DOA:......Stinebrink, BB0080 - Costs eligible for disaster assistance payment grants
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
MILITARY AFFAIRS
Costs eligible for disaster assistance payment grants
Under current law, DMA may make payments from state disaster assistance appropriation accounts to eligible local governmental units for costs that are a direct result of certain disasters, including eligible costs of debris removal; certain emergency protective measures for the protection of life, public health, and property; and certain damage to roads and bridges. This bill directs that the costs eligible for such payments include certain categories of work designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s public assistance program, including the program’s Category D, regarding water control facilities; Category E, regarding public buildings and contents; Category F, regarding public utilities; and Category G, regarding parks, recreation, and other facilities.
Under current law, DMA may also make payments from a state disaster assistance appropriation account to local governmental units for the damages and costs incurred as the result of a disaster if 1) the disaster is not eligible for other funding related to a presidentially declared “major disaster,” or 2) DMA determines the disaster does not meet a certain per capita impact indicator. Additionally, the local governmental unit receiving the payment must pay for 30 percent of the amount of damages and costs resulting from the disaster. The bill requires DMA to provide a $68,100 payment in fiscal year 2025-26 from the same state disaster assistance appropriation account to the Town of Westport, exempts the payment from the program’s eligibility requirement, and exempts the town from the 30 percent payment requirement.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 323.31 of the statutes is amended to read:
323.31 State disaster assistance. From the appropriations under s. 20.465 (3) (b) and (s), the adjutant general shall make payments to retail electric cooperatives, as defined in s. 16.957 (1) (t), to local governmental units, as defined in s. 19.42 (7u), and to federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands in this state for the damages and costs incurred as the result of a disaster if federal disaster assistance is not available for that disaster because the governor’s request that the president declare the disaster a major disaster under 42 USC 5170 has been denied or because the disaster, as determined by the department of military affairs, does not meet the statewide or countywide per capita impact indicator under the public assistance program that is issued by the federal emergency management agency. To be eligible for a payment under this section, the retail electric cooperative, local governmental unit, or tribe or band shall pay 30 percent of the amount of the damages and costs resulting from the disaster. Costs eligible for payment under this section shall include the categories of work designated by the federal emergency management agency’s public assistance program as Category D, regarding water control facilities; Category E, regarding public buildings and contents; Category F, regarding public utilities; and Category G, regarding parks, recreation, and other facilities. The department of military affairs shall promulgate rules establishing the application process and the criteria for determining eligibility for payments under this section. Section 9131. Nonstatutory provisions; Military Affairs.
(1) Payment to the Town of Westport for disaster assistance. Notwithstanding the requirements under s. 323.31, from the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (b), in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the department of military affairs shall provide a payment of $68,100 to the Town of Westport to reimburse the costs incurred from storm damage.
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