STRUCTURING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

SEC. 611. STRUCTURING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended—(1) by striking the title heading and inserting the following:“TITLE V—NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT” ;(2) by striking section 501;(3) by striking section 503;(4) by striking section 507;(5) by striking section 510 (relating to urban and other high risk area communications capabilities);(6) by redesignating sections 504, 505, 508, and 509 as sections 517, 518, 519, and 520, respectively;(7) by redesignating section 510 (relating to procurement of security countermeasures for the strategic national stockpile) as section 521;(8) by redesignating section 502 as section 504;(9) by redesignating section 506 as section 502 and transferring that section to before section 504, as redesignated by paragraph (8) of this section;(10) by inserting before section 502, as redesignated and transferred by paragraph (9) of this section, the following:“SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS. “In this title—“(1) the term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Agency;120 STAT. 1396“(2) the term ‘Agency’ means the Federal Emergency Management Agency;“(3) the term ‘catastrophic incident’ means any natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster that results in extraordinary levels of casualties or damage or disruption severely affecting the population (including mass evacuations), infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, or government functions in an area;“(4) the term ‘Federal coordinating officer’ means a Federal coordinating officer as described in section 302 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5143);“(5) the term ‘interoperable’ has the meaning given the term ‘interoperable communications’ under section 7303(g)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(g)(1));“(6) the term ‘National Incident Management System’ means a system to enable effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management;“(7) the term ‘National Response Plan’ means the National Response Plan or any successor plan prepared under section 502(a)(6);“(8) the term ‘Regional Administrator’ means a Regional Administrator appointed under section 507;“(9) the term ‘Regional Office’ means a Regional Office established under section 507;“(10) the term ‘surge capacity’ means the ability to rapidly and substantially increase the provision of search and rescue capabilities, food, water, medicine, shelter and housing, medical care, evacuation capacity, staffing (including disaster assistance employees), and other resources necessary to save lives and protect property during a catastrophic incident; and“(11) the term ‘tribal government’ means the government of any entity described in section 2(10)(B).” ;(11) by inserting after section 502, as redesignated and transferred by paragraph (9) of this section, the following:“SEC. 503. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.“(a) In General.—There is in the Department the Federal Emergency Management Agency, headed by an Administrator.“(b) Mission.—“(1) Primary mission.—The primary mission of the Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.“(2) Specific activities.—In support of the primary mission of the Agency, the Administrator shall—“(A) lead the Nation’s efforts to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents;“(B) partner with State, local, and tribal governments and emergency response providers, with other Federal 120 STAT. 1397 agencies, with the private sector, and with nongovernmental organizations to build a national system of emergency management that can effectively and efficiently utilize the full measure of the Nation’s resources to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents;“(C) develop a Federal response capability that, when necessary and appropriate, can act effectively and rapidly to deliver assistance essential to saving lives or protecting or preserving property or public health and safety in a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(D) integrate the Agency’s emergency preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation responsibilities to confront effectively the challenges of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(E) develop and maintain robust Regional Offices that will work with State, local, and tribal governments, emergency response providers, and other appropriate entities to identify and address regional priorities;“(F) under the leadership of the Secretary, coordinate with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Director of Customs and Border Protection, the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the National Operations Center, and other agencies and offices in the Department to take full advantage of the substantial range of resources in the Department;“(G) provide funding, training, exercises, technical assistance, planning, and other assistance to build tribal, local, State, regional, and national capabilities (including communications capabilities), necessary to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster; and“(H) develop and coordinate the implementation of a risk-based, all-hazards strategy for preparedness that builds those common capabilities necessary to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters while also building the unique capabilities necessary to respond to specific types of incidents that pose the greatest risk to our Nation.“(c) Administrator.—“(1) In general.—The Administrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.“(2) Qualifications.—The Administrator shall be appointed from among individuals who have—“(A) a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security; and“(B) not less than 5 years of executive leadership and management experience in the public or private sector.“(3) Reporting.—The Administrator shall report to the Secretary, without being required to report through any other official of the Department.“(4) Principal advisor on emergency management.—“(A) In general.—The Administrator is the principal advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, 120 STAT. 1398 and the Secretary for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States.“(B) Advice and recommendations.—“(i) In general.