Louisiana § RS 29:726.1 - Nongovernmental participation in the state recovery from public emergencies and disasters; Louisiana Family Recovery Corps

§ RS 29:726.1. Nongovernmental participation in the state recovery from public emergencies and disasters; Louisiana Family Recovery Corps

A.  The provisions of this Chapter detail state plans and responsibilities for the protection and assistance of Louisiana citizens with regard to potential and actual public disasters and emergencies.  The legislature finds that the resources of nongovernmental nonprofit organizations can contribute greatly to the state's formalized framework for implementation of the requirements of this Chapter.  Inclusion of the efforts of nongovernmental nonprofit organizations in the state's emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans to the greatest extent practicable is encouraged.

B.(1)  There exists in Louisiana a nongovernmental entity known as the "Louisiana Family Recovery Corps", hereinafter referred to as the "Recovery Corps", which was established in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to provide and coordinate the services needed by Louisiana citizens displaced and affected by those disasters.  In furtherance of the public purpose to provide a complete and efficient state recovery from emergencies and disasters, the state may utilize the resources of the Recovery Corps for coordination and delivery of public and nonpublic services for purposes of human recovery from disasters.

(2)  The Recovery Corps may specifically assist the state effort by:

(a)  Coordinating collaboration in execution of service delivery.

(b)  Communicating the availability of all services related to disaster recovery.

(c)  Creation of a registry of nongovernmental nonprofit providers of recovery-related services, and provision of data relating to that registry to state and local recovery agencies as deemed necessary by such agencies.  Nongovernmental nonprofit providers of recovery-related services owned or operated by an elected official shall not be included in the registry.

(d)  Provision of household establishment resources for displaced residents.

(e)  Services relating to the emotional well-being of displaced residents.

(f)  Transitioning displaced residents from temporary to more permanent living arrangements.

(g)  Assisting in reestablishing social and community service infrastructures within heavily damaged areas.

(h)  Assisting in repatriation of displaced residents.

(3)  The legislature finds that the utilization of the resources of the Recovery Corps may be particularly beneficial with respect to the delivery of services in:

(a)  Geographic areas that have suffered significant impact to the extent that pre-disaster service providers or services are no longer available, or unavailable at the necessary levels.

(b)  Geographic areas that suffered a rise in service demands due to relocation of displaced residents to a new area to the extent that service capacity has or is being mitigated.

(c)  Geographic areas that need specialized services for displaced residents to address specific human services service deficiencies in a localized area.

(4)  Any participation by the Recovery Corps in the state's homeland security and emergency operations shall be focused on human services or post-disaster recovery.

Acts 2007, No. 313, §1.