§636h — Title 15 Commerce and Trade | U.S. Code

Summary

Put one person in charge of disaster planning for the Administration. That person must not work for the Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance and must have strong management skills, solid knowledge of disaster readiness and response, and real planning experience. They must report only to the Administrator. Their job is to create and run the Administration’s comprehensive disaster response plan under section 636g, set up training for disaster staff, lead drills (including exercises with other agencies), and any other planning tasks the Administrator gives. They must work with the Office of Disaster Assistance, FEMA, and other federal, state, and local planning offices as needed. The Administrator must give that person enough resources. Within 30 days after enactment, the Administrator must send a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives saying who was assigned, that person’s background and skills, and the status of carrying out these duties.

Title 15, §636h

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The disaster planning function of the Administration shall be assigned to an individual appointed by the Administrator who—

(1)is not an employee of the Office of Disaster Assistance of the Administration;

(2)has proven management ability;

(3)has substantial knowledge in the field of disaster readiness and emergency response; and

(4)has demonstrated significant experience in the area of disaster planning.

(b)The individual assigned the disaster planning function of the Administration shall report directly and solely to the Administrator and shall be responsible for—

(1)creating, maintaining, and implementing the comprehensive disaster response plan of the Administration described in section 636g of this title;

(2)ensuring there are in-service and pre-service training procedures for the disaster response staff of the Administration;

(3)coordinating and directing the training exercises of the Administration relating to disasters, including disaster simulation exercises and disaster exercises coordinated with other government departments and agencies; and

(4)other responsibilities relevant to disaster planning and readiness, as determined by the Administrator.

(c)In carrying out the responsibilities described in subsection (b), the individual assigned the disaster planning function of the Administration shall coordinate with—

(1)the Office of Disaster Assistance of the Administration;

(2)the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

(3)other Federal, State, and local disaster planning offices, as necessary.

(d)The Administrator shall ensure that the individual assigned the disaster planning function of the Administration has adequate resources to carry out the duties under this section.

(e)Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 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 containing—

(1)a description of the actions of the Administrator to assign an individual the disaster planning function of the Administration;

(2)information detailing the background and expertise of the individual assigned; and

(3)information on the status of the implementation of the responsibilities described in subsection (b).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of enactment of this Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008. 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. Section was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, and also as part of the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008, and not as part of the Small Business Act which comprises this chapter.

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.

§636h Disaster Planning Responsibilities