Virginia SB 674: Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative; changes references relating to coastal resilience policy

Bill Text

VIRGINIAACTSOFASSEMBLY--2024SESSION
CHAPTER13
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 10.1-659, 10.1-660, and 62.1-223.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative at The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
[S674]
ApprovedMarch8,2024
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 10.1-659, 10.1-660, and 62.1-223.2 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted
as follows:
§10.1-659. Flood protection programs; coordination.
A. The provisions of this chapter shall be coordinated with the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master
Plan, the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan, and federal, state, and local flood prevention and water
quality programs to minimize loss of life, property damage, and negative impacts on the environment.
This program coordination shall include but not be limited to the following: flood prevention, flood
plain management, small watershed protection, dam safety, shoreline erosion and public beach
preservation, and soil conservation programs of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; the
construction activities of the Department of Transportation, including projects that result in hydrologic
modification of rivers, streams, and flood plains; the nontidal wetlands, water quality, Chesapeake Bay
Preservation Area criteria, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, and other water
management programs of the State Water Control Board; the Virginia Coastal Zone Management
Program at the Department of Environmental Quality; forested watershed management programs of the
Department of Forestry; the agricultural stewardship, farmland preservation, and disaster assistance
programs of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the statewide building code and
other land use control programs of the Department of Housing and Community Development; the habitat
management programs of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission; the hazard mitigation planning
and disaster response programs of the Department of Emergency Management; the fish and wildlife
habitat protection programs of the Department of Wildlife Resources; the mineral extraction regulatory
program of the Department of Energy; the flood plain restrictions of the Virginia Waste Management
Board; flooding-related research programs of the state universities; local government assistance programs
of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board; the Virginia Antiquities Act program of the
Department of Historic Resources; the public health and preparedness programs of the Virginia
Department of Health; the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; the State Corporation
Commission; and any other state agency programs deemed necessary by the Director, the Chief
Resilience Officer of the Commonwealth, and the Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal
Adaptation and Protection. The Department shall also coordinate with soil and water conservation
districts, Virginia Cooperative Extension agents, and planning district commissions, and shall coordinate
and cooperate with localities in rendering assistance to such localities in their efforts to comply with the
planning, subdivision of land, and zoning provisions of Chapter 22 (§15.2-2200 et seq.) of Title 15.2.
B. The Director, in coordination with the Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation
and Protection and the Chief Resilience Officer, shall hold meetings of representatives of the programs,
entities, and localities described in subsection A at least annually in order to determine, coordinate, and
prioritize the Commonwealth's efforts and expenditures to increase flooding resilience and flood
preparedness and to implement the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan and the Virginia Flood
Protection Master Plan. The Department shall review any revisions to the Virginia Flood Protection
Master Plan and provide an update on the progress of the implementation of the Virginia Coastal
Resilience Master Plan at any such meetings. The Department shall cooperate with other public and
private agencies having flood plain management programs and shall coordinate its responsibilities under
this article and any other law. These activities shall constitute the Commonwealth's flood resilience,
preparedness, prevention, and protection program.
C. 1. The Chief Resilience Officer, in coordination with the Special Assistant to the Governor for
Coastal Adaptation and Protection and the Director, shall establish the Virginia Coastal Resilience
Technical Advisory Committee (the Committee) to assist with developing, updating, and implementing
the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan.
2. The Committee shall be comprised of representatives of state agencies, coastal planning district
commissions, regional commissions, academic advisors, and any other representatives as needed.
Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall include the following individuals or their
designees: the executive directors of coastal