04/22/1996 02:32 PM Senate CRA

     CSHB 322(FIN) GRANTS FOR HOUSING FOR DISASTER VICTIMS                    
                                                                              
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TORGERSON  called the Senate Community & Regional Affairs           
 Committee meeting to order at 2:32 p.m., and brought CSHB 322(FIN)            
 before the committee as the first order of business.  He noted that           
 at the previous hearing on the legislation, concern was expressed             
 by the committee about this possibly being a new program and that             
 it would set an unlimited amount of money that could go forward for           
 disaster relief funds.                                                        
                                                                               
 CAROL CARROLL, Director, Administrative & Support Services                    
 Division, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, explained the            
 state already has programs that provide temporary housing, and the            
 only difference that the bill would make is that instead of the               
 department signing the leases and providing for rent for disaster             
 victims, they would give the victims the money and they would then            
 go and find their own rental units.  The department would stop                
 being a landlord or rental agent.                                             
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON asked how the department proposed handling some             
 of the concerns that the committee had about the possibility of               
 potential fraud if the grants were to be made directly to the                 
 individuals.  MS. CARROLL said the department would do an                     
 assessment of what the rental rates are in a community at the pre-            
 disaster rate and then come up with an amount they will provide               
 toward their monthly lodging.  If individuals choose to stay in a             
 higher rental unit, they would have to provide the difference over            
 the average rental rate, which is the way the program is run at the           
 present time.                                                                 
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked if disaster victims have to contact the                   
 department in advance and the department then tells them the game             
 rules before they can go out and commit the department to paying              
 for their temporary housing.  MS. CARROLL replied the individuals             
 have to come in and do an interview and establish their eligibility           
 before any assistance is provided.  She also acknowledged it is               
 exactly the way the federal government runs their program, and when           
 there is a federal declaration, then the federal government runs              
 the temporary housing program.                                                
                                                                               
 Number 100                                                                    
                                                                               
 There being no further questions from the committee,  SENATOR                 
 TORGERSON asked for the will of the committee.                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS moved CSHB 322(FIN) be passed out of                   
 committee with individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection,             
 it was so ordered.