This bill aims to provide disaster relief funding to municipalities affected by natural disasters. It establishes an emergency response and recovery fund to offer immediate liquidity to towns suffering from a disaster, allowing them time to apply for state or federal emergency funds. The bill amends RSA 4:47, III, granting the governor the power to declare a disaster in the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event in one or more municipalities. It also introduces a new section, RSA 21-P:37-e, which allows a municipality to request infrastructural disaster relief more than once a year but caps the grant money at $100,000 per calendar year. Requests must be filed within 45 days after the governor's declaration, and funds are to be distributed from the New Hampshire disaster relief fund.

The bill also amends RSA 21-P:46 to establish the New Hampshire emergency response and recovery fund, which will provide matching funds required to secure federal emergency management agency relief assistance grants for costs incurred in disasters declared by the president of the United States. Additionally, this fund will provide emergency funds to municipalities that have incurred damage from natural disasters. The fiscal note attached to the bill indicates that there is no new funding provided, and the impact of relief aid cannot be estimated. The Department of Safety would need one supervisor III position to administer the bill's provisions, with costs outlined for FY 2025 through FY 2027, but the bill does not authorize or fund new personnel. The current balance of the New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund is $45,292, and the bill does not provide an appropriation or mechanism for new funding. The bill's effective date is upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-P:4, 21-P:46, 21-P:46-a
As Amended by the House: 4:47, 21-P:46