Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/07/1996 01:40 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL 322
"An Act authorizing grants for temporary housing
assistance during emergencies and disasters.
GEORGE DOZIER, AID, REPRESENTATIVE PETE KOTT advised that HB
322 had been introduced to improve the administration of
temporary housing during state declared disaster
emergencies. The legislation was introduced in the 1994
session as HB 421, and passed the House on March 14, 1994 by
40-0. It died in the Senate Rules Committee at the end of
the 1994 Legislative session.
Mr. Dozier noted that the bill would increase the efficiency
of the Division of Emergency Services by removing an
unnecessary administrative burden required by current
statutory language. Current statutes do not authorize DMVA
to make grants to individuals for providing temporary
housing during disasters. The Division of Emergency
Services is therefore required to provide housing directly
to individuals, by assigning staff to contact housing
providers, arrange for leases, renew lease arrangements
periodically as needed, and generally act as an intermediary
between the lessor and the persons using the temporary
housing. He continued, that task is administratively
burdensome and increases the cost of administering the
temporary housing program.
Mr. Dozier continued, federal disasters allow granting of
funds direct to individuals for them to make their own
temporary housing arrangements. Temporary housing in
federal disasters is paid 100% by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
To adopt language to authorize the State to grant funds for
temporary housing in state disasters would reduce
administrative costs, remove liability for the State as a
lessor, and reduce government involvement in personal
issues. By making an immediate temporary housing grant
award payment to eligible applicants, would allow each
family in a State disaster to secure housing which best fits
their housing needs.
Mr. Dozier summarized that two State disasters have occurred
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recently which have required the provision of temporary
housing; the Kodiak storm disaster of November, 1991, and
the Tenakee fire disaster of July, 1993.
CAROL CAROL, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS, testified in
support of HB 322, noting that it would make operations more
smooth for the Department. She requested a change be made
to Page 1, Line 14, deleting "or" and adding the language
"or any other source". Line 14 would then read: "Agency,
under private insurance or any other source; as a condition
of accepting housing". She noted that addition of that
language would allow the Department to apply any sources of
help which a victim could need.
Representative Brown asked if the new language would include
relatives, friends and neighbors. Ms. Carol explained it
would and that it would also include the Red Cross. The
Department would interview the individual to access the
needs. The individual would be reimbursed if they were
renting a home temporarily, but if they were staying with
family, the Department would not reimburse them.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED the conceptual amendment (Amendment
was adopted.
Ms. Carol agreed with Co-Chair Hanley that the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would make direct grants.
This legislation would cover those persons who do not
qualify for grants under federal law.
Co-Chair Hanley asked the amount the legislation would
increase State spending. Ms. Carol thought that it would
reduce costs of disasters. At the present time if there
were a disaster, the State would provide temporary housing,
acting as the rental agent. She reiterated that the
legislation would create less cost to the State. Co-Chair
Hanley clarified, the legislation would increase the
availability and ease in which people get housing following
a disaster, while reducing the amount of money that the
State would have to spend.
Representative Therriault questioned how the administrative
function would be paid for. Ms. Carol replied, that the
funding would "kick in" when there was a disaster and would
be used by the Department to hire temporary employees to
address needs resulting from the disaster. Co-Chair Hanley
reminded Committee members that some of those costs would be
reimbursed by the federal government.
Ms. Carol responded to Representative Kelly's question,
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noting that grants would be distributed following an
interview with the person suffering the loss, inquire if
that party has private insurance, provide a market analysis
of the area rental fees, and then allow them a grant to
cover housing needs for three months. She emphasized that
there is a cap to the amount granted. The program is
available to all victims without homes during disasters, not
just veterans. The Division of Emergency Services is
located within the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs.
Representative Kohring questioned the objection indicated
previously by the Senate Rules Committee. Ms. Carol
understood that in the 1994 Legislation, a limit had been
placed on the amount of money available for temporary
housing. At that time, the Department decided that the
legislation could not work that way. The Department then
considered time not money to be the determining factor,
explaining that it would be unfair to have one statewide
limit placed on temporary housing.
Representative Navarre MOVED to report CS HB 322 (FIN) out
of Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTIONS, it was
so ordered.
CS HB 322 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
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