Tsunami Relief Bill Approved by Assembly

 
The State Assembly today unanimously approved a bill by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to ensure the state fully reimburses Del Norte County for the amount of losses incurred by the tsunami that struck the Pacific Coast on March 11.
“Assembly bill 1429 ensures that Del Norte County’s costs are fully covered as the community recovers from the disaster that destroyed the Crescent City Harbor, the region’s most important economic driver,” Chesbro said. “My colleagues in the Assembly on both sides of the aisle gave it unanimous approval as an urgency bill, which means it will go into effect as soon as the governor signs it.”
AB 1429 seeks to make Del Norte County eligible to be reimbursed for 100 percent of costs by having the state picking up the entire amount not covered by the federal government, under the California Disaster Assistance Act.
The Crescent City Harbor suffered about $20 million in damage when the tsunami struck. The federal government pays 75 percent of this cost. Under normal circumstances, the state would up about two-thirds of the remainder and local governments are responsible for the remaining one-third.
AB 1429 would have the state cover Del Norte County’s share and reimburse the entire cost not covered by the federal government – an estimated $5 million.
The bill passed off the Assembly Floor 67-0 and now heads to the State Senate.