Health and Safety Code § 34073

(a) Notwithstanding Section 50803.5, in the event of a natural disaster, applications for funding from the Natural Disaster Emergency Shelter Program shall be submitted directly to the department. The department shall assume direct responsibility for the review and evaluation of all applications, and shall be responsible for determining applicant eligibility and the need for the proposed activities.

(b) The initial notice of funding provided by the department for funds shall be transmitted as soon as practicably possible, but in no event later than 15 days after the statute providing that funding is chaptered.