Relating to the funding of local emergency management commissions and agencies

17, a local emergency management agency’s approved budget is funded by one or any combination of several funding options, as determined by the local emergency management commission (commission). This bill restricts the funding options for the local emergency management agency budget to be fully funded by a per capita allocation from the city general fund and the rural services levy. The bill moves the date for the commission to adopt and certify the budget for the local emergency management agency from February each year to February 1. The bill specifies that if the county funded the emergency management program using funds from the county general services levy or the county general services supplemental levy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, the amount levied under such levies for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, shall not exceed the amount levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Currently, a county may certify a supplemental levy for the maintenance and operation of a local emergency management agency, among other purposes for the levy. The bill strikes the emergency management agency provision and provides the supplemental levy may be used for the maintenance and operation of a joint 911 service board. The bill strikes a provision that allows appropriations from a county’s general fund for general county services to be used to pay expenses for a local emergency management commission. The bill specifies appropriations from the rural services fund for rural county services may include expenses for a local emergency management agency.