Bill 118 s 5489 aims to make changes to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by adjusting the definition of "small impoverished community". The current definition of a small impoverished community is one that has a population of less than 3,000 individuals and lacks the financial resources to address disaster-related needs on their own.
The proposed amendment in this bill seeks to update this definition to better reflect the current economic and social conditions of small impoverished communities. The new definition would include communities with a population of less than 5,000 individuals and those that have a median household income that is below the poverty line.
By expanding the definition of a small impoverished community, this bill aims to ensure that more communities in need are eligible for disaster relief and emergency assistance. This change would allow these communities to receive the necessary support and resources to recover and rebuild after a disaster strikes.
Overall, Bill 118 s 5489 seeks to improve the effectiveness of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by ensuring that small impoverished communities are not overlooked in times of crisis.