What's happening
This bill creates a grant program to help New York municipalities repair hidden infrastructure damage from natural disasters after a state emergency.
Why it matters
Addresses overlooked infrastructure damage. The grant program specifically targets "latent damage"—that is, hidden or delayed infrastructure problems caused by natural disasters that aren’t found during initial inspections, ensuring communities can address critical issues that might otherwise go unfunded and unaddressed.
Strict eligibility and timing rules. Municipalities can only apply for these grants between one and seven years after a state of emergency is declared, and the damage must be directly tied to that qualifying disaster—preventing misuse for unrelated or routine repairs.
Caps on funding to control costs. Grants are limited to 10% of the state or federal disaster aid already received for the same event, and no municipality can receive more than $10 million per year, balancing local needs with fiscal responsibility.
Funding depends on state appropriations. The program is not automatically funded; it relies on annual appropriations and any additional funds the state is able to secure through gifts or transfers, so the availability of grants may vary year to year.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Disaster Damage Repair Grants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2083
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 719 to read as follows:
§ 719. Disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program. 1. There is hereby established the disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program to be administered by the division of homeland security and emergency services.
2. Projects eligible for program grants shall be limited to projects to repair latent damage to public infrastructure, including publiclyowned roads, bridges, drainage and flood mitigation systems, electrical and mechanical systems and communication systems, and any ancillary infrastructure necessary for the safe operation of the components thereof, where such damage was the result of a natural disaster for which the governor of the state of New York made a declaration of a state of emergency. For purposes of this section, "latent damage" shall be defined as damage that was not reasonably apparent during any initial damage assessments. In no event shall grants be awarded for, nor shall grant money be used for, infrastructure repairs that are required due to normal use and wear and tear.
3. The commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services shall establish procedures for receipt of applications from municipalities and for the issuance of grants authorized by this section within available appropriations. Application for such grants shall be submitted no more than seven years, but no less than one year, after the governor's declaration of the state of emergency that renders a munici-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04917-01-9
S. 2083 2
pality eligible for grants authorized by this section. In no event shall grants exceed ten percent of the sum of any state or federal disaster assistance monies granted to a municipality as a result of a natural disaster that were awarded prior to an application for a grant stemming from the same natural disaster. In no event shall a municipality receive a grant in excess of ten million dollars in a given calendar year.
4. Funding for such program shall consist of all revenue received pursuant to an appropriation thereto, and all other monies appropriated, credited or transferred from any other source pursuant to law. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purpose of the program. Grants shall only be awarded based upon the availability of funds.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program
Purpose
To ensure that communities with residual or worsening damage related to a natural disaster have an opportunity to request additional funds to address these ongoing issues.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Executive law is amended by adding a new section 719 estab- lishing the Disaster-related latent damage recovery grant program.
Section 2: Effective Date.
Justification
In recent years, several unprecedented natural disasters have wrought havoc on communities across our state. From tropical storms Irene, Lee and Hurricane Sandy to the widespread flooding that have and are currently striking upstate communities, weather related natural disas- ters have impacted nearly every corner of our state in recent years. The state and federal response to these disasters has gone a long way towards ensuring that our communities were and are able to get back on their feet. However, many communities still have critical disaster-re- lated infrastructure needs that have not yet been addressed.
The true extent of the damage to physical infrastructure is not always apparent during initial assessments. Damage to drainage systems, subter- ranean erosion, and salt-water damage are often missed immediately following a disaster, and may not become apparent until months or years later. When latent damage is discovered, it can be difficult for commu- nities to secure the additional resources they need.
This bill addresses this challenge by making additional disaster recov- ery funds available for up to 7 years after a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor. Municipalities can apply for assistance in amounts up to 10 percent of the sum of any disaster relief aid previous- ly received by that municipality from state and federal sources, but not more than $10 million dollars in any calendar year. This aid is intended to specifically address latent damage to infrastructure.
This bill recognizes that disaster recovery is a long- term process and seeks to ensure that communities continue to have access to the resources they need to maintain the safety and integrity of their public infrastructure.
Prior legislative history
2017-2018: S.3029-B passed Senate 2015-2016: S.5182-A passed Senate/A.7352-A died in Governmental Oper- ations
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces- sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is author- ized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.