The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 20: Internal Security and Public Safety

Chapter 001: Emergency Management

• § 1. Purpose and policy

  (a) Because of the increasing possibility of the occurrence of disasters or emergencies of unprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from all-hazards and in order to ensure that preparation of this State will be adequate to deal with such disasters or emergencies; to provide for the common defense; to protect the public peace, health, and safety; and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the State, it is found and declared to be necessary:

  (1) to create a State emergency management agency, and to authorize the creation of local and regional organizations for emergency management;

  (2) to confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads or legislative branches of the towns and cities of the State the emergency powers provided pursuant to this chapter;

  (3) to provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the towns and cities of the State; with other states and Canada; and with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency management functions; and

  (4) to authorize the establishment of organizations and to carry out the provisions of this chapter as necessary and appropriate.

  (b) It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the State that all emergency management functions of this State be coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable functions of the federal government including its various departments and agencies, of other states and localities, and of private agencies of every type, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation’s resources and facilities for dealing with any emergencies resulting from all-hazards. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2021, No. 20, § 111; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 25, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 2. Definitions

  As used in this chapter:

  (1) “All-hazards” means any natural disaster, health or disease-related emergency, accident, civil insurrection, use of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist or criminal incident, radiological incident, significant event, and designated special event, any of which may occur individually, simultaneously, or in combination and that poses a threat or may pose a threat, as determined by the Commissioner or designee, to property or public safety in Vermont.

  (2) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Safety.

  (3) “Director” means the Director of Vermont Division of Emergency Management.

  (4) “Emergency functions” include services provided by the Department of Public Safety, firefighting services, police services, sheriff’s department services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, emergency warning services, communications, evacuation of persons, emergency welfare services, protection of critical infrastructure, emergency transportation, temporary restoration of public utility services, other functions related to civilian protection, and all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for and carrying out of these functions.

  (5) “EPCRA” means the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001-11050 (1986).

  (6) “Emergency management” means the preparation for and implementation of all emergency functions, other than the functions for which the U.S. Armed Forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent, plan for, mitigate, and support response and recovery efforts from all-hazards. Emergency management includes the utilization of first responders and other emergency management personnel and the equipping, exercising, and training designed to ensure that this State and its communities are prepared to deal with all-hazards.

  (7) “First responder” means State, county, and local governmental and nongovernmental personnel who provide immediate support services necessary to perform emergency management functions during an emergency or all-hazards event, including:

  (A) emergency management and public safety personnel;

  (B) firefighters, as that term is defined in section 3151 of this title;

  (C) law enforcement officers, as that term is defined in section 2351a of this title;

  (D) public safety telecommunications and dispatch personnel;

  (E) emergency medical personnel and volunteer personnel, as those terms are defined in 24 V.S.A. § 2651;

  (F) licensed professionals who would provide clinical services and emergency care in hospitals and medical facilities created to address an all-hazards event;

  (G) public health personnel;

  (H) public works personnel, including water, wastewater, and stormwater personnel; and

  (I) equipment operators and other skilled personnel, who provide services necessary to enable the performance of emergency management functions.

  (8) “Hazard mitigation” means any action taken to reduce or eliminate the threat to persons or property from all-hazards.

  (9) “Hazardous chemical or substance” means:

  (A) Any chemical covered by 42 U.S.C. §§ 11021 and 11022 and defined in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200(c) or in 18 V.S.A. § 1722.

  (B) Any substance as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 9601(14) or designated hazardous by the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 9602(a) or 11002(a)(2).

  (C) Any hazardous material pursuant to 5 V.S.A. § 2001.

  (D) Fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, or rodenticides as defined in 6 V.S.A. § 911.

  (E) Any hazardous waste or material as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6602.

  (F) Any of the dangerous substances defined in section 2799 of this title.

  (10) “Hazardous chemical or substance incident” means any mishap or occurrence involving hazardous chemicals or substances that may pose a threat to persons or property.

  (11) “Homeland security” means the preparation for and carrying out of all emergency functions, other than the functions for which the U.S. Armed Forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize, or repair injury and damage resulting from or caused by enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action.

  (12) “Radiological incident” means any mishap or occurrence involving radiological activity that may pose a threat to persons or property. (Amended 1971, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 3, 1972; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2021, No. 20, § 112; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 3. Vermont Emergency Management Division

  (a) There is hereby created within the Department of Public Safety a division to be known as the Vermont Emergency Management Division.

