Vermont H 397: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes governing emergency management and flood response

Bill Text

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VT LEG #384270 v.1
No. 57. An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the statutes
governing emergency management and flood response.
(H.397)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
* * * Division of Emergency Management; Plans and Reports * * *
Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. § 3a is amended to read:
§ 3a. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION; DUTIES; BUDGET
(a) In addition to other duties required by law, the Division of Emergency
Management shall:
* * *
(3) Annually on or before the last legislative day in January, provide an
update and presentation to the House Committee on Government Operations
and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations
concerning all action items in the all-hazards mitigation plan required by
subdivision (1) of this subsection.
* * *
Sec. 2. 20 V.S.A. § 41 is amended to read:
§ 41. STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Department of Public Safety’s Vermont Division of Emergency
Management Division, in consultation with stakeholders, shall create, and
republish as needed, but not less than every five years, a comprehensive State
Emergency Management Plan. The Plan shall:

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VT LEG #384270 v.1
(1) detail response systems during all-hazards events, including
communications, coordination among State, local, private, and volunteer
entities, and the deployment of State and federal resources. The Plan shall also;
(2) detail the State’s emergency preparedness measures and goals,
including those for the prevention of, protection against, mitigation of, and
recovery from all-hazards events. The Plan shall; and
(3) include templates and guidance for regional emergency management
and for local emergency plans that support municipalities in their respective
emergency management planning.
* * * Voluntary Buyouts * * *
Sec. 3. 20 V.S.A. § 48 is amended to read:
§ 48. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND DISASTER MITIGATION
GRANT PROGRAM
* * *
(c) Administration; implementation.
(1) Grant awards. The Department of Public Safety, in coordination
with the Department of Environmental Conservation, shall administer the
Program, which shall award grants for the following:
* * *
(C) projects that implement disaster mitigation measures, adaptation,
or repair, including watershed restoration, voluntary buyouts for flood-

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impacted or -prone properties, and similar activities that directly reduce risks
to communities, lives, public collections of historic value, and property; and
* * *
* * * Division of Emergency Management; Assistance to Municipalities * * *
Sec. 4. 20 V.S.A. § 51 is added to read:
§ 51. DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; ALL-HAZARD
AND WEATHER ALERT SYSTEMS FOR MUNICIPAL
CORPORATIONS
Upon request of a municipal corporation, the Division of Emergency
Management shall assist the municipal corporation with access to the
following:
(1) a statewide river observation and modeling system that details
current river level observations and models river flood outlooks; and
(2) a statewide enhanced weather forecasting and alert system that:
(A) predicts local and regional conditions using advanced modeling;
and
(B) issues real-time warnings for potentially dangerous weather
through multiple communication channels.

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* * * Needs Assessment Report * * *
Sec. 5. DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; STATE
STAKEHOLDERS; NEEDS ASSESSMENT; REPORT
The Division of Emergency Management shall conduct a needs assessment
to identify any additional staffing, resources, technical needs, or authority
needed to carry out the provisions of this act. On or before November 15,
2025, the Division shall submit a written report to the House Committees on
Appropriations and on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the
Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Government Operations
containing the needs assessments conducted by the State agencies and
departments identified in this section.
* * * Municipal Finances and Indebtedness * * *
Sec. 6. 24 V.S.A. § 1585 is added to read:
§ 1585. UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE
Monies from a budget approved by the voters at an annual or special
meeting that are not expended by the end of a municipality’s fiscal year shall
be under the control and direction of the legislative body of the municipality
and may be carried forward from year to year as an unassigned fund balance.
Unassigned fund balances may be invested and reinvested as are other monies
received by a town treasurer and may be expended for any public purpose as
established by the legislative body of the municipality.

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Sec. 7. 24 V.S.A. § 1790 is added to read:
§ 1790. EMERGENCY BORROWING; ALL-HAZARD EVENT OR STATE
OF EMERGENCY
The legislative body of a municipality may borrow money, in the name of
the municipal corporation, by issuance of its notes or orders for the purpose of
paying expenses of the municipal corporation