To create a grant program for fiscal year 2001 that is to be administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and that is to provide funds for certain purposes to countywide and county emergency management agencies and regional authorities for emergency management, to amend Section 82 of Am. Sub. H.B. 283 of the 123rd General Assembly, and to make an appropriation.

SECTION 1 .  (A) There is hereby created a grant program for fiscal year 2001 to be administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency within the Department of Public Safety. The program shall provide funds to qualifying countywide emergency management agencies established under section 5502.26 of the Revised Code, regional authorities for emergency management established under section 5502.27 of the Revised Code, and county emergency management agencies established under section 5502.271 of the Revised Code.

(B) Within one hundred twenty days after the effective date of this section, the Executive Director of the Emergency Management Agency shall accept and process applications for grants of up to twenty-five thousand dollars each from the countywide and county emergency management agencies, and regional authorities for emergency management, of the twenty-five counties with the lowest average federal adjusted gross income according to the most recent figures available from the Department of Taxation. The applications shall be in the form and shall be filed within the time limits provided by the grant application procedure, which shall be established by a committee composed of the Executive Director, three employees of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency chosen by the Executive Director, and three members chosen by the Ohio Emergency Management Association. To receive a grant under this division, an applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Executive Director all of the following:

(1) The countywide or county emergency management agency or regional authority for emergency management serves one of the twenty-five counties with the lowest average federal adjusted gross income according to the most recent figures available from the Department of Taxation.

(2) The agency or authority employs, or upon receipt of the grant will employ, at least one permanent full-time employee.

(3) The agency or authority is, or within ninety days after receipt of the grant will be, in compliance with all of the requirements applicable to the agency or authority under Chapter 5502. of the Revised Code, including compliance with or enrollment in a professional development training program in accordance with rules adopted under section 5502.25 of the Revised Code.

(4) The agency has obtained from the board of county commissioners, or the authority has obtained from the executive board of the regional authority, permission to apply for and to receive a grant under this section.

(C) Following the expiration of the one-hundred-twenty-day period after the effective date of this section, all money remaining in the appropriation made by this act shall be available for grants to all countywide and county emergency management agencies, and regional authorities for emergency management, other than those in the twenty-five counties with the lowest average federal adjusted gross income according to the most recent figures available from the Department of Taxation. Grants of this remaining money shall be awarded to these agencies and authorities by the committee established under division (B) of this section. These grants shall be used for special projects proposed by the agency or authority. The committee established under division (B) of this section shall establish the procedure for applying for and awarding these grants and shall determine the amounts to be awarded and the qualifications for projects to be funded by the grants.

(D) Each agency or authority shall file with its application a spending plan showing how it will use the grant money. Grants made under this section are not intended to supplant any federal, state, or local funding to an agency or authority. Therefore, neither a state agency nor any political subdivision of the state shall take into account the receipt of a grant under this section in determining the amount of support that the state agency or political subdivision provides to a countywide or county emergency management agency or regional authority for emergency management.

SECTION 2 .  That Section 82 of Am. Sub. H.B. 283 of the 123rd General Assembly be amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 82.  DHS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

General Revenue Fund

State Special Revenue Fund Group

American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness and Training

Of the foregoing appropriation item 763-403, Operating Expenses - EMA, up to $500,000 in fiscal year 2000 shall be distributed to the American Red Cross in Ohio for disaster preparedness and emergency training.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency shall develop an agreement between the State of Ohio Chapters of the American Red Cross to specify the terms by which these funds shall be requested, distributed, and accounted for to enhance the disaster response capability of the American Red Cross in Ohio. Funds shall not be used for administrative costs. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency shall require of the American Red Cross a plan that facilitates implementation of the current Statement of Understanding between the State of Ohio and the American Red Cross. The release of funds shall be contingent upon a plan that is satisfactory to both parties.

Ohio Task Force One - Urban Search and Rescue Unit

Of the foregoing appropriation item 763-403, Operating Expenses - EMA, $200,000 in each fiscal year shall be used to fund the Ohio Task Force One - Urban Search and Rescue Unit.

MARCS Operations and Maintenance Transfers

Upon the request of the Director of Public Safety, the Director of Budget and Management shall transfer up to $304,284 in cash in fiscal year 2000 and $303,550 in cash in fiscal year 2001 by intrastate transfer voucher from appropriation item 763-409, MARCS Operations and Maintenance, to Fund 4S2, MARCS Maintenance Fund.

Upon the request of the Director of Public Safety, the Director of Budget and Management shall transfer up to $436,000 in cash in fiscal year 2000 and $432,447 in cash in fiscal year 2001 by intrastate transfer voucher from appropriation item 763-409, MARCS Operations and Maintenance, to Fund 4W6, MARCS Operations Fund.

IFG State Match

The foregoing appropriation item 763-507, Individual and Family Grants, shall be used to fund the state share of costs to provide grants to individuals and families in cases of disaster.

County Emergency Preparedness and Service Upgrades Pilot

Of appropriation item 763-634, County Emergency Preparedness, up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2001 shall be distributed to qualifying countywide and county emergency management agencies or regional authorities for emergency management, as provided in Sub. S.B. 239 of the 123rd General Assembly."

SECTION 3 .  That existing Section 82 of Am. Sub. H.B. 283 of the 123rd General Assembly is hereby repealed.

SECTION 4 .  The uncodified sections of law contained in this act are not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code, the uncodified sections of law contained in this act go into immediate effect when this act becomes law.