  (b) There shall be a Director of Vermont Emergency Management who shall be in immediate charge of the Division. The Director shall be appointed by the Commissioner, with the approval of the Governor. The Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner and shall hold no other State office. The Director shall perform all the following duties:

  (1) coordinate the activities of all emergency management organizations within the State;

  (2) maintain liaison and cooperation with emergency management agencies and organizations of the federal government, other states, and Canada; and

  (3) perform additional duties and responsibilities required pursuant to this chapter and prescribed by the Governor.

  (c) The Commissioner, subject to the approval of the Governor, shall delegate to the several departments and agencies of the State government appropriate emergency management responsibilities and review and coordinate the emergency management activities of the departments and agencies with each other and with the activities of the districts and neighboring states, the neighboring Canadian province of Quebec, and the federal government. (Amended 1965, No. 125, § 17, eff. July 2, 1965; 1985, No. 4, eff. March 9, 1985; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 370, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 3a. Emergency Management Division; duties; budget

  (a) In addition to other duties required by law, the Division of Emergency Management shall:

  (1) Establish and maintain a comprehensive State emergency management strategy that includes an emergency management plan; establish and define regional emergency management committees; and prepare an all-hazards mitigation plan in cooperation with other State, regional, and local agencies in compliance with adopted federal standards for emergency management. The strategy shall be designed to protect the lives and property, including domestic animals, of persons within this State who might be threatened as the result of all-hazards, and shall align State coordination structures, capabilities, and resources into a unified and multidisciplined all-hazards approach to incident management.

  (2) Assist the State Emergency Response Commission, the local emergency planning committees, the regional emergency management committees, and the municipally established local organizations referred to in section 6 of this title in carrying out their designated emergency functions, including developing, implementing, and coordinating emergency plans.

  (b) Each fiscal year, the Division of Emergency Management, in collaboration with State and local agencies, the management of the nuclear reactor, the legislative bodies of the municipalities in the emergency planning zone where the nuclear reactor is located, the Windham Regional Planning Commission, and any other municipality or emergency planning zone entity required by the State to support the Radiological Emergency Response Plan, shall develop the budget for expenditures from the Radiological Emergency Response Plan Fund. The expenditure budget shall include all costs for evacuation notification systems.

  (c) From the Fund, each town within the emergency planning zone shall receive an annual base payment of no less than $5,000.00 for radiological emergency response-related expenditures from the Radiological Emergency Response Plan Fund. Additional expenditures by municipalities in the emergency planning zone, the Windham Regional Planning Commission, and any other municipality or emergency planning entity defined by the State as required to support the Plan shall be determined during the budget development process established by subsection (b) of this section. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 14, 1994; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2005, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 68a; 2021, No. 52, § 17.)

• § 4. Repealed. 1996, No. 188, § 4. [Effective until July 1, 2025]

• § 4. Language assistance services for State emergency communications [Effective July 1, 2025]

  (a) If an all-hazards event occurs, the Vermont Emergency Management Division shall ensure that language assistance services are available for all State communications regarding the all-hazards event, including relevant press conferences and emergency alerts, as soon as practicable. Language assistance services shall be provided for:

  (1) individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind; and

  (2) individuals with limited English proficiency.

  (b) As used in this section, an “individual with limited English proficiency” means a person who does not speak English as the person’s primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.

  (c) Annually, the Vermont Emergency Management Division shall hold a public meeting with members of the Vermont Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Advisory Council; the Office of Racial Equity; the Vermont Association of Broadcasters; and other relevant stakeholders to review the adequacy and efficacy of the provision and distribution of language assistance services of emergency communications over mass communication platforms to individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind as well as individuals with limited English language proficiency. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 21, eff. July 1, 2025.)

• § 5. Public safety districts

  (a) The Governor shall divide the State into public safety districts, one to correspond to each Vermont State Police troop area, as defined by the Commissioner. Each district shall be a reasonably self-sustaining, operating emergency management unit.

