SB493: relative to establishing municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund to aid municipalities in a natural disaster.

SB 493-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2024 SESSION

24-2899

11/10

SENATE BILL 493-FN

AN ACT relative to establishing municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund to aid municipalities in a natural disaster.

SPONSORS: Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30

COMMITTEE: Finance

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes the municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund in the division of homeland security and emergency management to aid municipalities in a natural disaster.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2899

11/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to establishing municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund to aid municipalities in a natural disaster.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Fund. Amend RSA 21-P by inserting after section 46-a the following new section:

21-P:46-b Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Fund.

I. There is established a nonlapsing fund to be known as the municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund, which shall be credited and continually appropriated to the director of the division of homeland security and emergency management for disaster relief. The fund shall be kept distinct and separate from all other funds. The fund shall be used solely to fund loans to municipalities affected by natural disasters.

II. Loans from the fund shall be available for a period not to exceed 5 years at a zero percent interest rate. In the event FEMA funds and other relevant disaster relief funds cannot be obtained, any loan shall be paid in full within 5 years of the loan closing date. Municipalities shall, in good faith, seek other grants from state and federal sources to repay their loans in a timely fashion. After 5 years, unpaid funds will accrue interest at the current prime rate, as adjusted each year on January 1 to reflect any rate changes, and must be paid off within 10 years.

III. The director of the division of homeland security and emergency management shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A regarding implementation and execution of this section.

2 Appropriation; Department of Safety; Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Fund. There is hereby appropriated to the department of safety, division of homeland security and emergency management the sum of $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 to be deposited in the municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund under RSA 21-P:46-b for the purpose of loans to municipalities affected by natural disasters. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for $5,000,000 out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (394) the following new subparagraph:

(395) Moneys deposited in the municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund as established in RSA 21-P:46-b.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

LBA

24-2899

Revised 1/23/24

SB 493-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to establishing municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund to aid municipalities in a natural disaster.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Revenue

$0

Loan Fund -

$5,000,000 From General Fund in FY 2025

Loan Fund -

Indeterminable Program Activity

Revenue Fund(s)

Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Fund

Expenditures

$0

General Fund -

$5,000,000 to Loan Fund in FY 2025

DOS Positions - $409K in FY25, $400K in FY26,

and $413K in FY27

Loan Fund -

Indeterminable Program Activity

Funding Source(s)

General Fund, Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Fund

Appropriations

$0

$5,000,000

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

General Fund

• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No

• Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Local Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund to be administered by the Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This bill provides an initial one-time general fund appropriation of $5,000,000 (FY 2025) for the program, which shall be zero interest for loans paid back within five years. It cannot be predicted how much may be lent or paid back, or in which fiscal years. The Department states it would need five (5) new positions to administer this loan program:

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

(1) Supervisor III, LG 23

$91,000

$90,000

$93,000

(2) Program Planner II, LG 21

$172,000

$168,000

$174,000

(2) Program Assistant II, LG 15

$146,000

$142,000

$146,000

(5) Total Positions

$409,000

$400,000

$413,000

It should be noted that this bill provides neither appropriation nor authorization for new personnel.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety