Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014
AN ACT
To delay the implementation of certain provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, and for other purposes.
2. Definitions
For purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:
Administrator— The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
National Flood Insurance Program— The term National Flood Insurance Program means the program established under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).
3. Repeal of certain rate increases
Repeal—
In general— Section 1307(g) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4014(g)) is amended—
by striking paragraphs (1) and (2);
in paragraph (3), by striking “as a result of the deliberate choice of the holder of such policy” and inserting “, unless the decision of the policy holder to permit a lapse in flood insurance coverage was as a result of the property covered by the policy no longer being required to retain such coverage”; and
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.
Effective Date— The Administrator shall make available such rate tables, as necessary to implement the amendments made by paragraph (1) as if it were enacted as part of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 957).
Implementation, coordination, and guidance—
Facilitation of timely refunds— To ensure the participation of Write Your Own companies (as such term is defined in section 100202(a) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4004(a)), the Administrator and the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall consult with Write Your Own companies throughout the development of guidance and rate tables necessary to implement the provisions of and the amendments made by this Act.
Implementation and guidance— The Administrator shall issue final guidance and rate tables necessary to implement the provisions of and the amendments made by this Act not later than eight months following the date of the enactment of this Act. Write Your Own companies, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall have not less than six months but not more than eight months following the issuance of such final guidance and rate tables to implement the changes required by such final guidance and rate tables.
Refund of excess premium charges collected— The Administrator shall refund directly to insureds any premiums for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program collected in excess of the rates required under the provisions of and amendments made by this section. To allow for necessary and appropriate implementation of such provisions and amendments, any premium changes necessary to implement such provisions and amendments, including any such premium refund due to policy holders, which shall be paid directly by the National Flood Insurance Program, shall not be charged or paid to policyholders by the National Flood Insurance Program until after the Administrator issues guidance and makes available such rate tables to implement the provisions of and amendments made by this Act.
Assumption of policies at existing premium rates— The Administrator shall provide that the purchaser of a property that, as of the date of such purchase, is covered under an existing flood insurance policy under this title may assume such existing policy and coverage for the remainder of the term of the policy at the chargeable premium rates under such existing policy. Such rates shall continue with respect to such property until the implementation of subsection (a).
4. Restoration of grandfathered rates
5. Requirements regarding annual rate increases
Section 1308(e) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015(e)) is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “, the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance under this title for any properties”;
in paragraph (1), by inserting “the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance under this title for any properties” before “within any”;
in paragraph (2), by inserting “the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance under this title for any properties” before “described in”;
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2), as so amended, as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
by inserting before paragraph (3), as so redesignated, the following new paragraphs:
“(1) the chargeable risk premium rate for flood insurance under this title for any property may not be increased by more than 18 percent each year, except—
“(A) as provided in paragraph (4);
“(B) in the case of property identified under section 1307(g); or
“(C) in the case of a property that—
“(i) is located in a community that has experienced a rating downgrade under the community rating system program carried out under section 1315(b);
“(ii) is covered by a policy with respect to which the policyholder has—
“(I) decreased the amount of the deductible; or
“(II) increased the amount of coverage; or
“(iii) was misrated;
“(2) the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance under this title for any properties initially rated under section 1307(a)(2) within any single risk classification, excluding properties for which the chargeable risk premium rate is not less than the applicable estimated risk premium rate under section 1307(a)(1), shall be increased by an amount that results in an average of such rate increases for properties within the risk classification during any 12-month period of not less than 5 percent of the average of the risk premium rates for such properties within the risk classification upon the commencement of such 12-month period;”
in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated by paragraph (4) of this section), by striking “20 percent” and inserting “15 percent”; and
in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated) by paragraph (4) of this section), by striking “paragraph (1)” and inserting “paragraph (3)”.