—In presenting advice with respect to any matter to the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary, the Administrator shall, as the Administrator considers appropriate, inform the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary, as the case may be, of the range of emergency preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation options with respect to that matter.“(ii) Advice on request.—The Administrator, as the principal advisor on emergency management, shall provide advice to the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary on a particular matter when the President, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary requests such advice.“(iii) Recommendations to congress.—After informing the Secretary, the Administrator may make such recommendations to Congress relating to emergency management as the Administrator considers appropriate.“(5) Cabinet status.—“(A) In general.—The President may designate the Administrator to serve as a member of the Cabinet in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.“(B) Retention of authority.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary under this Act.” ;(12) in section 504, as redesignated by paragraph (8) of this section—(A) in the section heading, by inserting “authority and” before “responsibilities”;(B) by striking the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following:“(a) In General.—The Administrator shall provide Federal leadership necessary to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, including—”;(C) in paragraph (6), by striking “and” at the end; and(D) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:“(7) helping ensure the acquisition of operable and interoperable communications capabilities by Federal, State, local, and tribal governments and emergency response providers;“(8) assisting the President in carrying out the functions under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and carrying out all functions and authorities given to the Administrator under that Act;“(9) carrying out the mission of the Agency to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of—120 STAT. 1399 “(A) mitigation, by taking sustained actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from hazards and their effects;“(B) preparedness, by planning, training, and building the emergency management profession to prepare effectively for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from any hazard;“(C) response, by conducting emergency operations to save lives and property through positioning emergency equipment, personnel, and supplies, through evacuating potential victims, through providing food, water, shelter, and medical care to those in need, and through restoring critical public services; and“(D) recovery, by rebuilding communities so individuals, businesses, and governments can function on their own, return to normal life, and protect against future hazards;“(10) increasing efficiencies, by coordinating efforts relating to preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation;“(11) helping to ensure the effectiveness of emergency response providers in responding to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(12) supervising grant programs administered by the Agency;“(13) administering and ensuring the implementation of the National Response Plan, including coordinating and ensuring the readiness of each emergency support function under the National Response Plan;“(14) coordinating with the National Advisory Council established under section 508;“(15) preparing and implementing the plans and programs of the Federal Government for—“(A) continuity of operations;“(B) continuity of government; and“(C) continuity of plans;“(16) minimizing, to the extent practicable, overlapping planning and reporting requirements applicable to State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector;“(17) maintaining and operating within the Agency the National Response Coordination Center or its successor;“(18) developing a national emergency management system that is capable of preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating against catastrophic incidents;“(19) assisting the President in carrying out the functions under the national preparedness goal and the national preparedness system and carrying out all functions and authorities of the Administrator under the national preparedness System;“(20) carrying out all authorities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Directorate of Preparedness of the Department as transferred under section 505; and“(21) otherwise carrying out the mission of the Agency as described in section 503(b).“(b) All-Hazards Approach.—In carrying out the responsibilities under this section, the Administrator shall coordinate the implementation of a risk-based, all-hazards strategy that builds 120 STAT. 1400 those common capabilities necessary to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, while also building the unique capabilities necessary to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against the risks of specific types of incidents that pose the greatest risk to the Nation.”; and(13) by inserting after section 504, as redesignated by paragraph (8) of this section, the following:“SEC. 505. FUNCTIONS TRANSFERRED.“(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), there are transferred to the Agency the following:“(1) All functions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including existing responsibilities for emergency alert systems and continuity of operations and continuity of government plans and programs as constituted on June 1, 2006, including all of its personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities, and including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto.“(2) The Directorate of Preparedness, as constituted on June 1, 2006, including all of its functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities, and including the functions of the Under Secretary for Preparedness relating thereto.“(b) Exceptions.—The following within the Preparedness Directorate shall not be transferred:“(1) The Office of Infrastructure Protection.“(2) The National Communications System.“(3) The National Cybersecurity Division.“(4) The Office of the Chief Medical Officer.“(5) The functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, and liabilities of each component described under paragraphs (1) through (4). “SEC. 506. PRESERVING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.