Section 38.52.NEW-002 - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] [Extreme Weather Response Grant Program](1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall develop and implement an extreme weather response grant program for the purpose of assisting political subdivisions and federally recognized tribes, in geographic areas where vulnerable populations face combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts as determined by the department, with the costs of responding to community needs during periods of extremely hot or cold weather or in situations of severe poor air quality from wildfire smoke. The department may adopt rules to administer the extreme weather response grant program.(2)(a) The department may award grants to political subdivisions and federally recognized tribes, in geographic areas where vulnerable populations face combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts as determined by the department, for reimbursement of costs in accordance with subsection (3) of this section if the costs were incurred by communities that have demonstrated a lack of local resources to address community needs and were incurred for the benefit of vulnerable populations. For the purposes of this section, vulnerability refers to the resilience of communities when confronted by external stresses on human health, such as natural or human-caused disasters. Vulnerable populations include, but are not limited to, individuals with disabilities, individuals without vehicles, older adults, individuals with low incomes or experiencing homelessness, and individuals with limited English proficiency.(b) The department may utilize grant dollars to purchase temporary, movable shelters, which shall remain in the custody of the department to be loaned out to political subdivisions when requested by the executive head to assist with emergency response to extreme weather events.(3) The costs associated with the following activities are eligible for reimbursement under the extreme weather response grant program: (a) Establishing and operating warming and cooling centers, including rental of equipment, purchase of supplies and water, staffing, and other associated costs;(b) Transporting individuals and their pets to warming and cooling centers;(c) Purchasing fans or other supplies needed for cooling of congregate living settings;(d) Providing emergency temporary housing such as rental of a hotel or convention center;(e) Retrofitting or establishing facilities within warming and cooling centers that are pet friendly in order to permit individuals to evacuate with their pets; and(f) Other related activities necessary for life safety during a period of extremely hot or cold weather or in situations of severe poor air quality from wildfire smoke as determined by the department.(4) The department shall, upon request, provide information to political subdivisions and federally recognized tribes regarding the establishment and operation of warming and cooling centers.(5) Grant funding awarded under this section must be used to supplement, not supplant, other federal, state, and local funding for emergency response.(6) For purposes of this section, "political subdivision" means any county, city, or town that has established a local organization for emergency management or any joint local organization for emergency management established pursuant to RCW 38.52.070.Added by 2024 c 172,§ 3, eff. 6/6/2024.Short title- 2024 c 172: "This act may be known and cited as the extreme weather protection act." [2024 c 172 § 1.]