II
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2756
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 5, 2006
Ms. Collins introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
A BILL
To authorize the President to utilize Federal equipment, supplies, facilities, personnel, and other non-monetary resources to assist utility companies that contribute to recovery efforts from the effects of a major disaster.
Utility company disaster assistance
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Utility companies
Definition
In this section, the term qualified utility company means an entity that—
provides—
telecommunications service;
electrical power;
natural gas;
water and sewer services; or
any other essential service, as determined by the President;
is a private, for-profit entity; and
is contributing to efforts to recover from the effects of a major disaster.
Authorization
In a major disaster, the President may utilize Federal equipment, supplies, facilities, personnel, and other non-monetary resources to assist a qualified utility company, in exchange for reasonable compensation.
Compensation
In general
The President shall, by regulation, establish a mechanism to set reasonable compensation for the provision of assistance under subsection (b).
Criteria
The mechanism established under paragraph (1)—
shall reflect fair market value for the assistance provided under subsection (b) in setting compensation;
shall have streamlined procedures for determining compensation; and
is not required to set compensation based on the costs to the Federal Government.
.