SSB 3061 (LSB 5300DP (3) 90)

SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BILL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to disaster aid including the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 29C.2, Code 2024, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5A.  “Local administrative entity” means a countywide provider, or a provider of a statewide program with local offices throughout the state, contracted for the administration of the disaster aid individual assistance grant program and the disaster case advocacy program.
    Sec. 2.  Section 29C.20A, subsection 2, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   The grant funds shall be administered by the department. The department shall adopt rules to create the Iowa disaster aid individual assistance grant program. The rules shall specify the eligibility of applicants and eligible items for grant funding. The executive council shall use grant funds to reimburse the department for its actual expenses associated with the administration of the grants. The department may implement an ongoing contract with a provider or providers of a statewide program with local offices throughout the state to serve as the local administrative entity for the grant program so that the program can be implemented with minimal delay when a disaster occurs in a local area. The rules adopted by the department for the program shall include but are not limited to all of the following:
    Sec. 3.  Section 29C.20A, subsection 3, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  To be eligible for a grant, an applicant shall have an annual household income that is less than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level based on the number of people in the applicant’s household as defined by the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services. The amount of a grant for a household shall not exceed five seven thousand dollars. Expenses eligible for grant funding shall be limited to personal property, home repair, food assistance, and temporary housing assistance. An applicant for a grant shall sign an affidavit committing to refund any part of the grant that is duplicated by any other assistance, such as but not limited to insurance or assistance from community development groups, charities, the small business administration, and the federal emergency management agency.
    Sec. 4.  Section 29C.20B, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  The executive council may make financial grants to meet disaster-related case advocacy needs of disaster-affected individuals. The aggregate total of grants awarded shall not be more than one million dollars during a fiscal year. However, within the same fiscal year, additional funds may be specifically authorized by the executive council to meet additional needs. Upon request of the department, the executive council may make available up to one hundred thousand dollars, or so much as is necessary, for contract entity staff support and case management advocacy training.
    Sec. 5.  Section 29C.20B, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  The department shall administer disaster case advocacy grants. The department shall establish a disaster case advocacy program and adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A necessary to administer the program. The executive council shall use grant moneys to reimburse the department for actual expenses associated with the administration of the grants. Under the program, the department shall coordinate case advocacy services locally through one or more contracted entities. The department may implement an ongoing contract with a provider of a statewide program with local offices throughout the state to serve as the local administrative entity for the grant program to allow implementation of the program with minimal delay following a governor’s proclamation of a state of disaster emergency or a declaration of a major disaster by the president of the United States.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program.
   A disaster aid individual assistance grant fund exists in the state treasury to meet disaster-related expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a disaster. Current law provides that the department of homeland security and emergency management (department) shall administer the grant funds and shall adopt rules to create the Iowa disaster aid individual assistance grant program.
   The bill authorizes the department to implement an ongoing contract with a local administrative entity for the grant program so that the program can be implemented with minimal delay when a disaster occurs in a local area.
   Current law limits the grant amount for a household to $5,000. The bill increases the grant limit per household to $7,000.
   A disaster case advocacy grant fund exists in the state to meet disaster-related case advocacy needs of disaster-affected individuals. Current law requires the department to administer disaster case advocacy grants and establish a disaster case advocacy program. Under the program, the department shall coordinate case advocacy services locally through one or more contracted entities.
   The bill authorizes the department to implement an ongoing contract with a local administrative entity for the grant program to allow implementation of the program with minimal delay following a governor’s proclamation of a state of disaster emergency or a declaration of a major disaster by the president of the United States.
   The bill defines “local administrative entity” as a countywide provider, or a provider of a statewide program with local offices throughout the state, contracted for the administration of the disaster aid individual assistance grant program and the disaster case advocacy program.