Missoula County opposes HB 122, Revising state disaster and emergency services and executive power, up for hearing at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the House State Administration Committee.
HB 122 changes the definition of disaster in MCA 10-3-103, by removing “imminent threat,” creating language that can only acknowledge a disaster after the fact, which hamstrings local and state agencies in seeking preemptive funding and/or taking protective measures to mitigate impacts from an imminent threat.
HB 122 aims to have disaster funding from the federal government be required to be approved and allocated by the legislature, which will hamper local jurisdictions' ability to respond in a timely manner to a declared emergency/disaster.
HB 122 puts artificial timelines and limits on the duration of an emergency that cannot be known and could have negative impacts to local jurisdictions if a state emergency/disaster declaration is not extended or responsive to the situation at hand. This could put receiving federal aid through FEMA in jeopardy if the state does not have a declaration in place despite the disaster persisting because the time had lapsed.
HB 122 strips the executive branch of the responsibility and authority to declare emergencies and disasters and puts it in the legislative branch. This stripping of executive powers is dangerous. The sole reason it lies with the executive branch is to allow for rapid execution of established state plans in an emergency when there is not time to get legislative authority.
While HB 122 takes aim primarily at the governor’s authority, locally we are dependent on a streamlined process for disaster and emergency declarations, which opens doors to federal and state funding beyond our two emergency mills.
Sent Jan. 11:
ReplyDeleteRepresentative Whitman,
Missoula County opposes HB 122, Revising state disaster and emergency services and executive power, up for hearing at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the House State Administration Committee.
HB 122 changes the definition of disaster in MCA 10-3-103, by removing “imminent threat,” creating language that can only acknowledge a disaster after the fact, which hamstrings local and state agencies in seeking preemptive funding and/or taking protective measures to mitigate impacts from an imminent threat.
HB 122 aims to have disaster funding from the federal government be required to be approved and allocated by the legislature, which will hamper local jurisdictions' ability to respond in a timely manner to a declared emergency/disaster.
HB 122 puts artificial timelines and limits on the duration of an emergency that cannot be known and could have negative impacts to local jurisdictions if a state emergency/disaster declaration is not extended or responsive to the situation at hand. This could put receiving federal aid through FEMA in jeopardy if the state does not have a declaration in place despite the disaster persisting because the time had lapsed.
HB 122 strips the executive branch of the responsibility and authority to declare emergencies and disasters and puts it in the legislative branch. This stripping of executive powers is dangerous. The sole reason it lies with the executive branch is to allow for rapid execution of established state plans in an emergency when there is not time to get legislative authority.
While HB 122 takes aim primarily at the governor’s authority, locally we are dependent on a streamlined process for disaster and emergency declarations, which opens doors to federal and state funding beyond our two emergency mills.
Please oppose HB 122.