Sec. 201. Climate resilience planning grants
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/bill/117/hr/6492/ih/section-201·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Climate Resilience shall establish a Climate Resilience Planning grant program (hereinafter referred to as the grant program ). The purpose of the grant program is to support States, Tribes, localities, regional groups, nonprofit organizations, and community groups in conducting climate change risk assessments and developing climate resilience action plans. The following entities are eligible for a grant under this section:
State governments. Tribal governments. Local governments. Regional governmental groups. Nonprofit organizations. Grassroots community groups that partner with a fiscal sponsor that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall publish a request for applications for a grant under this section. To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require, including, at a minimum— a certification that such applicant has formed an advisory board that— has majority representation from frontline communities; has at least 1 individual who possesses scientific knowledge or experience in conducting risk assessments pertaining to climate change; has labor, worker, and workforce development stakeholders, including at least 1 representative of a labor union and 1 individual representing populations facing barriers to employment; and allows advisory board members to receive compensation for participation on such board if it is determined that the individual serving would incur financial hardship or otherwise be unable to participate without such compensation; details on the population represented by the entity, including demographic information on population size, income, race, education level, and primary sectors of employment; reasons for seeking grant funding to support climate resilience planning; details on advisory board members including name, organizational affiliation (if applicable), qualifications, and letters of support from 3 local community-based nonprofit organizations verifying the accuracy of the information presented; a list of the stakeholders that will be involved in the planning process; details on how the advisory board will be incorporated into the planning process; the identity of the individual who will lead the planning process and whether an external entity will be hired to facilitate the planning process; the expected timeline for how long the planning process is expected to take; expected data sources for local employment and worker data; a community engagement plan detailing— steps that will be taken to ensure that frontline communities are informed about the planning process; and accommodations that will be made to ensure that such groups have the opportunity to participate in the planning process and provide public comment before the plan is finalized; and a detailed budget for the planning process.
Grants under this section will be prioritized for proposals submitted by entities that represent frontline communities. A grant under this section may be used for— compensation for advisory board members; facilitation costs; materials and supplies; community engagement and outreach expenses; and compensation for technical assistance or support. A grant under this section shall be for a period of 2 years, unless the Director extends such period. The Federal share of the costs of an activity carried out using a grant under this section shall be 100 percent.
Entities receiving a grant under this section may consult with the resources described in section 103(c) of this Act to carry out planning efforts under this section. Entities shall ensure that plans meet the following requirements: Using data, assess how climate change will create new, or alter current climate related risks, and how such risks are distributed within and across natural ecosystems and human communities, including— with respect to human communities, risks should be assessed by geography, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health and other demographic and social factors; and with respect to natural ecosystems, risks should be assessed by geography, species and ecosystem services.
Identify natural species, ecosystem services and human populations that face disproportionate risks and impacts of climate change, including— with respect to human populations, identifying risks due to historic and ongoing systemic racism, economic inequity, and environmental degradation and pollution; and with respect to natural species and ecosystem services, identifying risks due to environmental degradation, pollution and other anthropogenic impacts. Identify goals and priority strategies, specific actions, targets, timelines, and evaluation metrics to achieve a climate resilient community that shall— encompass the full definition of climate resilience to include strategies pertaining to mitigation, preparation and adaptation, and disaster preparedness, recovery, and rebuilding; prioritize frontline communities; address the underlying and systemic factors of systemic racism, economic inequity, and environmental degradation and pollution that have led to inequitable climate risks and impacts; and align with the goals, strategies, actions, targets and evaluation metrics detailed in the National Climate Resilience Action plan, if available.
Identify stakeholders responsible for implementation and oversight. Government entities must involve every relevant agency or office in the planning process and detail the actions each agency or office will take as relevant to the agency or office’s mission to protect the jurisdiction from identified risks. The advisory board must be meaningfully included and consulted in the development of the plan and offer recommendations. Identify workforce needs to implement the climate resilience strategies and actions identified in the plan, per the requirements in section 103(b)(2) of this Act.