Bill > AB262

This bill establishes the California Individual Assistance Act, which creates a new state-level disaster assistance program designed to help local agencies, community-based organizations, and individuals who do not qualify for federal disaster assistance due to insufficient damage thresholds. The bill requires the Director of Emergency Services to prioritize funding for entities that cannot access federal aid through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The new program will provide financial assistance for various disaster-related expenses, including personnel costs, equipment, translation services, housing repairs, income losses, medical expenses, and other needs not covered by insurance or other financial resources. The types of disasters covered include fires, floods, earthquakes, terrorist acts, epidemics, extreme weather events, and other calamities that the Governor determines threaten public safety. Notably, the bill requires legislative appropriation for funding and mandates that the director develop specific regulations for program administration, including eligibility requirements and application procedures. Applicants must apply within 60 days of a local emergency proclamation, and the director can develop procedures for expedited fund advances. The bill is classified as an urgency statute, meaning it will take effect immediately to help mitigate the impacts of recent disasters on California residents.

Budget and Finance, Military Affairs and Security

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB262