State of Alaska
Fiscal Note
Bill Version: CSSB 236(FIN)
2024 Legislative Session
Fiscal Note Number: 2
(S) Publish Date: 4/19/2024
Identifier: SB236-MVA-DHSEM-04-18-24 Department: Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs
Title: GRANTS TO DISASTER VICTIMS Appropriation: Military and Veterans' Affairs
Sponsor: KIEHL Allocation: Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Requester: (S) Finance OMB Component Number: 2657
Expenditures/Revenues
Note: Amounts do not include inflation unless otherwise noted below. (Thousands of Dollars)
Included in
FY2025 Governor's
Appropriation FY2025 Out-Year Cost Estimates
Requested Request
OPERATING EXPENDITURES FY 2025 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 FY 2030
Personal Services *** *** *** *** *** ***
Travel
Services
Commodities
Capital Outlay
Grants & Benefits
Miscellaneous
Total Operating *** 0.0 *** *** *** *** ***
Fund Source (Operating Only)
None
Total *** 0.0 *** *** *** *** ***
Positions
Full-time *** *** *** *** *** ***
Part-time *** *** *** *** *** ***
Temporary *** *** *** *** *** ***
Change in Revenues
None *** *** *** *** *** ***
Total *** 0.0 *** *** *** *** ***
Estimated SUPPLEMENTAL (FY2024) cost: 0.0 (separate supplemental appropriation required)
Estimated CAPITAL (FY2025) cost: 0.0 (separate capital appropriation required)
Does the bill create or modify a new fund or account? No
(Supplemental/Capital/New Fund - discuss reasons and fund source(s) in analysis section)
ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS
Does the bill direct, or will the bill result in, regulation changes adopted by your agency? No
If yes, by what date are the regulations to be adopted, amended or repealed? n/a
Why this fiscal note differs from previous version/comments:
Amended to include additional information and calculations for consideration.
Prepared By: Angela Laflamme Phone: (907)428-6007
Division: Office of the Commissioner
REPORT Date: 04/18/2024
ED
SFC 04/1 OUT OF
Approved By: Bob Ernisse Date: 04/18/24
Agency: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
8/2024
Printed 4/19/2024 Page 1 of 2 Control Code: SCNCQ
 CSSB 236(FIN) - Fiscal Note 2
FISCAL NOTE ANALYSIS
STATE OF ALASKA BILL NO. SB236
2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Analysis
This legislation changes existing individual assistance program statutes by creating a decision structure with two different
payment options dependent on a federal presidential disaster declaration. This change may cause a significant delay in the
timeline for State provided disaster relief to victims until a federal decision is made; currently, there is no deadline for
when a federal presidential disaster declaration must be proclaimed.
The State Individual Assistance Program mirrors 42 USC 5174(h). The U.S. Code allows for two separate grant payments to
be made, one for housing repair or replacement, and one for other needs assistance. Therefore, the State program makes
payment under 6 AAC 94.200‐900 for two programs, housing repair or replacement and essential personal property loss.
SB 236 would authorize the State program to make payments to individuals and families up to a maximum total amount of
$50,000 for both grant payments. We would interpret this amount to be distributed equally between the two existing
grant payments for a current payment amount of up to $25,000 for housing repair or replacement and up to $25,000 for
other needs assistance for a total maximum benefit amount of $50,000.
A generic disaster scenario is provided for comparison. For ease of illustration in this scenario, there were 100 individuals
or families (20 being unit owners that have common expense liabilities), and all 100 have sufficient damage as to warrant a
maximum grant for housing assistance and a maximum grant for other needs assistance.
Under SB 236, assuming a federal disaster is not declared, the State would pay $5,000,000 in total assistance using State
funds (100 applicants times $25,000 for housing assistance + $25,000 for other needs assistance)
In comparison, under current statutes and regulations, when a federal disaster is not declared, the State would pay
$4,250,000 in total assistance using State funds (100 applicants times $21,250 for housing assistance + $21,250 for other
needs assistance)
Once a State declared disaster reaches a certain threshhold, a request for a federal disaster declaration is submitted.
Under current statutes and regulations, when a federal disaster is declared, there is a shared cost for assistance, for a total
of $7,435,500 in federal funding and $1,062,500 in State funding:
100 applicants times $42,500 for housing assistance = $4,250,000 (100% federal funding)
100 applicants times $42,500 for other needs assistance = $4,250,000 (75% fed 25% State ‐ $3,187,500 federal and
$1,062,500 State)
The proposed legislation creates increased complex decision points, making it difficult to calculate the exact impact it
would have on disaster victims. Decisions are based on a disaster being of sufficient severity to be declared a State
disaster, and subsequently whether or not the State would request, and the President would grant, a federal disaster.
Because it is difficult to predict the amount of assistance needed in a given year, the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs submits this indeterminate fiscal note.
We don't anticipate any increase for additional staff time or personnel to carry out this change within the Department.
(Revised 10/31/2023 OMB/LFD) Page 2 of 2
SB236-MVA-DHSEM-04-18-24 Page 2 of 2 Control Code: SCNCQ


Statutes affected:
SB0236A, AM SB 236, introduced 02/15/2024: 26.23.090, U.S.C
SB0236B, AM CSSB 236(FIN), introduced 04/19/2024: 26.23.090, U.S.C