UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

 

FEMA NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 

 

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 

 

1. Committee’s Official Designation: 


 

The National Advisory Council. 

 

2. Authority: 


 

Title 6, United States Code, Section 318 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
establish the National Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC is established in accordance 
with and shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA) (Title 5, United States Code, Appendix). 

 

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: 


 

The NAC shall advise the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) on all aspects of emergency management. The NAC shall incorporate State, 
local and tribal government and private sector input in the development and revision of 
the national preparedness goal, the national preparedness system, the National Incident 
Management System, the National Response Plan, and other related plans and strategies. 

 

4. Description of Duties: 


 

The duties of the NAC are solely advisory in nature. 

 

5. Officials to Whom the Committee Reports: 


 

The NAC reports to the Administrator of FEMA. 

 

6. Agency Responsible for Providing Necessary Support: 


 

FEMA shall be responsible for providing financial and administrative support to the 
NAC. 

 

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: 


 

The annual operating cost associated with supporting the NAC’s functions is estimated to 
be $1 million per year, including all direct and indirect expenses. Two FTEs will be 
required to support the NAC. 

 


8.Designated Federal Officer:
A full-time or permanent part-time employee of FEMA shall be appointed as the NACDesignated Federal Officer (DFO). The DFO or his/her designee shall approve or callthe meeting(s) of theNAC or any of its subcommittees; approve theagenda of allmeetings; attend all committee and subcommittee meetings; adjourn any meetingwhen 
he or she determines it to be in the public interest; and, chair meetingswhen directed to 
do so by theAdministrator.

9.Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:
The NAC will meet in plenary session approximately once per quarter. With respect to 
the quarterly meetings, it is anticipated that the NAC will hold at least one teleconferencemeeting with public call-in lines. Members may be reimbursedfor travel and per diem, 
and all travel for NAC business must be approved in advance by the DFO. Committeemeetings shall be open to the public unless a determination is made by theappropriateDHS official in accordance with DHS policy and directives that the meeting should beclosed in accordance with subsection (c) of section 552b of title 5, United States Code.

10.Duration:
Continuing.

11.Termination:
Section 14(a)(2) of theFederal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not applyto the NAC. This charter shall be in effect for twoyears from the date it is filed with 
Congressand must be renewed in accordancewith section 14(b) ofFACA.

12.Member Composition:
•Three members representing the interests of the emergency managementfield 
and three members representing emergency response providers. These membersare to represent the viewpoint of the interest sectors indicated and are not SpecialGovernment Employeesas defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United StatesCode.
•One member drawn from among thecommunity of health scientists, one memberdrawn from among the community ofemergencymedical providers, one memberdrawn among thecommunity of inpatient medical providers, and one drawn fromamong thecommunity of public health professionals. These members bring theirexpertise and experience to the Council and shall serve as Special GovernmentEmployeesas defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United StatesCode.
•Two members from the Federal, State, local and tribal governments and theprivate sectorrepresenting standard-setting and accrediting organizations with 
expertise in the emergency preparedness and response field. These membersshall include expertsfrom the voluntaryconsensus codes and standardsdevelopment community. These membersare to represent the viewpoint of thesubject organizations and are not Special Government Employees as defined in 
section 202(a) of Title 18, United States Code.

• One member representing State governments. This member shall be drawn from 
State government officials, expressly including, but not limited to, Adjutants 
General, with expertise in preparedness, protection, response, recovery, or 
mitigation. This member is to represent the interests of State governments and is 
not a Special Government Employee as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, 
United States Code. 
• One member representing local governments. This member shall be drawn from 
local government officials with expertise in preparedness, protection, response, 
recovery, or mitigation. This member is to represent the viewpoint of the 
interests of local governments and is not a Special Government Employee as 
defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States Code. 
• One member representing tribal governments. This member shall be drawn from 
tribal government officials with expertise in preparedness, protection, response, 
recovery, or mitigation. This member is to represent the viewpoint of the 
interests of tribal governments and is not a Special Government Employee as 
defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States Code. 
• One member representing executives of State governments. This member shall 
be drawn from elected State government officials. This member is to represent 
the viewpoint of the interests of State governments and is not a Special 
Government Employee as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States 
Code. 
• One member representing executives of local governments. This member shall 
be drawn from elected local government officials. This member is to represent 
the viewpoint of the interests of local governments and is not a Special 
Government Employee as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States 
Code. 
• One member representing executives of tribal governments. This member shall 
be drawn from elected tribal government officials. This member is to represent 
the viewpoint of the interests of tribal governments and is not a Special 
Government Employee as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States 
Code. 
• One member drawn from among the public and private community of 
individuals with experience in infrastructure protection, one member drawn from 
among the public and private community of individuals with experience in 
cybersecurity, and one member drawn from among the public and private 
community of individuals with experience in communications. These members 
bring their expertise and experience to the Council and shall serve as Special 
Government Employees as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States 
Code. 
• One member drawn from among the community of disabled individuals to 
represent disabled individuals, and one member with expertise in functional 
accessibility. Each member represents the interests of his or her community and 
is not a Special Government Employee as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18, 
United States Code. 
• Other such individuals as the Administrator determines to be appropriate. The 
appropriate membership designation for each member in this category will be 
determined at the time of appointment by Department ethics officials. 


 


In the selection of members who are health or emergency medical service professionals, 
the Administrator shall work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
Secretary of Transportation. The Administrator shall designate one or more officers of 
the Federal Government to serve as ex officio members. A member of the Homeland 
Security Advisory Council with expertise in Emergency Response shall be designated as 
an ex officio member. Members designated as ex officio will be entitled to vote on 
Council business. 

 

The term of office of each member shall be three years. Of the members initially 
appointed to the NAC, one-third shall be appointed for a term of one year; and one-third 
shall be appointed for a term of two years and one-third will be appointed for the full 
three-year term. 

 

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

 

13. Officers: 


 

The Administrator shall appoint one member of the NAC as the Chair and one member as 
Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair will act as Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair or 
in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chair. The term of office of the Chair and 
Vice Chair will be one year, and members may serve more than one term. 

 

14. Subcommittees: 


 

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

 

15. Recordkeeping: 


 

The records of the NAC, formally and informally established subcommittees or other 
subgroups of the Council, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 
26, Item 2 or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be 
available for public inspection and copying, in accordance with the Freedom of 
Information Act (Title 5, United States Code, section 552). 

 

16. Filing Date: 


 

March 3, 2011 



Agency Approval Date 

 

March 9, 2011 



GSA Consolation Date 

 

March 10, 2011 



Date Filed with Congress