“(a) Distinct Entity.—The Agency shall be maintained as a distinct entity within the Department.“(b) Reorganization.—Section 872 shall not apply to the Agency, including any function or organizational unit of the Agency.“(c) Prohibition on Changes to Missions.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary may not substantially or significantly reduce the authorities, responsibilities, or functions of the Agency or the capability of the Agency to perform those missions, authorities, responsibilities, except as otherwise specifically provided in an Act enacted after the date of enactment of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.“(2) Certain transfers prohibited.—No asset, function, or mission of the Agency may be diverted to the principal and continuing use of any other organization, unit, or entity of the Department, except for details or assignments that do not reduce the capability of the Agency to perform its missions.“(d) Reprogramming and Transfer of Funds.—In reprogramming or transferring funds, the Secretary shall comply with any applicable provisions of any Act making appropriations for the 120 STAT. 1401 Department for fiscal year 2007, or any succeeding fiscal year, relating to the reprogramming or transfer of funds. “SEC. 507. REGIONAL OFFICES.“(a) In General.—There are in the Agency 10 regional offices, as identified by the Administrator.“(b) Management of Regional Offices.—“(1) Regional administrator.—Each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Administrator who shall be appointed by the Administrator, after consulting with State, local, and tribal government officials in the region. Each Regional Administrator shall report directly to the Administrator and be in the Senior Executive Service.“(2) Qualifications.—“(A) In general.—Each Regional Administrator shall be appointed from among individuals who have a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security.“(B) Considerations.—In selecting a Regional Administrator for a Regional Office, the Administrator shall consider the familiarity of an individual with the geographical area and demographic characteristics of the population served by such Regional Office.“(c) Responsibilities.—“(1) In general.—The Regional Administrator shall work in partnership with State, local, and tribal governments, emergency managers, emergency response providers, medical providers, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, multijurisdictional councils of governments, and regional planning commissions and organizations in the geographical area served by the Regional Office to carry out the responsibilities of a Regional Administrator under this section.“(2) Responsibilities.—The responsibilities of a Regional Administrator include—“(A) ensuring effective, coordinated, and integrated regional preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation activities and programs for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters (including planning, training, exercises, and professional development);“(B) assisting in the development of regional capabilities needed for a national catastrophic response system;“(C) coordinating the establishment of effective regional operable and interoperable emergency communications capabilities;“(D) staffing and overseeing 1 or more strike teams within the region under subsection (f), to serve as the focal point of the Federal Government’s initial response efforts for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters within that region, and otherwise building Federal response capabilities to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters within that region;“(E) designating an individual responsible for the development of strategic and operational regional plans in support of the National Response Plan;120 STAT. 1402“(F) fostering the development of mutual aid and other cooperative agreements;“(G) identifying critical gaps in regional capabilities to respond to populations with special needs;“(H) maintaining and operating a Regional Response Coordination Center or its successor; and“(I) performing such other duties relating to such responsibilities as the Administrator may require.“(3) Training and exercise requirements.—“(A) Training.—The Administrator shall require each Regional Administrator to undergo specific training periodically to complement the qualifications of the Regional Administrator. Such training, as appropriate, shall include training with respect to the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, and such other subjects as determined by the Administrator.“(B) Exercises.—The Administrator shall require each Regional Administrator to participate as appropriate in regional and national exercises.“(d) Area Offices.—“(1) In general.—There is an Area Office for the Pacific and an Area Office for the Caribbean, as components in the appropriate Regional Offices.“(2) Alaska.—The Administrator shall establish an Area Office in Alaska, as a component in the appropriate Regional Office.“(e) Regional Advisory Council.—“(1) Establishment.—Each Regional Administrator shall establish a Regional Advisory Council.“(2) Nominations.—A State, local, or tribal government located within the geographic area served by the Regional Office may nominate officials, including Adjutants General and emergency managers, to serve as members of the Regional Advisory Council for that region.“(3) Responsibilities.—Each Regional Advisory Council shall—“(A) advise the Regional Administrator on emergency management issues specific to that region;“(B) identify any geographic, demographic, or other characteristics peculiar to any State, local, or tribal government within the region that might make preparedness, protection, response, recovery, or mitigation more complicated or difficult; and“(C) advise the Regional Administrator of any weaknesses or deficiencies in preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for any State, local, and tribal government within the region of which the Regional Advisory Council is aware.“(f) Regional Office Strike Teams.—“(1) In general.