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| Date: | August 29, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Neil Pursley | | Contact Phone: | 651.296.4915 | | Contact Email: | neil.pursley@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Senator Carla Nelson Drafts Legislation to Address Accountability in State Disaster Aid “Publicly funded disaster aid requires consistency and clarity,” said Senator Nelson |
Senator Carla Nelson Drafts Legislation to Address Accountability in State (ST. PAUL) – During the recent Special Session of the Minnesota Legislature to fund disaster aid, Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) was the only senator to have additional legislation introduced.
In March 2012 the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) issued a program evaluation on our state’s efforts to help in natural disaster recovery. The OLA made several recommendations for state recovery programs. Some of these recommendations were included in the pre-agreed upon bill between the Governor and legislative leaders. Some were not.
“I took to heart the report that our Legislative Auditor filed earlier this year. I was glad to see the recommendations that were included in the bill planned for introduction in the special session but was concerned about those that had been omitted.”
Sen. Nelson’s legislation addresses the need for clarity and consistency in determining whether the state should pay the full share of FEMA required matching funds for federal aid and the local share for flood- hazard mitigation grants. Nelson’s bill also seeks clarity for when state recovery funding should be available for non-qualified FEMA disasters. The bill also calls for better use of existing federal, state and local reporting mechanisms to evaluate and improve recovery activities.
“We must have a better defined framework for state disaster-recovery funding so it is clear in what situations the state bears responsibility. This will provide consistency and will allow cities, counties and individuals to know what type of assistance and to what degree the state may help with recovery costs in the event of a disaster,” Nelson said.
“While we cannot predict the face of future disasters, we can be sure they will occur. It is difficult to set clear criteria on state disaster-recovery funding in the middle of a disaster. These types of policy discussions must occur before our next disaster strikes. That is why I introduced Senate File 3. Defining the state’s role in disaster-relief funding is important not only for the local governments but it is also our responsibility to the taxpayer. Over the last 15 years, Minnesota has appropriated more than $650 million in disaster aid,” Senator Nelson concluded.
Senator Carla Nelson is Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee. She can be reached at 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 111 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.4848 sen.carla.nelson@senate.mn
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