Sheltering of emergency response personnel

Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Sheltering of emergency response personnel (1) In general For any major disaster for which the President has authorized emergency protective measures for an area within the jurisdiction of a State, tribal, or local government, the Administrator may reimburse the State, tribal, or local government for costs relating to sheltering emergency response personnel, including individuals that are a part of the same predisaster household as such personnel, in exclusive-use congregate or non-congregate settings if the Governor of the State or chief executive of the tribal or local government determines that the damage or disruption to such area is of such a magnitude as to disrupt the provision of emergency protective measures within such area. (2) Limitation of assistance (A) In general The Administrator may only reimburse a State, tribal, or local government for the costs of sheltering emergency response personnel under paragraph (1) for such a period of time as the Administrator determines reasonable based in the individual characteristics of and impacts to the affected area, including the extent of damage, the availability of alternative housing options, the availability of utilities, and disruptions to transportation infrastructure. (B) Maximum duration of reimbursement The period of reimbursement under subparagraph (A) may not exceed the 6-month period beginning on the date on which the incident period ends. (3) Definition In this subsection, the term emergency response personnel means— (A) employees or contracted employees providing law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical, emergency management, or emergency communications services; and (B) elected officials, except members of Congress, responsible for the overseeing or directing emergency response operations or recovery activities..