# § 1471b. Determination of need for assistance
**(a)** **Determination and request by Governor or county committee**
**(1)** Whenever the Governor of a State determines that a livestock emergency due to a natural disaster exists in the State, or a county committee established under section 590h(b) of title 16 determines that such an emergency exists in the county, the Governor or county committee may submit a request for a determination by the Secretary of a livestock emergency in such State or county and for emergency livestock feed assistance under this subchapter.
**(2)** The request of a Governor or county committee for a livestock emergency determination and for emergency livestock feed assistance shall include, to the extent feasible, recommendations to the Secretary of those options that will most fully use feed available through local sources.
**(b)** **Consideration for assistance without request** The Secretary may consider a State, county, or area in a State for a livestock emergency determination and emergency livestock feed assistance under this subchapter whether or not a request for assistance is submitted, as described in subsection (a).
**(c)** **Prompt action by Secretary** The Secretary shall act on requests for determinations under subsection (a) and make final determinations on whether a livestock emergency exists in any State, county, or area, under regulations that ensure thorough and prompt action (not later than 30 days after receipt of any such request) and provide for appropriate notification procedures.
**(d)** **Eligibility under prior programs; availability of other programs** section 1471d of this titlesection 1471d(a)(4) of this titlesection 1471d(a)(2) of this titlesection 1471e of this title
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, any State, county, or area determined eligible, due to drought or related conditions in 1988, for the emergency feed program or emergency feed assistance program conducted prior to the effective date of this subchapter shall continue to be eligible for such programs and may be eligible for other programs under this subchapter for such drought or related condition. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this subchapter, the Secretary shall determine whether any of the programs described in , other than the emergency feed program under and the emergency feed assistance program under , or in should be made available in such State, county, or area. If the Secretary makes such determination, the Secretary shall make such programs immediately available to livestock producers in the State, county, or area.
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**Source Credit**: (Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, title VI, § 604, as added Pub. L. 100–387, title I, § 101(a), Aug. 11, 1988, 102 Stat. 927.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
The effective date of this subchapter, referred to in subsec. (d), is 15 days after , the effective date of . See , set out as a note under .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
Section effective 15 days after , with subsec. (d) of this section applicable only with respect to any livestock emergency in 1988, see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 1988 Amendment note under .
### Inapplicability of Section
Section inapplicable to 2014 through 2018 crops of covered commodities, cotton, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning , through , see .
Section inapplicable to 2008 through 2012 crops of covered commodities, peanuts, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning , through , see .
Section inapplicable to 2002 through 2007 crops of covered commodities, peanuts, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning , through , see .
Section inapplicable to 1996 through 2002 crops of loan commodities, peanuts, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning , and ending , see .