Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§5160 Recovery of assistance

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 68— - DISASTER RELIEF › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION › § 5160

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone who intentionally causes a condition that triggers federal disaster or emergency aid must repay the U.S. for reasonable response costs caused by their act or failure. The U.S. may sue in U.S. district court. Helpers during the response are not liable for costs from their assistance.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5160

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any person who intentionally causes a condition for which Federal assistance is provided under this chapter or under any other Federal law as a result of a declaration of a major disaster or emergency under this chapter shall be liable to the United States for the reasonable costs incurred by the United States in responding to such disaster or emergency to the extent that such costs are attributable to the intentional act or omission of such person which caused such condition. Such action for reasonable costs shall be brought in an appropriate United States district court.

(b)A person shall not be liable under this section for costs incurred by the United States as a result of actions taken or omitted by such person in the course of rendering care or assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 317 of Pub. L. 93–288 was classified to section 5157 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–707.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5160

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73