Chapter 1. Natural Disaster Community Assistance of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 24. >> Part 1.6. >> Chapter 1.

The Legislature finds that natural disasters result in the destruction and damage of housing and related infrastructure, homelessness, and economic dislocation. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of housing, aid displaced persons, and aid economic recovery in jurisdictions subject to a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor.

(a) "Department" as used in this part means the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  (b) "Natural disaster" as used in this part has the same meaning as in Section 8680.3 of the Government Code.

For the purpose of providing disaster relief to victims of a natural disaster, as defined by Section 8680.3 of the Government Code, resulting in a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625 of the Government Code, financial assistance may be provided to disaster victims as prescribed in this part. Funds appropriated for the purposes authorized by this part shall be expended only to the extent that other federal, state, local, private insurance resources, or private institutional lending sources are not available or do not provide the assistance or coverage needed, except for assistance provided pursuant to Section 34052.

For the purpose of providing disaster relief in communities subject to a natural disaster, the department shall award funds pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 50530) of Part 2 of Division 31 if funds have been made available for this purpose. Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 50531, funds shall be used for housing for persons of low and moderate income, with first priority given to funding housing for persons of low income.

For the purpose of providing disaster relief to farmworkers in communities subject to a natural disaster, the department shall give priority to awarding grants in communities participating in the Special Housing Program for Migratory Workers (Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 50710) of Part 2 of Division 33).

Funds appropriated for the purposes of Section 34052, shall only be expended for rehabilitation or reconstruction of housing and related infrastructure which has been damaged as a result of the natural disaster.

Any regulation, rule, policy, or standard of general application employed by the department in implementing this part shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of the Government Code.