will cease when the fund is used up.

(2) A disaster victim normally will receive no more than $2,000 from this fund in any one declared disaster unless the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate determines that a larger amount is in the best interest of the disaster victim and the Federal Government. Funds to provide service which benefit a group may be awarded in an amount determined by the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, based on the Regional Administrator's recommendation.

(3) The fund may not be used in a way that is inconsistent with other federally mandated disaster assistance or insurance programs, or to modify other generally applicable requirements.

(4) Funds awarded to a disaster victim may be provided by FEMA jointly to the disaster victim and to a State or local agency, or volunteer organization, to enable such an agent to assist in providing the approved assistance to an applicant. Example: Repair funds may be provided jointly to an applicant and the Mennonite Disaster Service, who will coordinate the purchase of supplies and provide the labor.

(5) Money from this fund will not duplicate assistance for which a person is eligible from other sources.

(6) In order to comply with the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93–234), as amended, any award for acquisition or construction purposes shall carry a requirement that any adequate flood insurance policy be purchased and maintained. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall determine what is adequate based on the purpose of the award.

(7) The fund shall be administered in an equitable and impartial manner without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or economic status.

(8) Funds awarded to a disaster victim from this fund may be combined with funds from other sources.

(d) Administrative procedures. (1) The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, shall be responsible for awarding funds and authorizing disbursement.

(2) The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for fund accountability and, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate, for liaison with the Department of the Treasury concerning the investment of excess money in the fund pursuant to the provisions contained in section 601 of the Act.

(3) Each FEMA Regional Administrator may submit requests to the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate on a disaster victim's behalf by providing documentation describing the needs of the disaster victim, a verification of the disaster victim's claim, a record of other assistance which has been or will be available for the same purpose, and his/her recommendation as to the items and the amount. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall review the facts and make a determination. If the award amount is below $2,000, the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate may appoint a designee to have approval authority; approval authority of $2,000 or above shall be retained by the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall notify the Chief Financial Officer of a decision for approval, and the Chief Financial Officer shall order a check to be sent to the disaster victim (or jointly to the disaster victim and an assistance organization), through the Regional Administrator. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall also notify the Regional Administrator of the decision, whether for approval or disapproval. The Regional Administrator shall notify the disaster victim in writing, identify any award as assistance from the Cora Brown Fund, and advise the recipient of appeal procedures.

(4) If the award is to be for a service to a group of disaster victims, the Regional Administrator shall submit his/her recommendation and supporting documentation to the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate (or his/her designee if the award is below $2,000), who shall review the information and make a determination. In cases of approval, the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall request the Chief Financial Officer to send a check to the intended recipient or provider, as appropriate. The Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate shall notify the Regional Administrator of the decision. The Regional Administrator shall notify a representative of the group in writing.

(5) The Chief Financial Officer shall process requests for checks, shall keep records of disbursements and balances in the account, and shall provide the Assistant Administrator for the Disaster Assistance Directorate with quarterly reports.

(e) Audits. The Inspector General of DHS may audit the use of money in this account to determine whether the funds are being administered according to these regulations and whether the financial management of the account is adequate. The Inspector General shall provide his/her findings to the Administrator, for information, comments and appropriate action. A copy shall be provided to the Chief Financial Officer for the same purpose.

(a) Purpose. This section establishes the policies for implementing the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5155, entitled Duplication of Benefits. This section relates to assistance for individuals and families.

(b) Government policy. (1) Federal agencies providing disaster assistance under the Act or under their own authorities triggered by the Act, must cooperate to prevent and rectify duplication of benefits, according to the general policy guidance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agencies must establish appropriate agency policies and procedures to prevent duplication of benefits.

(2) Major disaster and emergency assistance provided to individuals and families under the Act, and comparable disaster assistance provided by States, local governments, and disaster assistance organizations, is not considered as income or a resource when determining eligibility for or benefit levels under federally funded income assistance or resource-tested programs. Examples of federally funded income assistance or resource-tested programs are the food stamp program and welfare assistance programs.

(c) FEMA policy. It is FEMA policy:

(1) To prevent duplication of benefits between its own programs and insurance benefits, and between its own programs and other disaster assistance. Assistance under the Act may be provided in instances where the applicant has not received other benefits to which he/she may be entitled by the time of application and if the applicant agrees to repay all duplicated assistance to the agency providing the Federal assistance;

(2) To examine a debt resulting from duplication to determine that the likelihood of collecting the debt and the best interests of the Federal Government justify taking the necessary recovery actions to remedy duplication which has occurred when other assistance has become available;

(3) To assure uniformity in preventing duplication of benefits, by consulting with other Federal agencies and by performing selected quality control reviews, that the other disaster relief agencies establish and follow policies and procedures to prevent and remedy duplication among their programs, other programs, and insurance benefits; and

(4) To coordinate the effort of agencies providing assistance so that each agency understands the prevention and remedial policies of the others and is able to fulfill its own responsibilities regarding duplication of benefits.

(d) Guidance to prevent duplication of benefits. (1) Delivery sequence. FEMA provides the following policy and procedural guidance to ensure uniformity in preventing duplication of benefits.

(i) Duplication occurs when an agency has provided assistance which was the primary responsibility of another agency, and the agency with primary responsibility later provides assistance. A delivery sequence establishes the order in which disaster relief agencies and organizations provide assistance. The specific sequence, in accordance with the mandates of the assistance programs, is to be generally followed in the delivery of assistance.

