HR1650: HR1650 House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans; create

26 LC 63 0142 House Resolution 1650 By: Representatives Bonner of the 73rd and Crowe of the 118th A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Local Government Emergenc y Disaster Relief1 Loans; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, local governments often require financial assistance when faced with federally3 declared disasters, and it is important that such governments receive such assistance quickly;4 and5 WHEREAS, the federal government operates a funding program thro ugh the Federal6 Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide reimbursement to local governments7 for eligible disaster-related expenses when there is a federall y declared disaster and such8 government is located in the disaster relief area designated by FEMA; and9 WHEREAS, because the FEMA program is a reimbursement program, s uch local10 governments must incur or pay eligible disaster-related expense s up front subject to later11 reimbursement from FEMA; however, many local governments lack s ufficient funding to12 bridge the gap between initial emergency expenditures and the s ubsequent receipt of13 reimbursements from FEMA; and14 H. R. 1650 - 1 - 26 LC 63 0142 WHEREAS, some states have created bridge loan programs to provide financial assistance15 to local governments when qualifying disasters occur so that such governments can pay for16 disaster-related expenses up front and then repay the loan to t he state once the local17 government receives reimbursement from FEMA; and18 WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to undertake a study to evaluate the feasibility of creating19 a bridge loan program in this state to assist local governments with disaster relief while they20 await reimbursement from FEMA, including review of similar prog rams in other states,21 evaluation of how such a program could be funded and operated i n this state, and22 consideration of whether any changes to current law may be warranted.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:24 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee25 on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans.26 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the27 House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of28 Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson29 of the committee.30 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,31 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or32 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.33 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee34 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or35 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and36 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.37 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive38 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia39 H. R. 1650 - 2 - 26 LC 63 0142 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any40 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.41 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds42 appropriated to the House of Representatives.43 (6) Report.44 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that45 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the46 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to47 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.48 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for49 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)50 of this paragraph.51 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of52 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.53 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with54 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.55 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the56 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu57 thereof.58 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.59 H. R. 1650 - 3 -