St. Paul, MN - Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed House File 1278, which allocates $40 million to replenish the state’s Disaster Assistance Contingency Account. The bill passed the House with unanimous support.
“Shakopee is no stranger to flooding, and should such a natural disaster occur when the state legislature is not in session, this account ensures support can be swiftly delivered to the communities that need it,” said Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL - Shakopee). “Some disaster recovery efforts can be beyond the scope of any one town’s abilities, and sufficiently replenishing this account is a duty we need to meet before completing our work this year.”
The Disaster Assistance Contingency Account, signed into law in 2014, expedites assistance to communities burdened with damages to public property and infrastructure like roads, utilities, and public buildings. Prior to the passage of the law, the Minnesota Legislature was required to convene each time a disaster was declared in order to appropriate funds toward community recovery efforts, often in a special session.
A video recording of the floor debate is available on the House Public Information YouTube page.
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