HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2610
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to disaster relief.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that on August 8, 2023, wildfires devastated Lahaina and parts of upcountry Maui.  Assistance from Hawaii and the mainland rushed to support Maui and has continued into recovery.  In particular, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided response support and offers recovery assistance via several programs, including the hazard mitigation grant program.  This grant program funds projects that assist communities to build back better and stronger as well as reduce future damage from natural hazards statewide.  However, the grant program requires a match from non-federal funds and the current estimate of hazard mitigation grant program funding under the Maui wildfire disaster (FEMA-DR-4742-HI) is in excess of $150,000,000.  In previous disasters, many potential applicants have faced difficulty planning for and identifying funds for the local match and will face similar difficulty in this instance.  This difficulty has been one of the primary impediments to the complete and efficient use of hazard mitigation grant program funding and warrants assistance from the State.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a disaster relief match special fund and appropriate funds to provide the local match requirements of the Maui wildfires hazard mitigation grant program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§127A‑     Disaster relief match special fund; established.  (a)  There is established the disaster relief match special fund into which shall be deposited appropriations by the legislature to the special fund.

     (b)  The disaster relief match special fund shall be administered and expended by the department of defense to provide the local match requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Maui wildfires hazard mitigation grant program (FEMA-DR-4742-HI).

     (c)  The department of defense:

     (1)  Shall evaluate applications for funding from the special fund;

     (2)  Shall recommend priority applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review, approval, and award; and

     (3)  May establish criteria for evaluating requests from potential applicants for matching support out of the special fund; provided that:

          (A)  The default level of matching support between the special fund and any other local source shall fifty-fifty; and

          (B)  If the department of defense identifies applicants as small, economically disadvantaged communities or groups, the department may provide the entire local match requirement from the special fund."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $25,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be deposited into the disaster relief match special fund.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the disaster relief match special fund the sum of $25,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide the local match requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Maui wildfires hazard mitigation grant program (FEMA-DR-4742-HI) for projects that implement mitigation measures to prevent and minimize the impacts the natural hazards affecting the State.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No.     , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $           or      per cent.  In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $           or      per cent.  The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $           or      per cent.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Maui Wildfires; FEMA; Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; Disaster Relief Match Special Fund; DOD; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

 

Description:

Establishes a disaster relief match special fund to support the local match requirements of the FEMA Maui Wildfires Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for projects that implement mitigation measures to prevent and minimize the impacts of natural hazards affecting the State.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

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