SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6654
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
State & Local Government, February 7, 2002
Title: An act relating to homeland security.
Brief Description: Providing funds for emergency management.
Sponsors: Senators Kastama and Rasmussen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State & Local Government: 2/4/02, 2/7/02 [DP‑WM].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, Kline, McCaslin, Roach and Swecker.
Staff: Mac Nicholson (786‑7445)
Background: Some feel that portions of Washington State may face significant threats from terrorism based upon their political, symbolic, or economic significance.
Summary of Bill: Two million dollars is appropriated each fiscal biennium for the Military Department to be provided as homeland security grants to political subdivisions of the state. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, $2 million, or as much as is necessary, is appropriated for the grants. Grants are awarded to up to ten jurisdictions annually, on a prioritized basis, that have established emergency management programs. The priorities are based on existing threat and vulnerability assessments approved by the Military Department. The grants may be used for funding full-time counterterrorism coordinators, terrorism consequence planning, training, exercises, and other resources. The grants are not used to supplant or replace existing state or local emergency management funding.
Appropriation: $2 million.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: Local emergency management agencies need funding to prevent and respond to terrorist activities.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Eric Holdeman, King County, WA State Emergency Management Assn.; T.J. Harmon, Island Co., WA State Emergency Management Assn.; Sophia Bird, WA State Assn. of Counties; Jim Justin, AWC.