HB 2701 Summary

• Establishes a new "disaster recovery area" designation that county boards of supervisors can adopt through resolution to protect public health and safety in unincorporated areas, without requiring prior petition or request from residents.

• Creates a "disaster recovery" definition as recovery and mitigation activities necessary after initial emergency response from disasters beyond a single county, city or town's control that require combined state and local efforts.

• Establishes a disaster recovery area fund consisting of transfers from emergency management training fund surpluses, private donations, and legislative appropriations, to be administered by the director of emergency management for disaster recovery purposes.

• Designates the director of emergency management as the state director for disaster recovery and expands local government duties to include disaster recovery planning and operations alongside emergency management.

• Adds industrial and mining accidents to the list of emergencies for which the governor may declare an emergency and authorize state expenditures under existing disaster provisions.