FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2267

                         C 251 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating the disaster response account.

Sponsors:  Representatives Huff, H. Sommers, Hatfield, Kessler, Lambert, Ogden, Dickerson, Kenney and Wensman; by request of Office of Financial Management.

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Washington experienced five major natural disasters during the 1995-97 biennium that resulted in millions of dollars worth of damages to public and private property.  Because of the magnitude of the damages, presidential disaster declarations were granted.  The Emergency Management Division in the Military Department, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers state and local disaster recovery efforts.

Once the President declares a disaster, the state becomes eligible for federal assistance under programs administered by the FEMA.  To receive federal assistance under one of these programs, 25 percent matching funds are usually required.  During the 1995-97 biennium, the Legislature transferred general fund money to the flood control assistance account to pay for state and local matching funds.  The flood control assistance account is administered by the Department of Ecology and is used to provide grants to local governments for flood control planning and structures.

Summary:  A disaster response account is created in the state treasury.  Moneys may be appropriated from the account only to support state agency and local government disaster response and recovery efforts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  90 0

Senate 47 0

Effective:May 5,  1997