BILL NUMBER: S7761
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to create the central New York extreme weather relief and resili-
ency grant program (Part A); expand and strengthen the resilient and
ready program (Part B); and establishes the central New York
property/casualty insurance resiliency incentive program (Part C)
 
PURPOSE:
To assist communities in Central New York that were impacted by rare
severe weather in 2024 and early 2025 and to ensure that communities are
prepared for further severe weather that may strike in the future.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Part A:
Section 1- Legislative findings- Sets forth the date of the Rome torna-
do- July 16, 2024, when a high-end EF2 tornado struck Rome, New York.
Enacts into law components of legislation relating to disaster relief
for extreme weather events in Central New York, long term climate resi-
lience property improvements, and insurance discounts for climate miti-
gation efforts from the disaster events detailed on July 16, 2024 and
further events in the range January 6, 2025 and February 25, 2025 when
extreme winter weather events struck Oneida, Madison, Herkimer, Ononda-
ga, Otsego and adjacent counties and caused significant storm damage.
This section also provides grants for small businesses, farms, owners of
multiple dwellings, homeowners associations and not-for-profit organiza-
tions that sustained direct physical damage under one of the covered
extreme weather events which they can apply for to cover repairs. The
Empire State Development Corporation will administer these grants.
Owners of residences are also eligible to apply if their residence
sustained damage.
Part B:
- Establishes the expanded resilient and ready program which includes
the expanded rapid response home repair program and the expanded resil-
ient retrofits program which would provide grants to homeowners impacted
by extreme weather events and longterm climate resilience improvements.
- Defines "extreme weather events."
- Sets the amount of the grants and that they will be administered by
the Division of Housing and Community Renewal.
- Sets that the renewal resilient retrofits program shall be expanded to
support long-term climate resilience improvements for snow and tornado-
related weather hazards.
Part C:
- Establishes the Central New York property/casualty insurance resilien-
cy incentive program to facilitate property/casualty insurance discounts
for mitigation efforts
- Property/casualty insurers in NY are encouraged to offer loss miti-
gation tools and services to policyholders for free or reduced cost
- The Department of Financial Services shall issue guidance to ensure
loss mitigation tools
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Central New York region has struggled with severe weather over the
past year. On July 16, 2024, a high-end EF2 tornado struck Rome, New
York causing significant damage across the city. From January 6, 2025,
through February 25, 2025, extreme winter weather ranging from high
winds to non-stop snow with blizzard like conditions tore through
Central New York causing roof collapses, ice dams and damage to struc-
tures. The higher frequency of these storms requires an update to our
storm recovery and mitigation efforts to ensure our municipalities and
citizens have the tools to prepare for severe weather and recover when
impacted.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately provided, however, that the
applicable effective date of Parts A through C of this act shall be as
specifically set forth in the last section of such Parts.