Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/1973

 120 STAT. 1942

PUBLIC LAW 109–347—OCT. 13, 2006

‘‘(E) any other essential service, as determined by the President; ‘‘(2) is— ‘‘(A) a municipal entity; ‘‘(B) a nonprofit entity; or ‘‘(C) a private, for profit entity; and ‘‘(3) is contributing to efforts to respond to an emergency or major disaster. ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR ACCESSIBILITY.—Unless exceptional circumstances apply, in an emergency or major disaster, the head of a Federal agency, to the greatest extent practicable, shall not— ‘‘(1) deny or impede access to the disaster site to an essential service provider whose access is necessary to restore and repair an essential service; or ‘‘(2) impede the restoration or repair of the services described in subsection (a)(1). ‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—In implementing this section, the head of a Federal agency shall follow all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies.’’. SEC. 608. COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS.

Section 417(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184(b)) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘exceed 25 per centum’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘exceed— ‘‘(1) 25 percent’’; and (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘; or ‘‘(2) if the loss of tax and other revenues of the local government as a result of the major disaster is at least 75 percent of the annual operating budget of that local government for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs, 50 percent of the annual operating budget of that local government for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs, and shall not exceed $5,000,000.’’. SEC. 609. PUBLIC FACILITIES.

Section 406(c)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(c)(1)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘75’’ and inserting ‘‘90’’; (2) by striking subparagraph (B); and (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively. SEC. 610. EXPEDITED PAYMENTS.

President.

Deadlines.

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

13:05 Jul 12, 2007

Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5173) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(e) EXPEDITED PAYMENTS.— ‘‘(1) GRANT ASSISTANCE.—In making a grant under subsection (a)(2), the President shall provide not less than 50 percent of the President’s initial estimate of the Federal share of assistance as an initial payment in accordance with paragraph (2). ‘‘(2) DATE OF PAYMENT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the estimate described in paragraph (1) and not later

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