To create a grant program for the 2000-2001 biennium that is to be administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and that is to provide funds for certain purposes to countywide 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.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

(B) Within one hundred twenty days after the effective date of this section, the Deputy Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency shall accept and process petitions for grants of up to twenty-five thousand dollars each from the twenty-five least populous counties in the state. The petitions shall be in the form and shall be filed within the time limits provided by rules adopted by the Deputy Director for the administration of the grant program. To receive a grant of up to twenty-five thousand dollars, a petitioning county must establish to the satisfaction of the Deputy Director the following elements:

(1) Its countywide emergency management agency serves one of the twenty-five least populous counties in the state as determined by the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Its countywide emergency management agency employs at least one permanent full-time employee, regardless of the position of that permanent full-time employee.

(3) Its countywide emergency management agency is in compliance with all of the requirements for such agencies under Chapter 5502. of the Revised Code, including compliance with the professional development training program that is required by section 5502.26 of the Revised Code and implemented in compliance with the rules adopted by the Director of Public Safety.

Each agency receiving a grant of up to twenty-five thousand dollars under this section shall determine how it will use the grant moneys. The grant moneys are in addition to financial support from the political subdivisions that entered into the countywide agreement. Receipt of a grant of up to twenty-five thousand dollars under this section shall not affect the amount of financial support provided by a county or other contributing political subdivision to an agency.

(C) After the expiration of the one-hundred-twenty-day period after the effective date of this section, all moneys remaining in the appropriation to be distributed as grant moneys under this act shall be available for grants to all countywide emergency management agencies established under section 5502.26 of the Revised Code other than the twenty-five least populous counties in the state as determined under division (B) of this section, and to regional authorities for emergency management established under section 5502.27 of the Revised Code. Grants from these remaining moneys shall be awarded to these agencies and regional authorities by a committee composed of the Deputy Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency or the Deputy Director's designee and three other employees of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency appointed by the Deputy Director, as well as three members who represent the organization that represents local emergency management agencies in this state and who are chosen by that organization to serve on this committee. These grants are to be used for special projects proposed by a petitioning agency or regional authority. The Deputy Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency shall adopt rules providing the procedure for applying for and awarding these grants, including the determination of the amounts to be awarded, and the qualifications for projects to be funded by these grants.

(D) The Deputy Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency shall adopt rules for the administration of the grant program in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

"Sec. 82. DHS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

General Revenue Fund

GRF	763-403	Operating Expenses - EMA	$	4,090,853	$	3,574,514
GRF	763-409	MARCS Operations and Maintenance	$	740,284	$	735,997
GRF	763-507	Individual and Family Grants	$	100,000	$	105,000
GRF	764-404	Transportation Enforcement Operations	$	2,156,879	$	2,157,207
GRF	769-321	Food Stamp Trafficking Enforcement Operations	$	716,936	$	897,720
TOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund			$	7,804,952	$	7,470,438

STATE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND GROUP 5E2763-634COUNTY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

			$	500,000	$	500,000
TOTAL SSR SPECIAL REVENUE
Fund Group			$	500,000	$	500,000
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS			$	7,804,952	$	7,470,438
				8,304,952		7,970,438

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 $500,000 IN EACH FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFYING COUNTYWIDE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES OR REGIONAL AUTHORITIES FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 1 OF __.B.___ OF THE 123rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

ANY UNSPENT APPROPRIATION IN APPROPRIATION ITEM 763-634, COUNTY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, IN FISCAL YEAR 2000 SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO FISCAL YEAR 2001, AND THE APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY IN FISCAL YEAR 2001 IS AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED BY THAT AMOUNT."