HSB 608 (LSB 5727YC (7) 83)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON REBUILD IOWA AND DISASTER RECOVERY BILL BY CHAIRPERSON SCHUELLER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to development in five hundred year floodplains.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  29C.20B  Financial assistance limitations —— floodplains.

   1.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, financial assistance from the state shall not be awarded for flood damage recovery purposes if the flood-damaged property was developed within a five hundred year floodplain after July 1, 2010.
   2.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, financial assistance from the state shall not be awarded for any type of development taking place in a five hundred year floodplain.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  29C.20C  Critical structures in floodplains.

   After July 1, 2010, a facility critical for health and safety of the public and environment shall not be built in a five hundred year floodplain. For purposes of this section, a “facility critical for health and safety of the public and environment” means hospitals and health care facilities as defined in section 135C.1; emergency operations centers including fire, police, and rescue facilities; vital data storage centers; power generation and other utilities including related infrastructure such as principal points of utility systems; and any facilities that produce, use, or store toxic pollutants.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to development in 500 year floodplains.
   The bill prohibits financial assistance from being awarded for flood damage recovery purposes if the flood-damaged property was developed within a 500 year floodplain after July 1, 2010. The bill prohibits financial assistance from being awarded for any type of development taking place in a 500 year floodplain.
   The bill prohibits a facility critical for health and safety of the public and environment from being built in a 500 year floodplain. A “facility critical for health and safety of the public and environment” is defined in the bill.