Summary:

 House Bill109  (HB109 )relates to public health by creating the Extreme Weather Resilience Fund and making a transfer from the General Fund to the Extreme Weather Resilience Fund while making an appropriation. 

Legislation Overview:

 House Bill109 (HB109) creates a new section of the Public Health Act and enacts the “Extreme Weather Resilience Fund" in the state treasury.  The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, income from investment of the fund and any other money otherwise allocated to the fund.  The Department shall administer the fund.  Money in the fund is appropriated to the Department for the purposes set forth in Subsection B of this section.  See below.
Disbursements from the fund shall be made by warrant of the Secretary of Finance and Administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the Secretary or the Secretary's authorized representative.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the General Fund.
Subsection B as referenced above states: “B. Money in the Extreme Weather Resilience Fund may be used by the Department to make grants of up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) to political subdivisions of the state or Indian nations, tribes or pueblos to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies related to extreme weather and other climate impacts; provided that grants to an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo shall be expended only within the exterior boundaries of the state.”



The Secretary is to prioritize grants by emphasizing grants and projects, and,integrate public health concerns with other local climate adaptation plans such as local emergency preparedness plans and projects, and emphasize planning and projects that would be eligible for grants from federal and state sources. Finally, the Secretary is to involve local and tribal health councils as participants in the planning process.
At least fifty percent of the total grants shall be awarded to political subdivisions with populations equal to or fewer than one hundred thousand.
Twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) is transferred from the General Fund to the Extreme Weather Resilience Fund.