NRS353.2755. Requests for grants and loans: Conditions; contents; procedure for review of requests; recommendation of State Board of Examiners.

      1.  Not later than 60 days after the Governor, in the case of a notice by a state agency, or the governing body of a local government determines that an event constitutes a disaster, a state agency or local government may submit to the Division a written notice of the state agency’s or local government’s intention to request a grant or loan from the Account as provided in NRS 353.2705 to 353.2771, inclusive, if:

      (a) The agency or local government finds that, because of a disaster, it is unable to pay for an expense or grant match specified in NRS 353.274, 353.2745 or 353.2751 from money appropriated or otherwise available to the agency or local government;

      (b) The request has been approved by the chief administrative officer of the state agency or the governing body of the local government; and

      (c) If the requester is an incorporated city, the city has requested financial assistance from the county and was denied all or a portion of the requested assistance.

      2.  Not later than 10 working days after it receives a notice from a state agency or local government pursuant to subsection 1, the Division shall forward a copy of the notice to the State Board of Examiners and the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

      3.  A request by a state agency or local government for a grant or loan from the Account:

      (a) Must be submitted to the Division and the Department of Taxation not later than 18 months after the Governor, in the case of a request by a state agency, or the governing body of the local government determines that an event constitutes a disaster, unless the Chief of the Division grants an extension of time; and

      (b) Must include:

             (1) A statement specifying whether the request is for a grant or loan and setting forth the amount of money requested by the state agency or local government;

             (2) An assessment of the need of the state agency or local government for the money requested;

             (3) If the request is submitted by a local government that has established a fund pursuant to NRS 354.6115 to mitigate the effects of a natural disaster, a statement of the amount of money that is available in that fund, if any, for the payment of expenses incurred by the local government as a result of a disaster;

             (4) A determination of the type, value and amount of resources the state agency or local government may be required to provide as a condition for the receipt of a grant or loan from the Account;

             (5) A written report of damages prepared by the Division and the written determination made by the Division that the event constitutes a disaster pursuant to NRS 353.2753; and

             (6) If the requester is an incorporated city, all documents which relate to a request for assistance submitted to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the city is located.

Ê Any additional documentation relating to the request that is requested by the Division or the Department of Taxation must be submitted to the Division or the Department, as the case may be, within 10 working days after the date of the Division’s or the Department’s request unless the Chief of the Division or the Executive Director of the Department, as applicable, or his or her designee, grants an extension.

      4.  Not later than 60 days after the Division receives a request for a grant or loan and receives any additional information requested by the Division, the Division shall:

      (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, review the request to determine whether it contains the information necessary for the State Board of Examiners and the Interim Finance Committee to act upon the request and otherwise complies with the requirements of NRS 353.2705 to 353.2771, inclusive;

      (b) Prepare a written report of the determination required by paragraph (a);

      (c) Submit a copy of the request and its report to the State Board of Examiners and to the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau; and

      (d) Provide a copy of its report to the state agency or local government, as applicable, and the Department of Taxation.

Ê The Division shall coordinate its review of the request with the Department of Taxation to ensure, to the extent practicable, that the Division’s review does not duplicate the review conducted by the Department pursuant to subsection 5.

      5.  Not later than 60 days after the Department of Taxation receives a request for a grant or loan and receives any additional information requested by the Department, the Department shall:

      (a) Review any financial information submitted in support of the request which the Department believes to be relevant, including, without limitation:

             (1) The report of damages prepared by the Division pursuant to NRS 353.2753;

             (2) Information relating to the expenses for which the grant or loan is requested;

             (3) If the requester is a local government and is requesting a loan, information relating to the current ability of the local government to meet its financial obligations; and

             (4) If the requester is a local government and is requesting a grant or loan for the payment of any grant match described in NRS 353.2745 or 353.2751, information relating to the grant or grant match;

      (b) Prepare a written report of its findings;

      (c) Submit a copy of its report to the State Board of Examiners and to the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau; and

      (d) Provide a copy of the report to the state agency or local government, as applicable, and the Division.

      6.  Upon its receipt of a request for a grant or loan submitted pursuant to this section and the reports of the Division and the Department of Taxation relating to the request, the State Board of Examiners:

      (a) Shall consider the request and the reports; and

      (b) May require any additional information that it determines is necessary to make a recommendation.

      7.  If the State Board of Examiners finds that a grant or loan is appropriate, it shall include in its recommendation to the Interim Finance Committee the proposed amount of the grant or loan. If the State Board of Examiners recommends a grant, it shall include a recommendation regarding whether or not the state agency or local government requires an advance to avoid severe financial hardship. If the State Board of Examiners recommends a loan for a local government, it shall include the information required pursuant to subsection 1 of NRS 353.2765. If the State Board of Examiners finds that a grant or loan is not appropriate, it shall include in its recommendation the reason for its determination.

      8.  The provisions of this section do not prohibit a state agency or local government from submitting more than one request for a grant or loan from the Account.

      9.  As used in this section, the term “natural disaster” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 354.6115.

      (Added to NRS by 1997, 2540; A 1999, 1659, 3131; 2003, 20th Special Session, 198; 2013, 3441)