Z-601                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5264

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Halsan, McCaslin, DeJarnatt, Zimmerman and Kiskaddon; by request of Department of Community Development

Read first time 1/21/87 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to disaster assistance; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds and declares that because of the increasing federal financial commitment requirements upon states requesting assistance under the disaster relief act of 1974 (Public Law 93-288) and other federal emergency and disaster programs, it is necessary to ensure that Washington state is able to move rapidly to fulfill such requirements for receiving federal assistance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The disaster assistance fund is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer.  Moneys in the fund may be expended when:

          (1) The governor proclaims a state of emergency under RCW 43.06.010; and

          (2) The President of the United States declares a major disaster under the disaster relief act of 1974 (Public Law 93-288) or emergency to provide federal assistance; or

          (3) State financial contribution is required in order to receive federal emergency or disaster assistance.

          All earnings of investments of balances in the disaster assistance fund shall be credited to the disaster assistance fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     State disaster assistance fund expenditures shall be supplemental to expenditures made by political subdivisions in responding to and recovering from emergencies and disasters in accordance with RCW 38.52.070(2) or federal disaster programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The governor shall administer the disaster assistance fund.  The governor or the governor's designee may expend funds from the disaster assistance fund for the following purposes:

          (1) To provide specific financial commitment requirements as required under the disaster relief act of 1974 (Public Law 93-288); and

          (2) To provide required commitment under other federal emergency and disaster programs.

          No appropriation is required for disbursements from the disaster assistance fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     The sum of two million dollars is hereby appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the disaster assistance fund to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 38.52 RCW.