Relating to disaster aid including the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program

This bill relates to the disaster aid individual assistance grant fund and program and the disaster case advocacy grant fund and program. A disaster aid individual assistance grant fund exists in the state treasury to meet disaster-related expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a disaster. Current law provides that the department of homeland security and emergency management (department) shall administer the grant funds and shall adopt rules to create the Iowa disaster aid individual assistance grant program. The bill authorizes the department to implement an ongoing contract with a local administrative entity for the grant program so that the program can be implemented with minimal delay when a disaster occurs in a local area. Current law limits the grant amount for a household to $5,000. The bill increases the grant limit per household to $7,000. A disaster case advocacy grant fund exists in the state to meet disaster-related case advocacy needs of disaster-affected individuals. Current law requires the department to administer disaster case advocacy grants and establish a disaster case advocacy program. Under the program, the department shall coordinate case advocacy services locally through one or more contracted entities. The bill authorizes the department to implement an ongoing contract with a local administrative entity for the grant program to allow implementation of the program with minimal delay following a governor’s proclamation of a state of disaster emergency or a declaration of a major disaster by the president of the United States. The bill defines “local administrative entity” as a countywide provider, or a provider of a statewide program with local offices throughout the state, contracted for the administration of the disaster aid individual assistance grant program and the disaster case advocacy program.