§657j — Title 15 Commerce and Trade | U.S. Code

Summary

The Administrator must create and keep a central computer system to log every time applicants talk with agency staff about disaster aid. The system must record how they communicated, the date, which staff person was involved, and a short note about what was discussed. The Administrator must also make sure applicants get follow-up contact by phone, mail, or email at key points: when more information is needed, when a loan decision is made, and if the main contact person changes. Not later than 90 days after November 25, 2015, the Administrator must report to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the House Committee on Small Business about building a web portal to let applicants check application status. The report must cover progress on the tracking system, portal recommendations and best practices, costs and staffing, data privacy and security, whether the portal will reduce duplicate work and calls and paperwork, and any other needed details.

Title 15, §657j

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator shall develop, implement, or maintain a centralized information system to track communications between personnel of the Administration and applicants for disaster assistance. The system shall ensure that whenever an applicant for disaster assistance communicates with such personnel on a matter relating to the application, the following information is recorded:

(1)The method of communication.

(2)The date of communication.

(3)The identity of the personnel.

(4)A summary of the subject matter of the communication.

(b)The Administrator shall ensure that an applicant for disaster assistance receives, by telephone, mail, or electronic mail, follow-up communications from the Administration at all critical stages of the application process, including the following:

(1)When the Administration determines that additional information or documentation is required to process the application.

(2)When the Administration determines whether to approve or deny the loan.

(3)When the primary contact person managing the loan application has changed.

(c)(1)Not later than 90 days after November 25, 2015, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report relating to the creation of a web portal to the 11 So in original. The word “the” probably should not appear. track the status of applications for disaster assistance under section 636(b) of this title.

(2)The report under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)information on the progress of the Administration in implementing the information system under subsection (a);

(B)recommendations from the Administration relating to the creation of a web portal for applicants to check the status of an application for disaster assistance under section 636(b) of this title, including a review of best practices and web portal models from the private sector;

(C)information on any related costs or staffing needed to implement such a web portal;

(D)information on whether such a web portal can maintain high standards for data privacy and data security;

(E)information on whether such a web portal will minimize redundancy among Administration disaster programs, improve management of the number of inquiries made by disaster applicants to employees located in the area affected by the disaster and to call centers, and reduce paperwork burdens on disaster victims; and

(F)such additional information as is determined necessary by the Administrator.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–88 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

§657j Information tracking and follow-up system for disaster assistance