  (b) The emergency management executive in each district shall be known as the district coordinator. The district coordinator shall be appointed by the Commissioner and shall serve during the pleasure of the Commissioner. The district coordinator shall discharge emergency management powers within his or her district. Each public safety district shall maintain on file an all-hazards incident response plan in cooperation with any local emergency planning committee (LEPC) in that district and other State and local agencies. (Amended 1959, No. 23, § 1, eff. March 6, 1959; 1985, No. 4, eff. March 9, 1985; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1995, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)

• § 6. Local and regional organization for emergency management

  (a) Each town and city of this State shall establish a local organization for emergency management in accordance with the State emergency management plan and program. The executive officer or legislative branch of the town or city shall appoint a town or city emergency management director who shall have direct responsibility for the organization, administration, and coordination of the local organization for emergency management, subject to the direction and control of the executive officer or legislative branch. If the town or city has not adopted the town manager form of government in accordance with 24 V.S.A. chapter 37 and the executive officer or legislative branch of the town or city has not appointed an emergency management director, the executive officer or legislative branch shall appoint a town or city emergency management director. The town or city emergency management director may appoint an emergency management coordinator and other staff as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. In an instance of a vacancy of the position of a town or city emergency management director, the executive officer or the chair or president of the legislative branch shall be the emergency management director.

  (b) Each local organization for emergency management shall perform emergency management functions within the territorial limits of the town or city within which it is organized, which may include coordinating the utilization of first responders and other emergency management personnel pursuant to the all-hazards emergency management plan adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. In addition, each local organization for emergency management shall conduct such functions outside of the territorial limits as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and in accord with rules adopted by the Governor.

  (c)(1) Each local organization shall develop and maintain an all-hazards emergency management plan in accordance with the State Emergency Management Plan and guidance set forth by the Division of Emergency Management.

  (2) The Division shall amend the local emergency plan template and any best management practices or guidance the Division issues to municipalities to address the need for the siting of local and regional emergency shelters in a manner that allows access by those in need during an all-hazards event.

  (3) The Division shall advise municipalities that when a shelter is sited under a local emergency plan, the municipality should work with the Agency of Human Services, the American Red Cross, and community-based emergency or charitable food providers, to assess the facility and the facility’s potential operations, including the characteristics of the surrounding area during an all-hazards event, multiple routes of travel and possible hazards that could prevent access to the shelter, and the need for immediate and sustained access to food and water for individuals using the shelter.

  (4) The Division, in coordination with the Agency of Human Services, shall advise municipalities, upon completion of a local emergency management plan, on how to conduct training and exercises pertaining to sheltering.

  (d) Regional emergency management committees shall be established by the Division of Emergency Management.

  (1) Regional emergency management committees shall coordinate emergency planning and preparedness activities to improve their regions’ ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all disasters.

  (2) The Division of Emergency Management shall establish geographic boundaries and guidance documents for regional emergency planning committees in coordination with regional planning commissions and mutual aid associations.

  (3) A regional emergency management committee shall consist of voting and nonvoting members.

  (A) Voting members. The local emergency management director or designee and one representative from each town and city in the region shall serve as the voting members of the committee. A representative from a town or city shall be a member of the town’s or city’s emergency services community and shall be appointed by the town’s or city’s executive or legislative branch.

  (B) Nonvoting members. Nonvoting members may include representatives from the following organizations serving within the region: fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement, other entities providing emergency response personnel, media, transportation, regional planning commissions, hospitals, the Department of Health’s district office, the Division of Emergency Management, organizations serving vulnerable populations, local libraries, arts and culture organizations, regional development corporations, local business organizations, community-based emergency or charitable food providers, and any other interested public or private individual or organization.

  (C) Meeting quorum requirement. A regional emergency management committee may vote annually, at the committee’s final meeting of the calendar year, to modify its quorum requirement for meetings in the subsequent year; provided, however, that the quorum shall be not fewer than 20 percent of voting members.

  (4) Voting members shall annually elect a chair and vice chair of the committee from the voting membership. The chair shall develop a meeting schedule, agenda, and facilitate each meeting. The vice chair shall fill in for the chair during the chair’s absence.

