BILL NUMBER: S3466
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure that communities with residual or worsening damage related to
a natural disaster have an opportunity to request additional funds to
address these ongoing issues.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Executive law is amended by adding a new section 720 estab-
lishing the Disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program.
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, several unprecedented natural disasters have wrought
havoc on communities across our state. From tropical storms Irene, Lee
and Hurricane Sandy to the widespread flooding that have and are
currently striking upstate communities, weather related natural disas-
ters have impacted nearly every corner of our state in recent years. The
state and federal response to these disasters has gone a long way
towards ensuring that our communities were and are able to get back on
their feet. However, many communities still have critical disaster-re-
lated infrastructure needs that have not yet been addressed.
The true extent of the damage to physical infrastructure is not always
apparent during initial assessments. Damage to drainage systems, subter-
ranean erosion, and salt-water damage are often missed immediately
following a disaster and may not become apparent until months or years
later. When latent damage is discovered, it can be difficult for commu-
nities to secure the additional resources they need.
This bill addresses this challenge by making additional disaster recov-
ery funds available for up to 7 years after a declaration of a state of
emergency by the Governor. Municipalities can apply for assistance in
amounts up to 10 percent of the sum of any disaster relief aid previous-
ly received by that municipality from state and federal sources, but not
more than $10 million dollars in any calendar year. This aid is intended
to specifically address latent damage to infrastructure.
This bill recognizes that disaster recovery is a long- term process and
seeks to ensure that communities continue to have access to the
resources they need to maintain the safety and integrity of their public
infrastructure.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.3202 referred to Finance/A.3368 referred to Governmental
Operations
2021-2022: S.2251 referred to Finance/A.8525 referred to Governmental
Operations
2019-2020: S. 2083 referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs
2017-2018: S.3029-B passed Senate
2016: S.5182-A passed Senate/A.7352-A died in Governmental Operations
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is author-
ized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.