Virginia Resiliency Grant Program and Fund; established and created.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3.2 of Title 44 a section numbered
44-146.29:5
, relating to Virginia Resiliency Grant Program and Fund; established.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 3.2 of Title 44 a section numbered
44-146.29:5
as follows:
§
44-146.29:5
. Virginia Resiliency Grant Program and Fund.
A. For purposes of this section:
"Eligible costs" means costs incurred implementing (i) disaster and emergency recovery, mitigation, and planning; (ii) any training and equipment used for such recovery, mitigation, and planning; and (iii) emergency management operational costs, including staffing and administrative support.
"Local governing body" means the governing body of a locality in which there occurred a disaster or emergency, as those terms are defined by §
44-146.16
.
B. The Department of Emergency Management (the Department) shall establish the Virginia Resiliency Grant Program (the Program) to assist localities with eligible costs resulting from those emergencies for which federal assistance under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.) is unavailable.
C. Subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, the Department shall award local governing bodies a grant of up to $100,000 on a first-come, first-served basis to assist localities with eligible costs resulting from those emergencies for which federal assistance under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.) is unavailable. The Department shall prioritize awarding grants to local governing bodies that did not receive an award pursuant to the Program in the previous fiscal year.

D. The Department shall establish and administer the Program for the purposes of assisting localities in alleviating the effects of a disaster or emergency. The Department shall establish guidelines and procedures for determining whether and to what extent grants will be made available to localities. Such guidelines and procedures shall require a local governing body to submit an application to the Department, which shall include a summary of the requested funds and their proposed purpose. Such guidelines may establish a tiered grant system to award higher amounts to local governing bodies experiencing substantial infrastructure damage, housing loss, or repeated disasters or emergencies. In determining grant eligibility and award amounts, the Department shall consider localized and regional damage assessments, including the economic conditions of affected communities, rather than relying solely on statewide indicators or aggregate damage thresholds.
E. The Department may establish a Virginia Disaster Individual Assistance Program to support households impacted by disasters or emergencies for which federal individual assistance is unavailable or insufficient. Such assistance may include aid for housing stabilization, repair, temporary relocation, or other essential recovery needs.
F. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Resiliency Grant Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of (i) awarding grants pursuant to subsection C and (ii) administering a Virginia Disaster Individual Assistance Program, if applicable. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the State Coordinator of Emergency Management.