Measure adjusts funding levels for natural disaster relief
The House of Representatives recently approved a bill introduced by state Rep. Mike McCready that expedites the state emergency response process, helping to ensure communities receive assistance more quickly during natural disasters.
House Bill 4670 adjusts statutory funding levels for the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund to a minimum of $1 million and a maximum of $8.5 million. The bill also provides that any unused funds would remain in reserve for future use.
The measure was passed by a unanimous vote in the House.
Michigan has spent more than $12 million responding to disasters since 2005, including $3.1 million for the Duck Lake fire in 2012. In the past, legislative action was required to authorize relief. By increasing funding levels, House Bill 4670 would eliminate the need, in most cases, for the Legislature to appropriate funds for disaster response.
“Natural disasters have a considerable impact on residents, communities and state resources,” said McCready, R-Bloomfield Hills. “By maintaining the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund at a higher level than in the past, we can improve our response time and make sure that our communities get the funds they need more rapidly. No community should have to wait for a bill to be passed in order to get help from the state.”
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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