A bill to extend assistance to certain private nonprofit facilities following a disaster

[The Straight Story]

S 1274 IS

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1274

To extend assistance to certain private nonprofit facilities following a disaster, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 10, 2013

Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself and Mr. BLUNT) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To extend assistance to certain private nonprofit facilities following a disaster, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PRIVATE NONPROFIT FACILITIES.

(a) Definition of Private Nonprofit Facility- Section 102(11)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(11)(B)) is amended to read as follows:

‘(B) ADDITIONAL FACILITIES- In addition to the facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term ‘private nonprofit facility’ includes any private nonprofit facility that provides essential services to the general public (including museums, zoos, performing arts facilities, community arts centers, community centers, houses of worship, libraries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops, and facilities that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature), as defined by the President.’.

(b) Repair, Restoration, and Replacement of Damaged Facilities- Section 406(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘(C) TREATMENT OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP-

‘(i) IN GENERAL- A church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and an otherwise eligible private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization, shall be eligible for contributions under paragraph (1)(B), without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.

‘(ii) LIMITATIONS- Notwithstanding clause (i), in spaces used primarily for religious worship services, contributions under paragraph (1)(B) shall only be used to cover costs of purchasing or replacing, without limitation, the building structure, building enclosure components, building envelope, vertical and horizontal circulation, physical plant support spaces, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems (including heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and fire and life safety systems), and related site improvements.’.

(c) Applicability- This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s1274/text