S-3729.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6654

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Kastama and Rasmussen

Read first time 01/24/2002.  Referred to Committee on State & Local Government.

Providing funds for emergency management.

    AN ACT Relating to homeland security; adding a new section to chapter 38.52 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds portions of Washington state may face significant threats from terrorism based upon their political, symbolic, or economic significance.  The state is not currently providing funding to local emergency management agencies, while federal funds for emergency management purposes continue to decrease.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:

    The state shall provide two million dollars each fiscal biennium to the military department to be provided as homeland security grants to political subdivisions of the state in the manner provided in this section.

    (1) Grants shall be awarded to up to ten jurisdictions annually, on a prioritized basis, that have established emergency management programs.  The grant priorities shall be based on existing threat and vulnerability assessments approved by the military department.

    (2) Homeland security grants under this section may be used by political subdivisions for such purposes as funding full-time counterterrorism coordinators, terrorism consequence planning, training, exercises, and other resources.

    (3) Funding provided under this section shall not be used to supplant or replace existing state or local emergency management funding.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the military department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, to carry out the purposes of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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