Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§5160 Recovery of Assistance
Title 42 › CHAPTER 68 — DISASTER RELIEF › SUBCHAPTER III — MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION › § 5160
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102