CBO Scores the Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2015

The Emergency Information Improvement Act (S 1090) would codify an existing policy allowing broadcasting facilities to be eligible for certain government assistance following a disaster. Under current law, private nonprofit facilities are eligible to receive grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damages resulting from a disaster if the facility provides critical public services or is ineligible for a Small Business Administration loan. According to information provided by FEMA, nonprofit broadcasting facilities are eligible for such assistance under current agency policy.

S. 1090 would explicitly list in statute that those facilities are eligible providers. Because the bill would not affect eligibility for FEMA grants, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1090 would have no federal cost. Enacting S. 1090 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.