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 2 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, 3 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.