2010-01-19                     House Journal                      Page 1288
HB 292                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 292 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to grants to victims of a disaster in this state; and                                                     
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Military & Veterans' Affairs and the State Affairs and Finance                                                                  
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Military & Veterans' Affairs                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 8, 2010, follows:                                                               
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Chenault:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Art. III, Sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I                                                         
am transmitting a bill that increases the existing limit on State grants                                                        
for major disaster victims in the State of Alaska.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
This bill would change an existing limitation on the Governor's                                                                 
authority to issue assistance grants to victims of a major disaster in this                                                     
state, which has not been updated for nearly 20 years. Under current                                                            
law, when the Governor declares a disaster emergency, a grant can                                                               
only be provided to a victim of the disaster in this state in an amount                                                         
not to exceed $5,000. After witnessing the widespread disaster of the                                                           
2009 spring floods, it has become obvious that the maximum amount                                                               
of $5,000 per household is not enough to cover incurred costs from                                                              

2010-01-19                     House Journal                      Page 1289
damages in today's economy. It is clearly time to revise the limit and                                                          
give the State the ability to provide improved relief to victims of major                                                       
disasters in this state.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
This proposed legislation increases the maximum amount that can be                                                              
granted to a household in 2010 to $14,950 for a State-declared                                                                  
disaster. This is calculated by setting it at half of the amount of a                                                           
federally declared disaster. The amount will be adjusted each year                                                              
based upon the consumer price index.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this bill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                Sincerely,                                                                                     
                                /s/                                                                                             
                               Sean Parnell                                                                                    
                                 Governor"