Bill > HB544

This bill establishes the State Aid Funding for Emergencies 4860 (SAFE 4860) fund to provide financial support for areas impacted by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides in Kentucky that began on February 14, 2025. The fund, administered by the Department of Military Affairs' Division of Emergency Management, can receive state appropriations, gifts, grants, and other funds, and will remain active until June 30, 2028. Eligible recipients include local governments, nonprofit and public utilities, state agencies, and school districts with disaster-related needs. The fund can support expenses such as replacing or renovating publicly owned buildings, reimbursing emergency response services, repairing infrastructure, and assisting local school districts with recovery efforts. Recipients must document their applications for other potential reimbursements like federal emergency grants or insurance claims, and must reimburse the Commonwealth if they subsequently receive funds from other sources. The bill also increases the Kentucky National Guard's emergency funding from $50 million to $100 million for the 2024-2026 fiscal biennium and requires monthly reporting to legislative committees detailing fund usage, recipients, and request statuses. The act takes effect immediately and is designed to provide crucial disaster relief support to Kentucky communities.

Budget and Finance

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/hb544.html