HB 2091 -- Emergency Management

Sponsor:  Weter

This bill requires all individuals and business owners in
Missouri who have insured real property to annually pay a
disaster mitigation fee in the amount of $1 per policy.  The fee
will be collected by the insurer and paid on a monthly basis to
the Director of the Department of Revenue who will deposit the
money in the newly created Emergency Management, Preparedness,
and Assistance Trust Fund.  The fund will consist of
appropriations, federal funds, gifts, and donations.  The elderly
and people with disabilities who qualify or may qualify in the
future for property tax exemptions and reductions as a result of
the Homestead Preservation Act are exempt from this fee.

Moneys in the trust fund cannot be used to replace the State
Emergency Management Agency's (SEMA) existing funding and,
subject to appropriations, must be allocated as follows:

(1)  60% to implement and administer state and local emergency
management programs, including training;

(2)  20% to provide state relief assistance for non-federally
declared disasters to assist disaster victims; and

(3)  20% for grants to local governments and private
organizations to implement projects that will further state and
local emergency management objectives.  These projects include
community disaster education or disaster preparedness and
recovery issues, enhancing coordination of relief efforts of
statewide private sector organizations, and improving the
training and operations capabilities of agencies assigned lead or
support responsibilities in the state comprehensive emergency
management plan.  No more than 5% of any money awarded for these
activities can be used for administrative costs.

The distribution ratio can be adjusted proportionally when
necessary to meet any matching requirements imposed as a
condition of receiving federal disaster relief assistance or
planning funds.

The bill also specifies specific rules which must be adopted by
SEMA in order to allocate money from the trust fund to local
emergency management agencies.  Some of these rules are:

(1)  The local agency must have a program director who works a
minimum of 40 hours per week in that capacity;

(2)  The match requirements must be specified;

(3)  There must be preferential funding for counties and
municipalities that participate in mutual aid agreements; and

(4)  There must be preferential funding to counties and
municipalities that develop outcome-based outreach to special
needs populations.

If adequate funds are available, every county will receive
funding sufficient to pay for a dedicated, full-time emergency
preparedness officer.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:45 am