Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2, Part 1.

This bill creates the “Natural Disaster Relief Program,” which will be administered by the Tennessee emergency management agency (“TEMA”), and authorizes a county to request a grant from the program to help offset the costs incurred by the county in responding to a natural disaster if the following factors exist:<br /> <br /> (1) A natural disaster has occurred within the county;<br /> <br /> (2) The county executive has declared a state of emergency; and<br /> <br /> (3) The damages resulting from the natural disaster do not exceed the threshold for federal disaster relief.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes a county receiving a grant to use the grant (i) to repair or replace public roads, buildings, utilities, and other infrastructure owned by the local governments; (ii) for emergency measures for saving lives; (iii) to protect public health and safety or property; and (iv) to remove debris from publicly or privately owned land and waterways.<br /> <br /> This bill requires TEMA to evaluate a request for a grant, determine the amount of the grant, and disburse the grant if TEMA determines that the criteria in (i)-(iii) above have been met. Grants under this bill are contingent upon the availability of funds that have been specifically allocated for the program in the general appropriations act. It is the legislative intent that appropriations to the program recur on a yearly basis. However, grants disbursed pursuant to this bill must not exceed $250,000. A county may receive a grant under this section once per calendar year.<br />