—In coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, each Regional Administrator shall oversee multi-agency strike teams authorized under section 303 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5144) that shall consist of—“(A) a designated Federal coordinating officer;“(B) personnel trained in incident management;120 STAT. 1403“(C) public affairs, response and recovery, and communications support personnel;“(D) a defense coordinating officer;“(E) liaisons to other Federal agencies;“(F) such other personnel as the Administrator or Regional Administrator determines appropriate; and“(G) individuals from the agencies with primary responsibility for each of the emergency support functions in the National Response Plan.“(2) Other duties.—The duties of an individual assigned to a Regional Office strike team from another relevant agency when such individual is not functioning as a member of the strike team shall be consistent with the emergency preparedness activities of the agency that employs such individual.“(3) Location of members.—The members of each Regional Office strike team, including representatives from agencies other than the Department, shall be based primarily within the region that corresponds to that strike team.“(4) Coordination.—Each Regional Office strike team shall coordinate the training and exercises of that strike team with the State, local, and tribal governments and private sector and nongovernmental entities which the strike team shall support when a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster occurs.“(5) Preparedness.—Each Regional Office strike team shall be trained as a unit on a regular basis and equipped and staffed to be well prepared to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents.“(6) Authorities.—If the Administrator determines that statutory authority is inadequate for the preparedness and deployment of individuals in strike teams under this subsection, the Administrator shall report to Congress regarding the additional statutory authorities that the Administrator determines are necessary. “SEC. 508. NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.“(a) Establishment.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, the Secretary shall establish an advisory body under section 871(a) to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, to be known as the National Advisory Council.“(b) Responsibilities.—The National Advisory Council shall advise the Administrator on all aspects of emergency management. The National Advisory Council shall incorporate State, local, and tribal government and private sector input in the development and revision of the national preparedness goal, the national preparedness system, the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, and other related plans and strategies.“(c) Membership.—“(1) In general.—The members of the National Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Administrator, and shall, to the extent practicable, represent a geographic (including urban and rural) and substantive cross section of officials, emergency managers, and emergency response providers from 120 STAT. 1404 State, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations, including as appropriate—“(A) members selected from the emergency management field and emergency response providers, including fire service, law enforcement, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, and emergency management personnel, or organizations representing such individuals;“(B) health scientists, emergency and inpatient medical providers, and public health professionals;“(C) experts from Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector, representing standards-setting and accrediting organizations, including representatives from the voluntary consensus codes and standards development community, particularly those with expertise in the emergency preparedness and response field;“(D) State, local, and tribal government officials with expertise in preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, including Adjutants General;“(E) elected State, local, and tribal government executives;“(F) experts in public and private sector infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and communications;“(G) representatives of individuals with disabilities and other populations with special needs; and“(H) such other individuals as the Administrator determines to be appropriate.“(2) Coordination with the departments of health and human services and transportation.—In the selection of members of the National Advisory Council who are health or emergency medical services professionals, the Administrator shall work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Transportation.“(3) Ex officio members.—The Administrator shall designate 1 or more officers of the Federal Government to serve as ex officio members of the National Advisory Council.“(4) Terms of office.—“(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term of office of each member of the National Advisory Council shall be 3 years.“(B) Initial appointments.—Of the members initially appointed to the National Advisory Council—“(i) one-third shall be appointed for a term of 1 year; and“(ii) one-third shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.“(d) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.—“(1) In general.—Notwithstanding section 871(a) and subject to paragraph (2), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), including subsections (a), (b), and (d) of section 10 of such Act, and section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to the National Advisory Council.“(2) Termination.—Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the National Advisory Council.120 STAT. 1405 “SEC. 509. NATIONAL INTEGRATION CENTER.“(a) In General.—There is established in the Agency a National Integration Center.“(b) Responsibilities.—“(1) In general.—The Administrator, through the National Integration Center, and in consultation with other Federal departments and agencies and the National Advisory Council, shall ensure ongoing management and maintenance of the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, and any successor to such system or plan.“(2) Specific responsibilities.—The National Integration Center shall periodically review, and revise as appropriate, the National Incident Management System and the National Response Plan, including—“(A) establishing, in consultation with the Director of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a process to better use volunteers and donations;“(B) improving the use of Federal, State, local, and tribal resources and ensuring the effective use of emergency response providers at emergency scenes; and“(C) revising the Catastrophic Incident Annex, finalizing and releasing the Catastrophic Incident Supplement to the National Response Plan, and ensuring that both effectively address response requirements in the event of a catastrophic incident.