Establishes the community disaster relief and recovery act which will create an emergency assistance program for undocumented individuals impacted by a natural disaster.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9206
SPONSOR: Gonzalez-Rojas TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
community disaster relief and recovery act of 2025
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Establishes the Community Disaster Relief and Recovery Act of 2025 to
prepare New York State to better address the impact of a natural or
man-made disaster impacting non-citizen residents by setting in place
the process and standard to be used to assist them in relief and recov-
ery efforts.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Short title of this act.
Section 2 Paragraph 1: Adds a new section 720 that will create a commu-
nity fund program for non-citizens administered by the Division of Home-
land Security and Emergency Management in conjunction with the New York
State Office for New Americans. The program will be administered in
accordance with the guidelines in place under the Major Disaster Decla-
ration for Remnants of Hurricane Ida 4615-DR-NY and for disaster survi-
vors who are not able to receive financial assistance through federal
programs due to their citizenship status.
Section 2 Paragraph 23,4,5,6,7,8 and 9: Sets forth definitions to be
used in application of this legislation and the procedures to be used
for applications by applicants to expedite disaster relief for housing
assistance and other outlined emergency needs for non-citizens.
Section 2 Paragraph 10: Funding for the program subject to annual appro-
priations therefore and other revenues, grants and gifts.
Section 2 Paragraph 11: Grants authority to the Division of Homeland
Security and emergency services in conjunction with the New York State
office for new Americans to establish regulations for implementation.
Section 3: Effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The massive flooding that impacted New York City from the remnants of
Hurricane Ida destroyed lives and property. The worst impacted communi-
ties also happen to be the home of thousands of non-citizen residents
who do not have access to federal disaster relief programs and who have
limited or no personal resources to recover from such disasters. The
extreme weather impacting New York over the past decade is only becoming
worse. In order to ensure that all residents of New York have access to
relief and recovery efforts after a natural or man-made disaster, this
legislation creates a process for applicants and applications that need
to be submitted to state authorities by impacted non-citizens.
The process for applications and for the processing of applications for
aid is established to mirror the federal disaster process put in place
under the recent federal disaster declaration, that was issued to
address the damage inflicted on New York due to the remnants of Hurri-
cane Ida. Codifying the federal process in State law sets forth a well-
recognized and all-encompassing process to address all the emergency
needs of impacted populations. Specifically, this legislation focuses on
residents of New York who, because of their immigration status, are not
able to access any federal disaster assistance. As global warming
continues to cause major disasters across the planet, including in New
York, every effort that can be made now to better prepare for pending
disasters will help impacted communities in our state recover faster.
This legislation is part of a package of bills that positions New York
to be better prepared, more resilient and able to provide relief and
recovery assistance to impacted communities quickly.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: A140 - referred to governmental operations
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined based on the intensity of the disaster and number of
residents impacted.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal
of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or
before such effective date.
