Existing law, the California Disaster Assistance Act, requires the Director of Emergency Services to provide financial assistance to local agencies for their personnel costs, equipment costs, and the cost of supplies and materials used during disaster response activities, incurred as a result of a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor, subject to specified criteria.

This bill would require the director, in administering those provisions, to prioritize local agencies that are not eligible for federal funding due to the agency’s inability to meet minimum damage thresholds under federal law, as specified.