“(c) Incident Management.—“(1) In general.—“(A) National response plan.—The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall ensure that the National Response Plan provides for a clear chain of command to lead and coordinate the Federal response to any natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.“(B) Administrator.—The chain of the command specified in the National Response Plan shall—“(i) provide for a role for the Administrator consistent with the role of the Administrator as the principal emergency management advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary under section 503(c)(4) and the responsibility of the Administrator under the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, and the amendments made by that Act, relating to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and“(ii) provide for a role for the Federal Coordinating Officer consistent with the responsibilities under section 302(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5143(b)).“(2) Principal federal official.—The Principal Federal Official (or the successor thereto) shall not—“(A) direct or replace the incident command structure established at the incident; or“(B) have directive authority over the Senior Federal Law Enforcement Official, Federal Coordinating Officer, or other Federal and State officials.120 STAT. 1406 “SEC. 510. CREDENTIALING AND TYPING. “The Administrator shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the administrators of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, State, local, and tribal governments, and organizations that represent emergency response providers, to collaborate on developing standards for deployment capabilities, including credentialing of personnel and typing of resources likely needed to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. “SEC. 511. THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS CENTER.“(a) Definition.—In this section, the term ‘National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center’ means the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center established under section 1016(d) of the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 5195c(d)).“(b) Authority.—“(1) In general.—There is in the Department the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center which shall serve as a source of national expertise to address critical infrastructure protection and continuity through support for activities related to—“(A) counterterrorism, threat assessment, and risk mitigation; and“(B) a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.“(2) Infrastructure modeling.—“(A) Particular support.—The support provided under paragraph (1) shall include modeling, simulation, and analysis of the systems and assets comprising critical infrastructure, in order to enhance preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.“(B) Relationship with other agencies.—Each Federal agency and department with critical infrastructure responsibilities under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, or any successor to such directive, shall establish a formal relationship, including an agreement regarding information sharing, between the elements of such agency or department and the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center, through the Department.“(C) Purpose.—“(i) In general.—The purpose of the relationship under subparagraph (B) shall be to permit each Federal agency and department described in subparagraph (B) to take full advantage of the capabilities of the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (particularly vulnerability and consequence analysis), consistent with its work load capacity and priorities, for real-time response to reported and projected natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.“(ii) Recipient of certain support.—Modeling, simulation, and analysis provided under this subsection shall be provided to relevant Federal agencies and departments, including Federal agencies and 120 STAT. 1407 departments with critical infrastructure responsibilities under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, or any successor to such directive. “SEC. 512. EVACUATION PLANS AND EXERCISES.“(a) In General.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to subsection (d), grants made to States or local or tribal governments by the Department through the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to—“(1) establish programs for the development and maintenance of mass evacuation plans under subsection (b) in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(2) prepare for the execution of such plans, including the development of evacuation routes and the purchase and stockpiling of necessary supplies and shelters; and“(3) conduct exercises of such plans.“(b) Plan Development.—In developing the mass evacuation plans authorized under subsection (a), each State, local, or tribal government shall, to the maximum extent practicable—“(1) establish incident command and decision making processes;“(2) ensure that State, local, and tribal government plans, including evacuation routes, are coordinated and integrated;“(3) identify primary and alternative evacuation routes and methods to increase evacuation capabilities along such routes such as conversion of two-way traffic to one-way evacuation routes;“(4) identify evacuation transportation modes and capabilities, including the use of mass and public transit capabilities, and coordinating and integrating evacuation plans for all populations including for those individuals located in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional living facilities;“(5) develop procedures for informing the public of evacuation plans before and during an evacuation, including individuals—“(A) with disabilities or other special needs;“(B) with limited English proficiency; or“(C) who might otherwise have difficulty in obtaining such information; and“(6) identify shelter locations and capabilities.“(c) Assistance.—“(1) In general.