6. Clarification of rates for properties newly mapped into areas with special flood hazards
Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(i) Rates for properties newly mapped into areas with special flood hazards—Notwithstanding subsection (f), the premium rate for flood insurance under this title that is purchased on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection—
“(1) on a property located in an area not previously designated as having special flood hazards and that, pursuant to any issuance, revision, updating, or other change in a flood insurance map, becomes designated as such an area; and
“(2) where such flood insurance premium rate is calculated under subsection (a)(1) of section 1307 (42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)),”
7. Premiums and reports
Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(j) Premiums and reports—In setting premium risk rates, in addition to striving to achieve the objectives of this title the Administrator shall also strive to minimize the number of policies with annual premiums that exceed one percent of the total coverage provided by the policy. For any policies premiums that exceed this one percent threshold, the Administrator shall report such exceptions to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.”
8. Annual premium surcharge
Premium surcharge— Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1308 the following new section:
“1308A. Premium surcharge
“(a) Imposition and collection—The Administrator shall impose and collect an annual surcharge, in the amount provided in subsection (b), on all policies for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program that are newly issued or renewed after the date of the enactment of this section. Such surcharge shall be in addition to the surcharge under section 1304(b) and any other assessments and surcharges applied to such coverage.
“(b) Amount—The amount of the surcharge under subsection (a) shall be—
“(1) $25, except as provided in paragraph (2); and
“(2) $250, in the case of a policy for any property that is—
“(A) a non-residential property; or
“(B) a residential property that is not the primary residence of an individual.
“(c) Termination—Subsections (a) and (b) shall cease to apply on the date on which the chargeable risk premium rate for flood insurance under this title for each property covered by flood insurance under this title, other than properties for which premiums are calculated under subsection (e) or (f) of section 1307 or section 1336 of this Act (42 U.S.C. 4014, 4056) or under section 100230 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4014 note), is not less than the applicable estimated risk premium rate under section 1307(a)(1) for such property.”
Deposit in Reserve Fund— Subsection (c) of section 1310A of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4017a) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) Deposit of premium surcharges—The Administrator shall deposit in the Reserve Fund any surcharges collected pursuant to section 1308A.”
9. Draft affordability framework
In general— The Administrator shall prepare a draft affordability framework that proposes to address, via programmatic and regulatory changes, the issues of affordability of flood insurance sold under the National Flood Insurance Program, including issues identified in the affordability study required under section 100236 of the Bigger-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 957).
Criteria— In carrying out the requirements under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider the following criteria:
Accurate communication to consumers of the flood risk associated with their properties.
Targeted assistance to flood insurance policy holders based on their financial ability to continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Individual or community actions to mitigate the risk of flood or lower the cost of flood insurance.
The impact of increases in risk premium rates on participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
The impact flood insurance rate map updates have on the affordability of flood insurance.
Deadline for submission— Not later than 18 months after the date on which the Administrator submits the affordability study referred to in subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the full Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the full Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the full Committee on Financial Services and the full Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives the draft affordability framework required under subsection (a).
Interagency agreements— The Administrator may enter into an agreement with another Federal agency to—
complete the affordability study referred to in subsection (a); or
prepare the draft affordability framework required under subsection (a).
Rule of construction— Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide the Administrator with the authority to provide assistance to homeowners based on affordability that was not available prior to the enactment of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 916).
10. Risk transfer
Section 1345 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4081) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(e) Risk transfer—The Administrator may secure reinsurance of coverage provided by the flood insurance program from the private reinsurance and capital markets at rates and on terms determined by the Administrator to be reasonable and appropriate, in an amount sufficient to maintain the ability of the program to pay claims.”
11. Monthly installment payment for premiums
In general— Subsection (g) of section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015(g)) is amended by striking “either annually or in more frequent installments” and inserting “annually or monthly”.
Implementation— The Administrator shall implement the requirement under section 1308(g) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended by subsection (a), not later than the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
12. Optional high-deductible policies for residential properties
Section 1306 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(d) Optional high-Deductible policies for residential properties
“(1) Availability—In the case of residential properties, the Administrator shall make flood insurance coverage available, at the option of the insured, that provides for a loss-deductible for damage to the covered property in various amounts, up to and including $10,000.