  (5) Committees shall develop and maintain a regional plan, consistent with guidance provided by the Division of Emergency Management in coordination with regional planning commissions, that describes regional coordination and regionally available resources. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 14, 1994; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2021, No. 20, § 113; 2021, No. 52, § 12; 2023, No. 53, § 132a, eff. June 8, 2023; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 7. Mobile support units

  (a) Organization. The Commissioner is authorized to create and establish mobile support units as necessary to reinforce emergency management organizations in stricken areas and with due consideration of the plans of the federal government, the government of Canada, and other states. A mobile support unit shall be subject to call to duty and shall perform these functions in this State, in Canada, or in other states in accord with its charter and rules adopted by the Governor and with the terms of this chapter.

  (b) Personnel; powers and immunities, compensation.

  (1) Personnel of mobile support units while engaged in emergency management, whether within or outside the State, shall:

  (A) if they are employees of the State, have the powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities and receive the compensation incidental to their employment;

  (B) if they are employees of a political subdivision of the State, have the powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities and receive the compensation incidental to their employment; and

  (C) if they are not employees of the State, or a political subdivision of the State, be entitled to appropriate compensation as fixed by the Commissioner with the approval of the Governor, and to the same rights and immunities as are provided by law for the employees of this State.

  (2) All personnel of mobile support units, while engaged in emergency management, shall be subject to the operational control of the authority in charge of emergency management activities in the area in which they are serving and shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses.

  (c) Reimbursement of municipalities. The State shall reimburse a political subdivision of the State for the compensation paid and actual and necessary travel, subsistence, and maintenance expenses of employees of the political subdivision of the State while serving as members of a mobile support unit; for all payments of death, disability, or injury of the employees incurred in the course of such duty; and for all losses of or damage to supplies and equipment of the political subdivision of the State resulting from the operation of the mobile support unit.

  (d) Aid from other states. Whenever a mobile support unit of another state provides aid in this State pursuant to the orders of the governor of its home state and upon the request of the Governor, this State shall reimburse the other state for the compensation paid and actual and necessary travel, subsistence, and maintenance expenses of the personnel of the mobile support unit while providing the aid, and for all payments for death, disability, or injury of the unit’s personnel incurred in the course of providing the aid, and for all losses of or damage to supplies and equipment of the other state or a political subdivision of that state resulting from the provision of aid, provided that the laws of the other state contain provisions substantially similar to this section or that substantially similar provisions are contained in a reciprocal mutual-aid agreement or compact or that the federal government has authorized or agreed to make reimbursements for the mutual aid on a basis that is substantially similar to the requirements of this section.

  (e) Aid to other states. No personnel of mobile support units of this State shall be ordered by the Governor to operate in any other state unless the laws of the other state contain provisions substantially similar to this section or unless the reciprocal mutual aid agreements or compacts include provisions providing for such reimbursements or unless the reimbursements will be made by the federal government by law or agreement. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 9; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 2021, No. 20, § 114.)

• § 8. General powers of Governor

  (a) The Governor shall have general direction and control of the emergency management agency and shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

  (b) In performing the duties under this chapter, the Governor is further authorized and empowered:

  (1) Orders and rules. To make, amend, and rescind the necessary orders and rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter with due consideration of the plans of the federal government.

  (2) Plans.

  (A) To prepare a comprehensive plan and program for the emergency management of this State to be integrated into and coordinated with the emergency management plans of the federal government, the Canadian government, and other states to the fullest possible extent.

  (B) To coordinate the preparation of plans and programs for emergency management with public safety districts, local emergency planning committees, regional planning commissions, and by the municipalities of this State. The plans shall be integrated into and coordinated with the emergency management plans and program of this State to the fullest possible extent.

  (3) Inventories, training, mobilization. In accordance with the plan and program for the emergency management of the State:

  (A) to ascertain the requirements of the State or the municipalities for food, water, fuel, clothing, or other necessities of life in any all-hazards event and to plan for and procure supplies, medicines, materials, and equipment for the purposes set forth in this chapter;

  (B) to make surveys of the industries, resources, and facilities within the State as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, provided that no inventory or record of privately owned firearms shall be made under the provisions of this chapter; and

  (C) to institute training programs and public information programs, and to take all other preparatory steps, including the partial or full mobilization of emergency management organizations in advance of actual disaster, to ensure the furnishing of adequately trained and equipped forces of first responders and other emergency management personnel in time of need.

  (4) Cooperation with the President and others.

  (A) To cooperate with the President and the heads of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and with the officers and agencies of other states in matters pertaining to the emergency management of the State and nation.

