One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America
2d Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty two
S. 4205
AN ACT
To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a working group relating to best practices and Federal guidance for animals in emergencies and disasters, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Planning for Animal Wellness Act
or the PAW Act
.
Working group guidelines
Definitions
In this section:
Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Working group
The term working group means the advisory working group established under subsection (b).
Working group
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an advisory working group.
Membership
The working group shall consist of—
not less than 2 representatives of State governments with experience in animal emergency management;
not less than 2 representatives of local governments with experience in animal emergency management;
not less than 2 representatives from academia;
not less than 2 veterinary experts;
not less than 2 representatives from nonprofit organizations working to address the needs of households pets and service animals in emergencies or disasters;
representatives from the Federal Animal Emergency Management Working Group; and
any other members determined necessary by the Administrator.
Duties
The working group shall—
encourage and foster collaborative efforts among individuals and entities working to address the needs of household pets, service and assistance animals, and captive animals, as appropriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; and
review best practices and Federal guidance, as of the date of enactment of this Act, on congregate and noncongregate sheltering and evacuation planning relating to the needs of household pets, service and assistance animals, and captive animals, as appropriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
No compensation
The members of the working group shall serve on the working group on a voluntary basis.
Guidance determination
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the working group shall determine whether the best practices and Federal guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are sufficient.
New guidance
Not later than 540 days after the date of enactment of this Act, if the Administrator, in consultation with the working group, determines that the best practices and Federal guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are insufficient, the Administrator, in consultation with the working group, shall publish updated Federal guidance.
Sunset
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the working group shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
Extension
The Administrator may extend the date described in paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines an extension is appropriate.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate