Disaster Assistance Fairness Act

The bill aims to broaden the scope of federal disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It achieves this by formally defining residential common interest communities , condominiums , and housing cooperatives , thereby making these housing structures eligible for specific types of disaster relief. These definitions clarify the types of multi-unit properties and their shared ownership structures that the Act intends to cover. One significant provision addresses debris removal for residential common interest communities. It mandates the President to establish rules allowing for the removal of debris or wreckage from real estate owned by these communities following a major disaster. This assistance is triggered when a state or local government certifies that the debris poses a threat to life, public health or safety, or the community's economic recovery. Furthermore, the bill expands individual and household assistance to include repairs for essential common elements of condominiums and housing cooperatives. This means that federal aid can be used for critical shared components such as roofs, exterior walls, heating and cooling equipment, and utility access. Eligibility for this assistance requires satisfactory documentation of an individual's or household's pro rata share of these repair costs, and these new provisions will apply to major disasters declared on or after the Act's enactment date.