02/24/1994 01:40 PM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL NO. 421                                                           
                                                                               
       "An  Act  authorizing  grants  for  temporary   housing                 
       assistance during emergencies and disasters."                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
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  TIM SULLIVAN,  STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE MULDER spoke in support                 
  of HB 421.  He noted that the legislation  was introduced at                 
  the request of the state  of Alaska's Division of  Emergency                 
  Services.  He  explained that  under current state  statute,                 
  people that  are displaced from  their homes during  a state                 
  declared disaster  must have temporary  housing arrangements                 
  negotiated individually by  the Department  of Military  and                 
  Veterans Affairs.  He  observed that this can be  a lengthy,                 
  tedious process.  He  observed that  the  Federal  Emergency                 
  Management  Agency  makes   grants  directly  to   displaced                 
  individuals who make their own housing arrangements.                         
                                                                               
  Mr. Sullivan noted that HB 421 adds language to AS 26.23.100                 
  to allow the Division  of Emergency Services the ability  to                 
  grant funds to displaced people for temporary housing during                 
  state declared disasters.  Eligibility for these funds would                 
  be determined  by criteria  established by  the Division  of                 
  Emergency Services.  He asserted that the change will result                 
  in  a  more efficient  response  to temporary  housing needs                 
  during a state declared disaster.                                            
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  MacLean MOVED  to report HB  421 out  of Committee                 
  with individual  recommendations and  with the  accompanying                 
  fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                  
                                                                               
  HB 421  MOVED was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"                 
  recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department                 
  of Military and Veterans Affairs, dated 2/14/94.