Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§5165b Management Costs

Title 42 › CHAPTER 68 — DISASTER RELIEF › SUBCHAPTER III — MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION › § 5165b

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Management cost: the indirect, direct, and other administrative expenses tied to a specific disaster, emergency, or disaster-preparedness or mitigation project. The President must make rules that set standard management-cost rates for grantees and subgrantees. FEMA will allow extra payments on top of project costs to cover those expenses. For hazard mitigation grants, up to 15% of the award can pay management costs, with up to 10% for the grantee and 5% for the subgrantee. For public assistance grants, up to 12% of the award is allowed, with up to 7% for the grantee and 5% for the subgrantee. The President must review these rates within 3 years and then from time to time.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5165b

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

(a)Definition of management cost
In this section, the term “management cost” includes any indirect cost, any direct administrative cost, and any other administrative expense associated with a specific project under a major disaster, emergency, or disaster preparedness or mitigation activity or measure.
(b)Establishment of management cost rates
(1)In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including any administrative rule or guidance), the President shall by regulation implement management cost rates, for grantees and subgrantees, that shall be used to determine contributions under this chapter for management costs.
(2)Specific management costs
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide the following percentage rates, in addition to the eligible project costs, to cover direct and indirect costs of administering the following programs:
(A)Hazard mitigation
A grantee under section 5170c of this title may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the total amount of the grant award under such section of which not more than 10 percent may be used by the grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.
(B)Public assistance
A grantee under section 5170b, 5172, 5173, and 5192 of this title may be reimbursed not more than 12 percent of the total award amount under such sections, of which not more than 7 percent may be used by the grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.
(c)Review
The President shall review the management cost rates established under subsection (b) not later than 3 years after the date of establishment of the rates and periodically thereafter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (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.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1215(1), substituted “any direct administrative cost, and any other administrative expense associated with” for “any administrative expense, and any other expense not directly chargeable to”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1215(2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, substituted “implement” for “establish”, and added par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–254 applicable to each major disaster and emergency declared by the President on or after Aug. 1, 2017, and authorities provided under div. D of Pub. L. 115–254 applicable to each major disaster and emergency declared by the President on or after Jan. 1, 2016, except as otherwise provided, see section 1202 of Pub. L. 115–254, set out as a note under section 5121 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–390, title II, § 202(b), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1560, provided that: “(1) In general.—Subject to paragraph (2), subsections (a) and (b) of section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [42 U.S.C. 5165b(a), (b)] (as added by subsection (a)) shall apply to major disasters declared under that Act [42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.] on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 30, 2000]. “(2) Interim authority.—Until the date on which the President establishes the management cost rates under section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (as added by subsection (a)), section 406(f) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(f)) (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act) shall be used to establish management cost rates.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5165b

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110