Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act

The Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act amends the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to enhance the efficiency and transparency of federal disaster assistance. It directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with other agencies, to conduct a study and develop a plan within two years to streamline and consolidate information collection from disaster assistance applicants and grantees. This plan aims to make the process less burdensome, duplicative, and time-consuming, while also establishing a system for regular public reporting of awarded federal disaster assistance on a dedicated website.

Additionally, the bill mandates the Administrator to convene a working group with various federal agencies to address preliminary damage assessments (PDAs). This group will identify areas of duplication or fragmentation in current PDA processes and determine the feasibility of a single federal agency conducting assessments for all. The working group is also tasked with exploring the use of emerging technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems, to expedite the administration of these assessments. A comprehensive report detailing the findings and plans from both the information collection and PDA initiatives, including potential recommendations, must be submitted to Congress and made publicly available on FEMA's website in accessible formats.