(a) There is hereby created and established as a separate and distinct fund within the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be designated and known as the “General Disaster Relief Fund”. No funds shall be available for expenditure from the General Disaster Relief Fund, except as provided herein.
(b) The fund shall consist of such amounts appropriated thereto from time to time by the Legislature and the proceeds of all federal grants received pursuant to Title 23, section 1135, Virgin Islands Code.
(c) The Commissioner of Finance shall disburse monies from the General Disaster Relief Fund upon authorization of the Commissioner of Human Services for the purpose of providing financial assistance to families or individuals who suffer loss, hardship, property damage, necessary expenses, or serious need as an immediate and direct result of any emergency or major disaster, as defined by section 1124 of Title 23, Virgin Islands Code, or the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (P.L. 93–288), any amendment thereto, or successor Act. Financial grants shall be made to meet necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by an emergency or major disaster, and related thereto, which cannot otherwise adequately be met from other means of assistance, and shall not exceed $5,000 in the aggregate to an individual or family in any single such emergency or major disaster. The Commissioner of Social Welfare shall maintain a detailed accounting record of all monies which have been disbursed together with the name and address of the person to whom disbursement is made and the purpose or purposes for which it is made. Monies from the fund may also be used to provide for the administration of the financial assistance provided by this section. In the case of federal grants together with the local matching share related thereto, this disbursement shall not exceed that percentage of the federal grant and local matching share permitted by federal law or regulation. In the case of other local appropriations this disbursement shall not exceed the higher of twelve percent or the percentage applicable to a federal grant and the local matching share related thereto.
(d) Disbursement from the General Disaster Relief Fund shall not be contingent upon a claim or showing of fault or liability on the part of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands in connection with any loss, expense, hardship, damage or need experienced by an individual or family eligible for assistance hereunder.
(e) Recipients of emergency or major disaster assistance grants under this section are required to purchase flood insurance as a condition to receiving such assistance. The flood insurance policy must remain in force or the recipient will not be eligible for any future grants under this section.
(f) The Commissioner of Human Services shall make such rules and regulations as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations establishing standards of eligibility for persons applying for benefits; procedures for applying and administration; and methods of investigation, filing, and approving applications.
(g) Any person who fraudulently or wilfully makes a misstatement of fact in connection with an application for financial assistance under this section shall, upon conviction for each offense, be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.