(ii) When the delivery sequence has been disrupted, the disrupting agency is responsible for rectifying the duplication. The delivery sequence pertains to that period of time in the recovery phase when most of the traditional disaster assistance programs are available.

(2) The delivery sequence is, in order of delivery:

(i) Volunteer agencies' emergency assistance (except expendable items such as clothes, linens, and basic kitchenware); insurance (including flood insurance);

(ii) Housing assistance pursuant to the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5174;

(iii) Other Needs assistance, pursuant to the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5174;

(iv) Small Business Administration and Department of Agriculture disaster loans;

(v) Volunteer agencies' “additional assistance” programs; and

(vi) The “Cora Brown Fund.”

(3) Two significant points about the delivery sequence are that:

(i) Each assistance agency should, in turn, offer and be responsible for delivering assistance without regard to duplication with a program later in the sequence; and

(ii) The sequence itself determines what types of assistance can duplicate other assistance (i.e., a Federal program can duplicate insurance benefits, however, insurance benefits cannot duplicate the Federal assistance). An agency's position in the sequence determines the order in which it should provide assistance and what other resources it must consider before it does so.

(4) If following the delivery sequence concept would adversely affect the timely receipt of essential assistance by an individual or household, an agency may offer assistance which is the primary responsibility of another agency. There also may be cases when an agency (Agency B) delivers assistance which is normally the primary responsibility of another agency (Agency A) because Agency A has, for good cause, denied assistance. After the assistance is delivered, Agency A reopens the case. If the primary response Agency A then provides assistance, that Agency A is responsible for coordinating with Agency B to either:

(i) Assist Agency B in preventing the duplication of benefits, or

(ii) In the case where the individual or household has refused assistance from Agency A, Agency A must notify Agency B that it must recover assistance previously provided.

(e) Program guidance—(1) Programs under the Act vs. other agency assistance. (i) In making an eligibility determination, FEMA, in the case of federally operated programs, or the State, in the case of State operated programs, must determine whether assistance is the primary responsibility of another agency to provide, according to the delivery sequence; and determine whether that primary response agency can provide assistance in a timely way.

(ii) If it is determined that timely assistance can be provided by the agency with primary responsibility, refrain from providing assistance under the Act. If it is determined that assistance from the agency with primary responsibility will be delayed, assistance under the Act may be provided, but then must be recovered from the applicant when the other assistance becomes available.

(2) Programs under the Act vs. insurance. In making an eligibility determination, FEMA or the State must:

(i) Remind the applicant about his/her responsibility to pursue an adequate settlement. The applicant must provide information concerning insurance recoveries.

(ii) Determine whether the applicant's insurance settlement will be sufficient to cover the loss or need without disaster assistance; and

(iii) Determine whether insurance benefits (including flood insurance) will be provided in a timely way. Where flood insurance is involved, FEMA must coordinate with the Federal Insurance Administration. The purpose of this coordination is to obtain information about flood insurance coverage and settlements.

(3) Random sample. Each disaster assistance agency is responsible for preventing and rectifying duplication of benefits under the general authority of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5155. To determine whether duplication has occurred and established procedures have been followed, FEMA must, within 90 days after the close of the disaster assistance program's application period, for selected disaster declarations, examine on a random sample basis, FEMA's and other government and voluntary agencies' case files and document the findings in writing.

(4) Duplication when assistance under the Act is involved. If duplication is discovered, FEMA must determine whether the duplicating agency followed its own remedial procedures.

(i) If the duplicating agency followed its procedures and was successful in correcting the duplication, FEMA will take no further action. If the agency was not successful in correcting the duplication, and FEMA is satisfied that the duplicating agency followed its remedial procedures, no further action will be taken.

(ii) If the duplicating agency did not follow its duplication of benefits procedures, or FEMA is not satisfied that the procedures were followed in an acceptable manner, then FEMA must provide an opportunity for the agency to take the required corrective action. If the agency cannot fulfill its responsibilities for remedial action, FEMA must notify the recipient of the excess assistance, and after examining the debt, then as appropriate, take those recovery actions in conjunction with agency representatives for each identified case in the random sample (or larger universe, at FEMA's discretion).

(5) Duplication when assistance under other authorities is involved. When the random sample shows evidence that duplication has occurred and corrective action is required, FEMA must urge the duplicating agency to follow its own procedures to take corrective action, and must work with the agency toward that end. Under its authority in the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5155, FEMA must require the duplicating agency to report to FEMA on the agency's attempt to correct the duplications identified in the sample.

(f) Recovering FEMA funds: debt collection. Funds due to FEMA are recovered in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security's Debt Collection Regulations (6 CFR part 11—Claims) and the Federal Claims Collection Standards (Department of the Treasury—Department of Justice) (31 CFR chapter IX). Section 1216 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, 42 U.S.C. 5174a, also provides FEMA the authority to waive debts owed by individuals and households who received assistance under subpart D of this part.

(g) Severability. Any provision of this section held to be invalid or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance should be construed so as to continue to give the maximum effect to the provision permitted by law, including as applied to persons not similarly situated or to dissimilar circumstances, unless such holding is that the provision of this section is invalid and unenforceable in all circumstances, in which event the provision should be severable from the remainder of this section and should not affect the remainder thereof.