Assembly committee advances bill to create state individual disaster assistance program

Assembly Member Colosa’s AB 262, which would create the California Individual Assistance Act to provide direct financial assistance for disaster-related costs, was moved out of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee Wednesday and sent to the Appropriations Committee.

Proponents told the committee the bill would give the state a tool to provide housing aid, groceries, income replacement and medical support in disasters that do not meet federal thresholds for Individual Assistance. “When a disaster hits, what communities and families need most is immediate access to resources so they can meet their most essential needs,” Assembly Member Colosa said while presenting the bill and accepting committee amendments.

The bill would establish a grant program administered by the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to provide both public and individual assistance where state or local emergencies are declared and federal assistance is not available. Melissa Sparks Kranz, legislative advocate for the League of California Cities and a bill sponsor, said AB 262 would “build upon the state's existing efforts and programs for emergency response, adding another tool in the state's toolbox to help our communities.”

Mayor Deborah Garnes of Rio Dell testified about local effects and the gap left when federal aid is not available. “On 12/20/2022, Rio Dell was struck by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake… The estimated damages in Rio Dell were well in excess of $32,000,000,” Garnes said, describing damage to homes and infrastructure and noting the event did not receive a federal disaster declaration because FEMA’s threshold was not met. She said Rio Dell relied on donations for recovery and that absent federal aid “the lack of a federal declaration not only slowed the recovery, but caused increased stress and suffering.”

Supporters included city and county groups and some local elected officials; the California Association of Realtors said it was “support if amended” and is working with the author’s office. Committee members asked about eligibility and whether the measure would permit funds to go to noncitizens; Assembly Member DeMaio asked for an amendment to exclude noncitizens, which the author declined. Colosa responded that the bill contains no language about citizenship and described the measure as “about helping victims and families and people… our most vulnerable” regardless of status.

The bill does not appropriate funding; witnesses and committee members noted the absence of a designated funding source could limit implementation. Assembly Member Bennett said past estimates for a statewide individual assistance program have been as high as $1 billion and urged realistic expectations about funding. The bill requires Cal OES to adopt regulations setting criteria and would require requests for assistance to be submitted within 60 days of a disaster declaration.

The committee voted to send AB 262 to the Appropriations Committee. The secretary recorded the vote as 4 yes, 2 no; members recorded on the roll as voting yes included Ransom, Arambula, Calderon and Bennett; Hedwick and De Maio recorded no votes. The committee held the roll open for absent members.