—The Administrator may establish any guidelines, standards, or requirements determined appropriate to administer this section and to ensure effective mass evacuation planning for State, local, and tribal areas.“(2) Requested assistance.—The Administrator shall make assistance available upon request of a State, local, or tribal government to assist hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions that house individuals with special needs to establish, maintain, and exercise mass evacuation plans that are coordinated and integrated into the plans developed by that State, local, or tribal government under this section.“(d) Multipurpose Funds.—Nothing in this section may be construed to preclude a State, local, or tribal government from using grant funds in a manner that enhances preparedness for 120 STAT. 1408 a natural or man-made disaster unrelated to an act of terrorism, if such use assists such government in building capabilities for terrorism preparedness. “SEC. 513. DISABILITY COORDINATOR.“(a) In General.—After consultation with organizations representing individuals with disabilities, the National Council on Disabilities, and the Interagency Coordinating Council on Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities, established under Executive Order No. 13347 (6 U.S.C. 312 note), the Administrator shall appoint a Disability Coordinator. The Disability Coordinator shall report directly to the Administrator, in order to ensure that the needs of individuals with disabilities are being properly addressed in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.“(b) Responsibilities.—The Disability Coordinator shall be responsible for—“(1) providing guidance and coordination on matters related to individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(2) interacting with the staff of the Agency, the National Council on Disabilities, the Interagency Coordinating Council on Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities established under Executive Order No. 13347 (6 U.S.C. 312 note), other agencies of the Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal government authorities regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(3) consulting with organizations that represent the interests and rights of individuals with disabilities about the needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;“(4) ensuring the coordination and dissemination of best practices and model evacuation plans for individuals with disabilities;“(5) ensuring the development of training materials and a curriculum for training of emergency response providers, State, local, and tribal government officials, and others on the needs of individuals with disabilities;“(6) promoting the accessibility of telephone hotlines and websites regarding emergency preparedness, evacuations, and disaster relief;“(7) working to ensure that video programming distributors, including broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite television services, make emergency information accessible to individuals with hearing and vision disabilities;“(8) ensuring the availability of accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities in the event of an evacuation;“(9) providing guidance and implementing policies to ensure that the rights and wishes of individuals with disabilities regarding post-evacuation residency and relocation are respected;“(10) ensuring that meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities are included in the components of the national 120 STAT. 1409 preparedness system established under section 644 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006; and“(11) any other duties as assigned by the Administrator. “SEC. 514. DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY OFFICIALS.“(a) Deputy Administrators.—The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, not more than 4 Deputy Administrators to assist the Administrator in carrying out this title.“(b) Cybersecurity and Communications.—There is in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications.“(c) United States Fire Administration.—The Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall have a rank equivalent to an assistant secretary of the Department. “SEC. 515. NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER.“(a) Definition.—In this section, the term ‘situational awareness’ means information gathered from a variety of sources that, when communicated to emergency managers and decision makers, can form the basis for incident management decisionmaking.“(b) Establishment.—The National Operations Center is the principal operations center for the Department and shall—“(1) provide situational awareness and a common operating picture for the entire Federal Government, and for State, local, and tribal governments as appropriate, in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster; and“(2) ensure that critical terrorism and disaster-related information reaches government decision-makers. “SEC. 516. CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.“(a) In General.—There is in the Department a Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.“(b) Qualifications.—The individual appointed as Chief Medical Officer shall possess a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of medicine and public health.“(c) Responsibilities.—The Chief Medical Officer shall have the primary responsibility within the Department for medical issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including—“(1) serving as the principal advisor to the Secretary and the Administrator on medical and public health issues;“(2) coordinating the biodefense activities of the Department;“(3) ensuring internal and external coordination of all medical preparedness and response activities of the Department, including training, exercises, and equipment support;“(4) serving as the Department’s primary point of contact with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other Federal departments or agencies, on medical and public health issues;“(5) serving as the Department’s primary point of contact for State, local, and tribal governments, the medical community, and others within and outside the Department, with respect to medical and public health matters;120 STAT. 1410“(6) discharging, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, the responsibilities of the Department related to Project Bioshield; and“(7) performing such other duties relating to such responsibilities as the Secretary may require.” .