Individual Assistance Program Equity

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <SUBAGY>Federal Emergency Management Agency</SUBAGY> <CFR>44 CFR Part 206</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket ID: FEMA-2023-0003]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1660-AB07</RIN> <SUBJECT>Individual Assistance Program Equity</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Interim final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY: </HD> The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is publishing this interim final rule (IFR) amending its regulations governing the Individual Assistance program to increase equity by simplifying processes, removing barriers to entry, and increasing eligibility for certain types of assistance under the program. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> <E T="03">Effective Date:</E> This rule is effective March 22, 2024. <E T="03">Applicability Date:</E> This rule applies to Emergencies and Major Disasters declared on or after March 22, 2024. <E T="03">Comment Date:</E> Comments must be received no later than July 22, 2024. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> You may submit comments, identified by Docket ID: FEMA-2023-0003, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov.</E> Follow the instructions for submitting comments. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Kristina McAlister, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472. Phone: 866-826-8751 or email: <E T="03">FEMA-IHP-Policy@fema.dhs.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Public Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Executive Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Individual Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Impacts of Climate Change on Disaster Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Equity in Individual Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Income Project</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Equity RFI—IA Program Equity Responses to Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Changes in Policy Positions To Increase Equity in IHP</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Insurance Proceeds</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Requirement To Apply for an SBA Loan Prior to Receipt of ONA</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Home Repair Pre-Existing Conditions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Serious Needs and Displacement Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Discussion of the Interim Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Section 206.101—Temporary Housing Assistance for Emergencies and Major Disasters Declared on or Before October 14, 2002</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Section 206.110—Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Section 206.111—Definitions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Section 206.112—Registration Period</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Section 206.113—Eligibility Factors</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Section 206.114—Criteria for Continued or Additional Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Section 206.115—Appeals</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Section 206.117—Housing Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Section 206.118—Disposal of Housing Units</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Section 206.119—Financial Assistance To Address Other Needs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Section 206.131—Individual and Family Grant Program for Major Disasters Declared on or Before October 14, 2002</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. Section 206.191—Duplication of Benefits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. Regulatory Analyses</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Administrative Procedure Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review; Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review; and Executive Order 14094, Modernizing Regulatory Review</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Need for Regulation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Affected Population</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Baseline</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Transfer Payments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Cost Savings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">7. Total Net Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">8. Benefits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">9. Circular A-4 Accounting Statement, No-Action Baseline (2020$) Table</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">10. Circular A-4 Accounting Statement, Pre-Guidance Baseline (2020$) Table</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">11. Marginal Analysis Table</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Privacy Act/E-Government Act of 2002</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Executive Order 13132, Federalism</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Executive Order 12630, Taking of Private Property</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice and Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M. Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">N. Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">O. Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">P. National Historic Preservation Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">Q. Endangered Species Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">R. Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Abbreviations</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ADA—Americans with Disabilities Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">APA—Administrative Procedure Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CATEX—Categorical Exclusions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CDBG-DR—Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CEQ—Council on Environmental Quality</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR—Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CNA—Critical Needs Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CPI-U—Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CRA—Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CTHA—Continued Temporary Housing Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DCM—Disaster Case Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHAP—Disaster Housing Assistance Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS—Department of Homeland Security</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS-OIG—Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DMA2K—Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DRC—Disaster Recovery Center</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DRRA—Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EA—Environmental Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EDW—Enterprise Data Warehouse</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EIS—Environmental Impact Statement</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ESA—Endangered Species Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FCO—Federal Coordinating Officer</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FDAA—Federal Disaster Assistance Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FEMA—Federal Emergency Management Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FIT—Failed Income Test</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FmHA—Farmers Home Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FMR—Fair Market Rent</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FVL—FEMA Verified Loss</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FY—Fiscal Year</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GAO—Government Accountability Office</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GFIP—Group Flood Insurance Policy</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GSA—U.S. General Services Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HA—Housing Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HUD—U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IA—Individual Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IAPPG—Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IFG—Individual and Family Grant Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IFR—Interim Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IHP—Individuals and Households Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IRS—Internal Revenue Service</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">JFO—Joint Field Office</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LEP—Limited English Proficiency/Limited English Proficient</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LER—Lodging Expense Reimbursement</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LI—Lower Income</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MLR—Multifamily Lease and Repair</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NEMIS—National Emergency Management Information System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NEPA—National Environmental Policy Act of 1969</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NFIA—National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as Amended</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NFIP—National Flood Insurance Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NHPA—National Historic Preservation Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NPRM—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OIG—Office of Inspector General</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OMB—Office of Management and Budget</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ONA—Other Needs Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PHC—Permanent Housing Construction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PHP—Permanent Housing Plan</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PIA—Privacy Impact Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PKEMRA—Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RA—Regional Administrator</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RA—Rental Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFA—Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFI—Request for Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RIA—Regulatory Impact Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RPFVL—Real Property FEMA Verified Loss</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SBA—Small Business Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> SFHA—Special Flood Hazard Area </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SRIA—Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Stafford Act—Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as Amended</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">STT—State, Tribal, or Territorial</FP ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 658k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━