Guam Legislature reallocates unspent Slaku emergency funds for pre‑storm response as Tropical Depression Bobby approaches

The Guam Legislature on July 2 passed Bill 339‑38 LS, reallocating unexpended funds from the prior Typhoon Slaku appropriation to pre‑landfall emergency operations for Tropical Depression 09W, known in testimony as Bobby.

Sponsor Senator Tidigree told members the measure does not create new spending but authorizes the use of any remaining balance from a prior $25 million Slaku appropriation so resources can be deployed before the storm arrives. "Hope is not a plan. Preparedness is," Tidigree said as he urged quick action and said the Bureau of Budget and Management Research (BBMR) had confirmed roughly $8 million remained available for reallocation.

The bill as amended requires several targeted disbursements and accountability measures. Amendments adopted on the floor raise the per‑mayor allotment to $250,000 (restoring the prior level used after Slaku), and require the government to disperse $250,000 to each Guam Department of Education (GDOE) school activated as a shelter. The sponsor and supporters said five schools are expected to be activated, which at $250,000 each would total $1,250,000. GDOE would be allowed to use the funds for shelter operations; the superintendent must report all expenditures to the public auditor within 45 days. The bill also directs $100,000 to the Mayor’s Council of Guam for administrative costs and sets an order of dispersal prioritizing mayoral offices, the mayor’s council, then GDOE shelter schools.

Lawmakers added a fiscal safeguard: any unexpended funds provided to mayors or GDOE shelters within 45 days must revert to the rainy day fund. The bill also includes reporting cadence adjustments, replacing the word "periodically" with scheduled reports every 30 days after the initial 60‑day period for dispersal accounting.

supporters repeatedly framed the measure as a pre‑emptive step because forecasters warned Bobby could rapidly intensify. A committee chair who described himself as the public safety and emergency management committee chair cited National Weather Service and Joint Typhoon Warning Center briefings that, he said, showed a high probability of rapid intensification and urged the body not to wait until after landfall.

The third reading and the motion to vote without engrossment were carried, and the clerk recorded a roll call: the bill passed with 13 yays and two excused. The motion text on the floor described the measure as an act to reallocate unexpended emergency funds from the Slaku appropriation to the government of Guam for emergency response to Tropical Depression 09W.

After the vote, several senators and floor speakers urged island residents to prepare. A member noted the governor had declared a state of emergency earlier that evening and said officials were preparing for very strong winds and rapid intensification.

The bill will be available to the executive for implementation; enacted disbursements must follow the reporting and reversion rules adopted on the floor. The emergency session adjourned after the passage and brief floor remarks.