Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§5165c Public notice, comment, and consultation requirements

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 68— - DISASTER RELIEF › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION › § 5165c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President must give notice to the public and let people comment before making any new or changed policy that controls how FEMA’s public assistance program is run and that could cause a big cut in help. Any policy made this way only applies to disasters or emergencies declared on or after the day the policy is adopted. Before making a temporary policy for a specific declared disaster, the President should, as much as possible, ask grantees and subgrantees for their views if the temporary policy might greatly cut aid or change a written agreement that involves the federal government. That request does not create a right to sue. The President must also make the program’s policies available to the public.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5165c

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

(a)(1)The President shall provide for public notice and opportunity for comment before adopting any new or modified policy that—
(A)governs implementation of the public assistance program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under this chapter; and
(B)could result in a significant reduction of assistance under the program.
(2)Any policy adopted under paragraph (1) shall apply only to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after the date on which the policy is adopted.
(b)(1)Before adopting any interim policy under the public assistance program to address specific conditions that relate to a major disaster or emergency that has been declared under this chapter, the President, to the maximum extent practicable, shall solicit the views and recommendations of grantees and subgrantees with respect to the major disaster or emergency concerning the potential interim policy, if the interim policy is likely—
(A)to result in a significant reduction of assistance to applicants for the assistance with respect to the major disaster or emergency; or
(B)to change the terms of a written agreement to which the Federal Government is a party concerning the declaration of the major disaster or emergency.
(2)Nothing in this subsection confers a legal right of action on any party.
(c)The President shall promote public access to policies governing the implementation of the public assistance program.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(A) and (b)(1), 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.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security. For

Transfer of Functions

, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and section 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5165c

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73