United States Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Advisory Council

1. Committee's Official Designation

The Regional Advisory Council.

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2. Authority

Section 507of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296), as amended by section 611 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as set forth in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 109-295)(hereinafter referred to as "Section 507"), directs the Regional Administrator of FEMA to establish the Regional Advisory Council. 

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3. Objectives and Scope of Activities

The Regional Advisory Council shall advise the Regional Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on all aspects of emergency management.  The Regional Advisory Council shall incorporate representatives of State, territorial, local and tribal government and advise the Regional Administrator on emergency management issues specific to the Region; identify any geographic, demographic, or other characteristics specific to any State, territorial, local, or tribal government within the Region that might make preparedness, protection, response, or mitigation more challenging; and advise the Regional Administrator on any weaknesses or deficiencies in preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation within the regional area of responsibility that should be addressed.

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4. Description of Duties

The duties of the Regional Advisory Council are solely advisory in nature.  The Regional Advisory Councils shall address related topics from the National Advisory Councils unless there are specific Regional issues to be addressed.

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5. Officials to Whom the Committee Reports

The Regional Advisory Council reports to the Regional Administrator of FEMA.  The Associate Deputy Administrator shall oversee the activities of the Regional Advisory Councils, including coordination of the agenda topics.  The Regional Administrator shall submit an annual report to the Associate Deputy Administrator.  The Associate Deputy Administrator will provide a combined report from all the Regions to the National Advisory Council.

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6. Agency Responsible for Providing Necessary Support

FEMA shall be responsible for providing financial and administrative support to the establishment of the Regional Advisory Council. The Regional Administrator shall delegate a Regional staff member to the Council to participate in an 'ex-officio' capacity to provide support for Council activities.

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7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs

The annual operating cost associated with supporting the Regional Advisory Council's functions are estimated to be $10,000 per year, including all direct and indirect expenses.

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8. Regional Advisory Council Chairperson

The FEMA Regional Administrator will serve as the Council Chairperson and appoint a Vice Chair, or alternatively may appoint a Council Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson that will serve a one-year term.  The Chairperson, Vice-chairperson or their designee shall approve or call the meeting of the Regional Advisory Council or any of its subcommittees; approve the agenda of all meetings; chair meetings; and adjourn any meeting when he or she determines it to be in the public interest.

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9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

The Regional Advisory Council will meet in plenary session at least two times a year.  Upon notice to all members, the Chairperson may conduct additional meetings, and may use teleconferencing with public call-in-lines when appropriate.

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10. Member Composition

The Regional Advisory Council shall consist of up to 36 members appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Regional Administrator that work and reside within the geographic area served by the Regional Office.  To the extent practicable, the members shall be drawn from a geographic (including urban and rural) and a substantive cross section of officials, providing diversity to the membership, to include emergency managers, and emergency response providers from State, territorial, local, and tribal governments, up to as follows: 

The Regional Administrator will issue a request for nominations for consideration and will make final determination of selection of those nominations submitted.

The term of office of each member shall be 3 years.  Of the members initially appointed to the Regional Advisory Council, one-third shall be appointed for a term of 1 year; and one-third shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and one-third will be appointed for the full 3-year term.

Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Regional Administrator.  Membership shall terminate at such time that the official is no longer affiliated with the organization for which he/she was associated with at the time of appointment to the Council.  Members serve on a voluntary basis and shall not be compensated by FEMA for participation, including related travel and per diem expenses.

A member appointed to fill an unexpired term shall serve the remainder of that term.  In the event that the Regional Advisory Council terminates, all appointments to the Regional Advisory Council shall terminate.

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11. Subcommittees

The Regional Advisory Council may establish subcommittees for any purpose consistent with this charter with the approval of the Regional Administrator.  Such subcommittees may not work independently of the chartered committee and must report their recommendations and advice to the Regional Advisory Council for full deliberation and discussion.  Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the Regional Advisory Council and may not report directly to the Federal government or any other entity.

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Last Modified: Monday, 17-Dec-2007 12:43:30 EST