Minn. disaster assistance needs retooling,legislative auditor says

Legislative Auditor James Nobles is asking Minnesota lawmakers to revisit a 2012 report that proposed improvements in the way the state provides disaster assistance.

Legislators will return to the Capitol for one day next week to approve $4.5 million in disaster relief to 18 counties hit hard by June storms. But Nobles said the state needs a way to provide such relief without the expense of a special session. His office recommended several improvements last year, including the creation of a dedicated account. Nobles said lawmakers should look at the report again.

"II can't be absolutely sure that if they had done that we could have avoided this current special session. But I think there is some possibility that we could have avoided it and we might be able to avoid them in the future," Nobles said.

"It's very complicated. It's somewhat costly to do, and we think there could be ways in which we could have enough money available to respond more quickly," Nobles said. "We need to find a way that is doesn't depend on having these recurring special sessions."

Estimates from the House and Senate show the combined costs of a one-day special session at about $32,000.