Disaster Assistance Simplification Act
Latest action (27 Jul 2023): Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
What this bill does
S. 1528, the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create a unified intake process and system for disaster assistance applications. Within 360 days of enactment, this system would let applicants submit a single consolidated application usable across multiple federal disaster assistance programs, check application status, update their information, and receive information about additional recovery resources. The bill also modifies how certain privacy and paperwork-reduction requirements apply to disaster assistance information, allows FEMA to certify other federal agencies as "disaster assistance agencies" through public agreements, and sets data-security, training, and breach-notification requirements for agencies handling this information.
The bill primarily affects individuals, households, businesses, and organizations applying for federal disaster assistance after a declared major disaster or emergency, as well as the federal agencies—led by FEMA—that administer such programs. It aims to reduce the burden on disaster survivors of submitting separate applications to multiple agencies while establishing safeguards for how their personal information is shared, stored, and protected. The bill also requires periodic reports to Congress and a Government Accountability Office review of the system's effects on disaster survivors.
The Senate passed S. 1528 by unanimous consent on July 27, 2023, with amendments. According to the official summary, the bill was not taken up or passed by the House during that session of Congress, so it did not become law. Any further action would require reintroduction and passage in a subsequent Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Disaster Assistance Simplification Act
This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and establish a unified intake process and system for applicants for assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency.
The system must
• facilitate a consolidated application for any form of disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the assistance;
• carry out the purposes of disaster assistance programs swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance with specified laws and privacy and data protections; and
• support the detection, prevention, and investigation of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination in the administration of disaster assistance programs.
Further, the system must, among other things
• accept applications for disaster assistance programs;
Timeline
27 Jul 2023
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
17 May 2023
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 1528 do?
- S. 1528, the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create a unified intake process and system for disaster assistance applications. Within 360 days of enactment, this system would let applicants submit a single consolidated application usable across multiple federal disaster assistance programs, check application status, update their information, and receive information about additional recovery resources. The bill also modifies how certain privacy and paperwork-reduction requirements apply to disaster assistance information, allows FEMA to certify other federal agencies as "disaster assistance agencies" through public agreements, and sets data-security, training, and breach-notification requirements for agencies handling this information. The bill primarily affects individuals, households, businesses, and organizations applying for federal disaster assistance after a declared major disaster or emergency, as well as the federal agencies—led by FEMA—that administer such programs. It aims to reduce the burden on disaster survivors of submitting separate applications to multiple agencies while establishing safeguards for how their personal information is shared, stored, and protected. The bill also requires periodic reports to Congress and a Government Accountability Office review of the system's effects on disaster survivors. The Senate passed S. 1528 by unanimous consent on July 27, 2023, with amendments. According to the official summary, the bill was not taken up or passed by the House during that session of Congress, so it did not become law. Any further action would require reintroduction and passage in a subsequent Congress.
- Has S. 1528 become law?
- Not yet. As of 27 Jul 2023, S. 1528 is passed senate (house next).
- Who sponsored S. 1528?
- S. 1528 was sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters [D-MI] (Democrat-MI), with 3 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1528?
- Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (27 Jul 2023).
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