“(2) Disclosure
“(A) Form—The Administrator shall provide the information described in subparagraph (B) clearly and conspicuously on the application form for flood insurance coverage or on a separate form, segregated from all unrelated information and other required disclosures.
“(B) Information—The information described in this subparagraph is—
“(i) information sufficient to inform the applicant of the availability of the coverage option required by paragraph (1) to applicants for flood insurance coverage; and
“(ii) a statement explaining the effect of a loss-deductible and that, in the event of an insured loss, the insured is responsible out-of-pocket for losses to the extent of the deductible selected.”
13. Exclusion of detached structures from mandatory purchase requirement
Exclusion— Subsection (c) of section 102 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3) Detached structures—Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, flood insurance shall not be required, in the case of any residential property, for any structure that is a part of such property but is detached from the primary residential structure of such property and does not serve as a residence.”
RESPA statement— Section 5(b) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2604(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (14), by inserting before the period at the end the following: “, and the following statement: “Although you may not be required to maintain flood insurance on all structures, you may still wish to do so, and your mortgage lender may still require you to do so to protect the collateral securing the mortgage. If you choose to not maintain flood insurance on a structure, and it floods, you are responsible for all flood losses relating to that structure.””; and
by transferring and inserting paragraph (14), as so amended, after paragraph (13).
14. Accounting for flood mitigation activities in estimates of premium rates
Subparagraph (A) of section 1307(a)(1) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(1)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
“(A) based on consideration of—
“(i) the risk involved and accepted actuarial principles; and
“(ii) the flood mitigation activities that an owner or lessee has undertaken on a property, including differences in the risk involved due to land use measures, floodproofing, flood forecasting, and similar measures, and”
15. Home improvement fairness
Section 1307(a)(2)(E)(ii) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4014(a)(2)(E)(ii)) is amended by striking “30 percent” and inserting “50 percent”.
16. Affordability study and report
Study issues— Subsection (a) of section 100236 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 957) is amended—
in paragraph (3), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(5) options for maintaining affordability if annual premiums for flood insurance coverage were to increase to an amount greater than 2 percent of the liability coverage amount under the policy, including options for enhanced mitigation assistance and means-tested assistance;
“(6) the effects that the establishment of catastrophe savings accounts would have regarding long-term affordability of flood insurance coverage; and
“(7) options for modifying the surcharge under 1308A, including based on homeowner income, property value or risk of loss.”
Timing of submission— Notwithstanding the deadline under section 100236(c) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 957), not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the full Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the full Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the full Committee on Financial Services and the full Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives the affordability study and report required under such section 100236.
Affordability study funding— Section 100236(d) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 957) is amended by striking “$750,000” and inserting “$2,500,000”.
17. Flood insurance rate map certification
The Administrator shall implement a flood mapping program for the National Flood Insurance Program, only after review by the Technical Mapping Advisory Council, that, when applied, results in technically credible flood hazard data in all areas where Flood Insurance Rate Maps are prepared or updated, shall certify in writing to the Congress when such a program has been implemented, and shall provide to the Congress the Technical Mapping Advisory Council review report.
18. Funds to reimburse homeowners for successful map appeals
In general— Section 1363(f) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104(f)) is amended—
in the first sentence, by inserting after “as the case may be,” the following: “or, in the case of an appeal that is resolved by submission of conflicting data to the Scientific Resolution Panel provided for in section 1363A, the community,”; and
by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: “The Administrator may use such amounts from the National Flood Insurance Fund established under section 1310 as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.”.
Conforming amendments— Section 1310(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4017(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (6), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(8) for carrying out section 1363(f).”
19. Flood protection systems
Adequate progress on construction of flood protection systems— Section 1307(e) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4014(e)) is amended—
in the first sentence, by inserting “or reconstruction” after “construction”;
by amending the second sentence to read as follows: “The Administrator shall find that adequate progress on the construction or reconstruction of a flood protection system, based on the present value of the completed flood protection system, has been made only if: (1) 100 percent of the cost of the system has been authorized; (2) at least 60 percent of the cost of the system has been appropriated; (3) at least 50 percent of the cost of the system has been expended; and (4) the system is at least 50 percent completed.”; and
by adding at the end the following: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in determining whether a community has made adequate progress on the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a flood protection system, the Administrator shall consider all sources of funding, including Federal, State, and local funds.”.
