Senate Bill S8883

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8883

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to provide an award to the Port of Oswego Authority from the
funds appropriated under the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway flood
recovery grant program

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to require the New York State Division of
Homes and Community Renewal to award grant funds to the Port Of Oswego
Authority under the Lake-Ontario St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Recovery
Grant Program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Requires the New York State Division of Homes and Community
Renewal to award up to $2.25 million in funding under the Lake-Ontario
St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Recovery grant program to the Port of Oswego
              

Authority so that they can meet the non-federal matching requirements
under FEMA Disaster Funding.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2017, the Port of Oswego sustained substantial damages due to flood-
ing and high lake levels. According to engineer reports, the total
damage to the port exceeds $6 million. Fortunately, the Port of Oswego
Authority qualifies for FEMA disaster funding due to the federal decla-
ration. As part of the requirement of receiving federal funds, the Port
of Oswego Authority must meet the 25% matching requirement.

As a public authority, the Port of Oswego Authority does not have the
ability to tax to make up the local share. Nor do they receive annual
state funding. As a result, coming up with the nonfederal share for the
FEMA disaster grant is a significant hardship to the port.  Under the
Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence Ontario Recovery Grant program, the Port of
Oswego Authority does not fit the description of eligible entities for
grant funding (Local Government, Not-for profit, Residential, or Busi-
ness). Providing financial assistance to the Port of Oswego Authority is
consistent with the program's original intent to provide relief to those
entities impacted by the high lake levels and damages incurred in 2017.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Up to $2.25 million under the Lake-Ontario St.  Lawrence Seaway Flood
Recovery Grant Program.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.