Vermont § 37 - State financial participation in grants to disaster victims

§ 37. State financial participation in grants to disaster victims

• (a) Whenever the President, at the request of the Governor, has declared a major disaster
  to exist in this State, the Governor is authorized: (1) Upon his or her determination that financial assistance is essential to meet disaster-related
  necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected
  by a major disaster that cannot be otherwise adequately met from other means of assistance,
  to accept a grant by the federal government to fund such financial assistance, subject
  to such terms and conditions as may be imposed upon the grant. (2) To enter into an agreement with the federal government, or any officer or agency of
  the federal government, under which the State is to participate in the funding of
  the financial assistance authorized in subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount
  not to exceed 25 percent of the amount of financial assistance and, if State funds
  are not otherwise available to the Governor, to accept an advance of the State share
  from the federal government to be repaid when the State is able to do so. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the Governor is authorized
  to make financial grants to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs
  of individuals or families adversely affected by a major disaster that cannot otherwise
  adequately be met from other means of assistance, which shall not exceed $5,000.00
  in the aggregate to an individual or family in any single major disaster declared
  by the President. (c) The Governor shall adopt rules as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter,
  including standards of eligibility for persons applying for benefits; procedures for
  applying and administration; methods of investigation, filing, and approving applications;
  and formation of local or statewide boards to pass upon applications and procedures
  for appeals. (d) Any person who fraudulently or willfully makes a misstatement of fact in connection
  with an application for financial assistance under this title shall, upon conviction
  of each offense, be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000.00 or imprisonment for
  not more than one year, or both. (Added 1975, No. 97, § 4, eff. April 30, 1975; amended 2021, No. 20, § 125.)