(a) The Legislature finds and declares that financial assistance is essential to meet disaster-related necessary expenses of the state and local governments and the serious needs of individuals or families affected by the Northridge earthquake which occurred January 17, 1994. The Legislature further finds and declares that the federal government will advance to the state, and will authorize local entities to advance from specified federal funds made available to them, the nonfederal share of the costs of this financial assistance.

(b) In order to implement the advance of the nonfederal share from federal funds, in accordance with subdivision (a), the Director of Finance may enter into agreements for the acceptance of these advances, subject to the following:

(1) Funds may be obtained directly from agencies of the federal government or from funds provided to local agencies by the federal government.

(2) Advances may be accepted beginning in the 1994–95 fiscal year, and in no event later than the 1997–98 fiscal year.

(3) The cumulative amount of advances accepted shall not exceed three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000), unless additional amounts are authorized subject to the 30-day notification of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee under Section 28 of the 1994 Budget Act and any substantially similar provision of subsequent budget acts. The state shall accept as advances only so much as may be needed to pay the expenses incurred herein and as may be repaid, consistent with this section, in a short period of time, having due regard for the current financial obligations of the state.

(4) Funds received by the state shall be deposited in the Special Deposit Fund, subject to Article 2 (commencing with Section 16370) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4, and may be expended, allocated, or transferred, upon order of the Department of Finance, only to meet the nonfederal share of disaster assistance costs incurred by state or local agencies as a result of the Northridge earthquake.

(5) Funds received under this section, together with interest at a rate agreed upon by the state and federal or local agencies involved, shall be repaid, upon order of the Director of Finance, to the federal government or advancing local agency, from the General Fund as soon as the state is able to do so, but in no event shall any advance remain outstanding after July 31, 1997. The state shall repay no less than one-third of the funds advanced in each of the 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 fiscal years.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 745, Sec. 73. Effective October 12, 2001.)