PRINTER'S NO. 145
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.199
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, CONKLIN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD,
GUENST, DONAHUE AND SCHLOSSBERG, JANUARY 16, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 16, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the State Emergency Supplemental Grant Program;
imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency; establishing the State Emergency Supplemental
Assistance Fund; and making a transfer.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the State
Emergency Supplemental Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Disaster." An event that causes substantial damage in this
Commonwealth, including a natural disaster, that requires a
disaster declaration.
"Eligible item." An essential item that is covered under the
program if damaged in a Federal disaster declaration or State
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 disaster declaration, including:
(1) Housing.
(2) Temporary rental assistance.
(3) Personal property.
(4) Medical or dental care.
(5) Transportation.
(6) Funeral costs.
(7) Any other essential item.
"Eligible person." A person who:
(1) If an individual, is a resident of this Commonwealth
or, if an entity, has its principal place of business in this
Commonwealth.
(2) Experiences damage as the direct result of a
disaster in this Commonwealth that received a disaster
declaration.
(3) For a Federal disaster declaration, has applied for
a grant through the Federal agency and has received the
maximum grant from the Federal agency's individual assistance
grant programs.
"Federal agency." The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"Federal disaster declaration." A federally declared
disaster declaration granted by the President of the United
States at the request of the Governor that indicates a disaster
situation exists in this Commonwealth and allows for the
implementation of individual assistance programs.
"Federally appraised loss." The assessed value of damage
sustained from a disaster as determined by the Federal
Government.
"Fund." The State Emergency Supplemental Assistance Fund
established under section 6.
20250HB0199PN0145 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 "Program." The State Emergency Supplemental Grant Program
established under section 3.
"State agency." The Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency.
"State disaster." A declaration by the Governor of disaster
emergency under 35 Pa.C.S. ยง 7301(c) (relating to general
authority of Governor).
"Supplemental grant." A grant award provided by the program
through the State agency to an eligible person.
Section 3. State Emergency Supplemental Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The State Emergency Supplemental Grant
Program is established within the State agency.
(b) Administration.--The State agency shall administer the
program for the purpose of providing supplemental grants to
eligible persons who have:
(1) for a Federal disaster declaration, received the
maximum grant allowance from the Federal agency's programs;
or
(2) for a State disaster declaration, sustained loss of
an eligible item.
Section 4. Program guidelines.
(a) Application.--The State agency shall coordinate with the
Federal agency on a procedure that permits an application from
an eligible person for assistance from the Federal agency to be
automatically transmitted to the State agency for processing
after the individual receives the maximum grant award from the
Federal agency. The State agency shall:
(1) Use information obtained from the Federal agency to
award supplemental grants.
(2) Follow the Federal agency's guidelines to determine
20250HB0199PN0145 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 and administer supplemental grants under the program.
(b) Use of supplemental grant money.--Supplemental grant
money may only be used for eligible items and shall be spent on
the eligible items for which the funding was specifically
awarded.
(c) Grant amounts.--
(1) For a Federal disaster declaration, an eligible
person may receive a supplemental grant equal to the
difference between the grant amount received from the Federal
agency and the federally appraised loss, provided that the
supplemental grant award does not exceed $10,000.
(2) For a State disaster declaration, an eligible person
who is:
(i) An individual may receive a supplemental grant
not to exceed an amount determined by the State agency.
(ii) An entity may receive a supplemental grant not
to exceed an amount determined by the State agency.
(3) In determining the amounts under paragraph (2), the
State agency may consider the number of applications, the
amount of loss of eligible items and the amount of available
money in the fund.
(d) Exclusions.--The following items shall not be covered
under the program:
(1) Home improvements, additions and upgrades on real or
personal property.
(2) Preexisting conditions on housing or personal
property.
(3) Landscaping.
(4) Recreational real or personal property.
(5) Debts or other financial obligations that a person
20250HB0199PN0145 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 incurred prior to the disaster.
(6) Luxury, nonessential and decorative items.
(7) Cash.
(8) Other items determined by the State agency to be
nonessential.
Section 5. Repayment of grants.
An eligible person may not be required to repay a
supplemental grant unless the supplemental grant money was not
spent according to the program guidelines or was obtained
fraudulently. In such case, the total amount of the supplemental
grant received shall be repaid to the State agency under such
terms as specified by the State agency.
Section 6. State Emergency Supplemental Assistance Fund.
The State Emergency Supplemental Assistance Fund is
established in the State Treasury. The money in the fund is
appropriated on a continuing basis to the State agency for the
purposes of supplemental grants under the program.
Section 7. Funding.
Beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board shall transfer
$5,000,000 to the fund.
Section 8. Regulations.
The State agency shall promulgate regulations necessary to
administer this act.
Section 9. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 90 days.
20250HB0199PN0145 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26