Communities restoring disaccredited flood protection systems— Section 1307(f) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4014(f)) is amended by amending the first sentence to read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this subsection shall apply to riverine and coastal levees that are located in a community which has been determined by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be in the process of restoring flood protection afforded by a flood protection system that had been previously accredited on a Flood Insurance Rate Map as providing 100-year frequency flood protection but no longer does so, and shall apply without regard to the level of Federal funding of or participation in the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of the flood protection system.”.
20. Quarterly reports regarding Reserve Fund ratio
Subsection (e) of section 1310A of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4017a) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “, on a calendar quarterly basis,” after “submit”.
21. Treatment of floodproofed residential basements
The Administrator shall continue to extend exceptions and variances for flood-proofed basements consistent with section 60.6 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, which are effective April 3, 2009; and section 60.3 of such title, which are effective April 3, 2009.
22. Exemption from fees for certain map change requests
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a requester shall be exempt from submitting a review or processing fee for a request for a flood insurance rate map change based on a habitat restoration project that is funded in whole or in part with Federal or State funds, including dam removal, culvert redesign or installation, or the installation of fish passage.
23. Study of voluntary community-based flood insurance options
Study—
Study required— The Administrator shall conduct a study to assess options, methods, and strategies for making available voluntary community-based flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Considerations— The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall—
take into consideration and analyze how voluntary community-based flood insurance policies—
would affect communities having varying economic bases, geographic locations, flood hazard characteristics or classifications, and flood management approaches; and
could satisfy the applicable requirements under section 102 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a); and
evaluate the advisability of making available voluntary community-based flood insurance policies to communities, subdivisions of communities, and areas of residual risk.
Consultation— In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Administrator may consult with the Comptroller General of the United States, as the Administrator determines is appropriate.
Report by the Administrator—
Report required— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results and conclusions of the study conducted under subsection (a).
Contents— The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include recommendations for—
the best manner to incorporate voluntary community-based flood insurance policies into the National Flood Insurance Program; and
a strategy to implement voluntary community-based flood insurance policies that would encourage communities to undertake flood mitigation activities, including the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of levees, dams, or other flood control structures.
Report by Comptroller General— Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Administrator submits the report required under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
review the report submitted by the Administrator; and
submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that contains—
an analysis of the report submitted by the Administrator;
any comments or recommendations of the Comptroller General relating to the report submitted by the Administrator; and
any other recommendations of the Comptroller General relating to community-based flood insurance policies.
24. Designation of flood insurance advocate
In general— The Administrator shall designate a Flood Insurance Advocate to advocate for the fair treatment of policy holders under the National Flood Insurance Program and property owners in the mapping of flood hazards, the identification of risks from flood, and the implementation of measures to minimize the risk of flood.
Duties and responsibilities— The duties and responsibilities of the Flood Insurance Advocate designated under subsection (a) shall be to—
educate property owners and policyholders under the National Flood Insurance Program on—
individual flood risks;
flood mitigation;
measures to reduce flood insurance rates through effective mitigation;
the flood insurance rate map review and amendment process; and
any changes in the flood insurance program as a result of any newly enacted laws (including this Act);
assist policy holders under the National Flood Insurance Program and property owners to understand the procedural requirements related to appealing preliminary flood insurance rate maps and implementing measures to mitigate evolving flood risks;
assist in the development of regional capacity to respond to individual constituent concerns about flood insurance rate map amendments and revisions;
coordinate outreach and education with local officials and community leaders in areas impacted by proposed flood insurance rate map amendments and revisions; and
aid potential policy holders under the National Flood Insurance Program in obtaining and verifying accurate and reliable flood insurance rate information when purchasing or renewing a flood insurance policy.
