§ 37. State financial participation in grants to disaster victims

(a) Whenever the president, at the request of the governor, has declared a major disaster to exist in this state, the governor is authorized:

(1) Upon his or her determination that financial assistance is essential to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a major disaster that cannot be otherwise adequately met from other means of assistance, to accept a grant by the federal government to fund such financial assistance, subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed upon the grant.

(2) To enter into an agreement with the federal government, or any officer or agency thereof, under which the state is to participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized in subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount not to exceed 25 percent thereof and, if state funds are not otherwise available to the governor, to accept an advance of the state share from the federal government to be repaid when the state is able to do so.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the governor is authorized to make financial grants to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a major disaster which cannot otherwise adequately be met from other means of assistance, which shall not exceed $5,000.00 in the aggregate to an individual or family in any single major disaster declared by the president.

(c) The governor shall make such regulations as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, standards of eligibility for persons applying for benefits; procedures for applying and administration; methods of investigation, filing, and approving applications; and formation of local or statewide boards to pass upon applications and procedures for appeals.

(d) Any person who fraudulently or willfully makes a misstatement of fact in connection with an application for financial assistance under this title shall, upon conviction of each offense, be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. (Added 1975, No. 97, § 4, eff. April 30, 1975.)