Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee
HB 2020
Brief Description: Creating a state administered public infrastructure assistance program within the emergency management division.
Sponsors: Representatives Timmons, Abbarno, Leavitt, Ryu, Ramel, Reed, Ormsby, Rule, Donaghy, Doglio, Cheney, Reeves, Wylie, Paul and Shavers; by request of Military Department.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes the Military Department to administer a program for emergency assistance to county governments and federally recognized tribes that experience public infrastructure damage due to a natural, technological, or human-caused disaster.
Hearing Date: 1/10/24
Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).
Background:

The Military Department (Department), under the direction of the state's Adjutant General, is responsible for administering a comprehensive emergency management program for the state.  Each political subdivision of the state must establish or jointly create a local organization for carrying out emergency management functions in accordance with the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

 

The Adjutant General is required to administer a state program for emergency assistance to individuals who are victims of a natural, technological, or human-caused disaster.  The emergency assistance program may include grants, loans, gifts of services, equipment, supplies, or funds to individuals who need assistance and who meet certain eligibility standards.
Summary of Bill:

The Adjutant General is authorized to administer a program for emergency assistance to county governments and federally recognized tribes that experience public infrastructure damage due to a natural, technological, or human-caused disaster.

 

"Public infrastructure assistance" is defined to mean supplementary state assistance provided to county, local, and federally recognized tribal governments or certain private, nonprofit organizations when authorized under an emergency proclamation of the Governor for the cost of disaster-related public property debris removal, emergency protective measures to protect life and property, and permanent repair work to damaged or destroyed public infrastructure.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 3, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.