25. Exceptions to escrow requirement for flood insurance payments
In general— Section 102(d)(1) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(d)(1)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A), in the second sentence, by striking “subparagraph (C)” and inserting “subparagraph (B)”; and
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (ii), by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
in the matter preceding subclause (I), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking “(A) or (B), if—” and inserting the following: “(A)—
“(i) if—”
by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(ii) in the case of a loan that—
“(I) is in a junior or subordinate position to a senior lien secured by the same residential improved real estate or mobile home for which flood insurance is being provided at the time of the origination of the loan;
“(II) is secured by residential improved real estate or a mobile home that is part of a condominium, cooperative, or other project development, if the residential improved real estate or mobile home is covered by a flood insurance policy that—
“(aa) meets the requirements that the regulated lending institution is required to enforce under subsection (b)(1);
“(bb) is provided by the condominium association, cooperative, homeowners association, or other applicable group; and
“(cc) the premium for which is paid by the condominium association, cooperative, homeowners association, or other applicable group as a common expense;
“(III) is secured by residential improved real estate or a mobile home that is used as collateral for a business purpose;
“(IV) is a home equity line of credit;
“(V) is a nonperforming loan; or
“(VI) has a term of not longer than 12 months.”
Applicability—
In general—
Required application— The amendments to section 102(d)(1) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(d)(1)) made by section 100209(a) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 920) and by subsection (a) of this section shall apply to any loan that is originated, refinanced, increased, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2016.
Optional application—
Definitions— In this subparagraph—
the terms Federal entity for lending regulation, improved real estate, regulated lending institution, and servicer have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4003);
the term outstanding loan means a loan that—
is outstanding as of January 1, 2016;
is not subject to the requirement to escrow premiums and fees for flood insurance under section 102(d)(1) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(d)(1)) as in effect on July 5, 2012; and
would, if the loan had been originated, refinanced, increased, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2016, be subject to the requirements under section 102(d)(1)(A) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended; and
the term section 102(d)(1)(A) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended means section 102(d)(1)(A) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(d)(1)(A)), as amended by—
section 100209(a) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 920); and
subsection (a) of this section.
Option to escrow flood insurance payments— Each Federal entity for lending regulation (after consultation and coordination with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council) shall, by regulation, direct that each regulated lending institution or servicer of an outstanding loan shall offer and make available to a borrower the option to have the borrower's payment of premiums and fees for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), including the escrow of such payments, be treated in the same manner provided under section 102(d)(1)(A) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended.
Repeal of 2-year delay on applicability— Subsection (b) of section 100209 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 920) is repealed.
Rule of construction— Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed to supersede, during the period beginning on July 6, 2012 and ending on December 31, 2015, the requirements under section 102(d)(1) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(d)(1)), as in effect on July 5, 2012.
26. Flood mitigation methods for buildings
Guidelines—
In general— Section 1361 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4102) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(d) Flood mitigation methods for buildings—The Administrator shall establish guidelines for property owners that—
“(1) provide alternative methods of mitigation, other than building elevation, to reduce flood risk to residential buildings that cannot be elevated due to their structural characteristics, including—
“(A) types of building materials; and
“(B) types of floodproofing; and
“(2) inform property owners about how the implementation of mitigation methods described in paragraph (1) may affect risk premium rates for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program.”
Issuance— The Administrator shall issue the guidelines required under section 1361(d) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4102(d)), as added by the amendment made by paragraph (1) of this subsection, not later than the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Calculation of risk premium rates— Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(k) Consideration of mitigation methods—In calculating the risk premium rate charged for flood insurance for a property under this section, the Administrator shall take into account the implementation of any mitigation method identified by the Administrator in the guidance issued under section 1361(d) (42 U.S.C. 4102(d)).”
