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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Gene Pelowski, Jr. (DFL)

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State Addresses Disaster for First Time without Special Session

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Minnesota swiftly responds to disasters without wasting time or money on special sessions.

Today, the Minnesota House followed the Senate and voted unanimously to approve Senate File 1, legislation replenishing Minnesota’s Disaster Assistance Account.  This account was created in 2014 to ensure that when a disaster struck, our state would respond by quickly distributing funds without the need to call a special session, and it worked.  For the first time ever, our state responded to a disaster without wasting time and money on a special session.

In 2008, after the massive flooding of Southeast Minnesota, my colleagues and I worked to develop a state “disaster playbook” to guide the 13 state agencies, Governor's Office, Legislature, cities, counties, school districts and townships impacted when a disaster occurs.  In 2012, the non-partisan Legislative Auditor released a report titled, “Helping Communities Recover from Natural Disasters,” with recommendations on how to improve Chapters 12A & 12B, the laws known as the state “disaster playbook.” 

In 2014, working with Senator Richard Cohen, the Legislative Auditor and his staff, the Office of the Governor, the Director of Homeland Security, the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers, and the public, we crafted a bill to continue the improvements made to Minnesota’s disaster response with Chapter 12A &12B.  We implemented several changes recommended by the Legislative Auditor that increased coordination by the 13 state agencies and others involved in responding to disasters, and created the Disaster Assistance Account to fund their efforts.

Last summer, as a result of heavy rain, wind and flooding, 37 Minnesota counties and three Native American Reservations became eligible for disaster assistance.  For the first time, as a result of the improvements made to the “disaster playbook,” state and federal funds were distributed quickly and efficiently without the need for a special session. 

Having a dedicated account for disasters guarantees accurate accounting and avoids problems associated with hurriedly passing bills in a special session, such as overpaying or underpaying.

The vote this week to replenish the Disaster Assistance Account will ensure communities’ hit by disasters will receive more accurate funds and be able to start repair sooner.  The recent actions of the Legislature and the response to the 2014 disaster demonstrate that the state “disaster playbook” works when Minnesota faces disasters.