HR 1650: House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans; create

House Resolution 1650

By: Representatives Bonner of the 73rd and Crowe of the 118th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, local governments often require financial assistance when faced with federally declared disasters, and it is important that such governments receive such assistance quickly; and

WHEREAS, the federal government operates a funding program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide reimbursement to local governments for eligible disaster-related expenses when there is a federally declared disaster and such government is located in the disaster relief area designated by FEMA; and

WHEREAS, because the FEMA program is a reimbursement program, such local governments must incur or pay eligible disaster-related expenses up front subject to later reimbursement from FEMA; however, many local governments lack sufficient funding to bridge the gap between initial emergency expenditures and the subsequent receipt of reimbursements from FEMA; and

WHEREAS, some states have created bridge loan programs to provide financial assistance to local governments when qualifying disasters occur so that such governments can pay for disaster-related expenses up front and then repay the loan to the state once the local government receives reimbursement from FEMA; and

WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to undertake a study to evaluate the feasibility of creating a bridge loan program in this state to assist local governments with disaster relief while they await reimbursement from FEMA, including review of similar programs in other states, evaluation of how such a program could be funded and operated in this state, and consideration of whether any changes to current law may be warranted.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.