27. Mapping of non-structural flood mitigation features
Section 100216 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101b) is amended—
in subsection (b)(1)(A)—
in clause (iv), by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi);
by inserting after clause (iv) the following new clause:
“(v) areas that are protected by non-structural flood mitigation features; and”
in clause (vi) (as so redesignated), by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: “and by non-structural flood mitigation features”; and
in subsection (d)(1)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as subparagraphs (B) through (D), respectively;
in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by striking “subparagraph (A)” and inserting “subparagraph (B)”; and
by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated) the following new subparagraph:
“(A) work with States, local communities, and property owners to identify areas and features described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(v);”
28. Clear communications
Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(l) Clear communications—The Administrator shall clearly communicate full flood risk determinations to individual property owners regardless of whether their premium rates are full actuarial rates.”
29. Protection of small businesses, non-profits, houses of worship, and residences
Section 1308 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(m) Protection of small businesses, non-Profits, houses of worship, and residences
“(1) Report—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section and semiannually thereafter, the Administrator shall monitor and report to Committee on Financial Services of the House Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Administrator’s assessment of the impact, if any, of the rate increases required under subparagraphs (A) and (D) of section 1307(a)(2) and the surcharges required under section 1308A on the affordability of flood insurance for—
“(A) small businesses with less than 100 employees;
“(B) non-profit entities;
“(C) houses of worship; and
“(D) residences with a value equal to or less than 25 percent of the median home value of properties in the State in which the property is located.
“(2) Recommendations—If the Administrator determines that the rate increases or surcharges described in paragraph (1) are having a detrimental effect on affordability, including resulting in lapsed policies, late payments, or other criteria related to affordability as identified by the Administrator, for any of the properties identified in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of such paragraph, the Administrator shall, not later than 3 months after making such a determination, make such recommendations as the Administrator considers appropriate to improve affordability to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.”
30. Mapping
Section 100216(d)(1) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101b(d)(1)), as amended by section 27 of this Act, is further amended—
in subparagraph (C)—
by striking “subparagraph (B)” and inserting “subparagraph (E)”; and
by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) as subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (H), respectively;
by inserting before subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, the following new subparagraphs:
“(A) before commencement of any mapping or map updating process, notify each community affected of the model or models that the Administrator plans to use in such process and provide an explanation of why such model or models are appropriate;
“(B) provide each community affected a 30-day period beginning upon notification under subparagraph (A) to consult with the Administrator regarding the appropriateness, with respect to such community, of the mapping model or models to be used; provided that consultation by a community pursuant to this subparagraph shall not waive or otherwise affect any right of the community to appeal any flood hazard determinations;
“(C) upon completion of the first Independent Data Submission, transmit a copy of such Submission to the affected community, provide the affected community a 30-day period during which the community may provide data to Administrator that can be used to supplement or modify the existing data, and incorporate any data that is consistent with prevailing engineering principles;”
by inserting after subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, the following new subparagraph:
“(G) not less than 30 days before issuance of any preliminary map, notify the Senators for each State affected and each Member of the House of Representatives for each congressional district affected by the preliminary map in writing of—
“(i) the estimated schedule for—
“(I) community meetings regarding the preliminary map;
“(II) publication of notices regarding the preliminary map in local newspapers; and
“(III) the commencement of the appeals process regarding the map; and
“(ii) the estimated number of homes and businesses that will be affected by changes contained in the preliminary map, including how many structures will be that were not previously located in an area having special flood hazards will be located within such an area under the preliminary map; and”
31. Disclosure
Changes in rates resulting from this Act— Not later than the date that is 6 months before the date on which any change in risk premium rates for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program resulting from this Act or any amendment made by this Act is implemented, the Administrator shall make publicly available the rate tables and underwriting guidelines that provide the basis for the change.
Report on policy and claims data—
In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Congress a report on the feasibility of—
releasing property-level policy and claims data for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program; and
establishing guidelines for releasing property-level policy and claims data for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program in accordance with section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Privacy Act of 1974).
Contents— The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—
an analysis and assessment of how releasing property-level policy and claims data for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program will aid policy holders and insurers to understand how the Administration determines actuarial premium rates and assesses flood risks; and
recommendations for protecting personal information in accordance with section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Privacy Act of 1974).