  (B) To take any measures, consistent with the Vermont Constitution, that the Governor deems proper to implement any request for the president and the appropriate federal officers and agencies, for any action looking to emergency management, including the direction or control of mobilization of emergency management and homeland security forces, tests and exercises, warnings and signals for drills or emergencies, shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power connections and the suspension of all other utility services, the conduct of civilians and the movement and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic during, prior, and subsequent to drills or attack, public meetings or gatherings, and the evacuation and reception of the civilian population.

  (5) Services and facilities. To utilize the services and facilities of existing officers and agencies of the State and of the counties and municipalities of the State. All officers and agencies shall cooperate with and extend services and facilities to the Governor as the Governor may request.

  (6) Law enforcement. To take action and give directions to State and local law enforcement officers and agencies as may be reasonable and necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with the orders and rules made pursuant to this chapter.

  (7) Delegation of authority. To delegate any authority vested in the Governor under this chapter to the Commissioner or designee.

  (8) Mutual aid agreements with other states. On behalf of this State, to enter into reciprocal aid agreements under this chapter and pursuant to compacts with other states and the federal government or a province of a foreign country under such terms as the Congress of the United States may prescribe. These mutual aid arrangements shall be limited to the furnishing or exchange of food, water, fuel, clothing, medicine, and other supplies; engineering services; emergency housing; police services; National Guard units while under the control of the State; health; medical and related services; fire fighting, rescue, transportation, and construction services and equipment; personnel necessary to provide or conduct these services; and other supplies, equipment, facilities, personnel, and services as needed; and the reimbursement of costs and expenses for equipment, supplies, personnel, and similar items for mobile support units, firefighting, and police units and health units. The mutual aid agreements shall be made on such terms and conditions as the Governor deems necessary.

  (9) Mutual aid among municipalities. To sponsor, develop, and approve mutual aid plans and agreements among the towns and cities of the State, similar to the mutual aid arrangements referred to in this section. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 9; 2021, No. 20, § 115; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 26, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 9. Emergency powers of Governor

  Subject to the provisions of this chapter, in the event of an all-hazards event in or directed upon the United States or Canada that causes or may cause substantial damage or injury to persons or property within the State in any manner, the Governor may declare a state of emergency within the entire State or any portion or portions of the State. Thereafter, the Governor shall have and may exercise for as long as the Governor determines the emergency to exist the following additional powers within such area or areas:

  (1) To enforce all laws and rules relating to emergency management and to assume direct operational control of all first responders, other emergency management personnel, and volunteers in the affected area or areas.

  (2) To formulate and execute plans and rules for the control of traffic and to coordinate the activities of the departments or agencies of the State and of the political subdivisions of the State concerned directly or indirectly with public highways and streets, in a manner that will best effectuate the plans.

  (3) To prescribe the maximum rates of speed at which motor vehicles may be operated on any road, highway, or street in the State; prescribe the sizes and weights of such motor vehicles; suspend the application of any statute or rule levying or assessing any license, insofar as the statute or rule relates to the entry into or the privilege of operation in this State of any motor vehicle, including busses or house trailers, registered in any other state and with respect to which a valid and unexpired license has been issued by the other state.

  (4) To employ such measures and give such directions to the State or local boards of health as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

  (5) To utilize the services and facilities of existing officers and agencies of the State and of the cities and towns of the State; and all such officers and agencies shall cooperate with and extend their services and facilities to the Governor as he or she may request.

  (6) To use and employ within the State, from time to time, and as he or she may deem expedient, any of the property, services, and resources of the State, for the purposes set forth in this chapter.

  (7) To establish agencies and offices and to appoint executive, technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

  (8) Upon the declaration of an emergency as authorized in federal legislation that includes the State of Vermont, to cooperate with the President of the United States, the U.S. Armed Forces, with other federal departments, agencies, and independent establishments, and other states in matters pertaining to emergency management; and in connection therewith to take such action, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the State, that he or she may deem proper to carry into effect any request of the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

  (9) To order the evacuation of persons living or working within all or a portion of an area for which a state of emergency has been proclaimed.

  (10) As provided in 30 V.S.A. § 248(l), in consultation with the Chair of the Public Utility Commission and the Commissioner of Public Service or their designees, to waive the prohibitions contained in 30 V.S.A. § 248 upon site preparation for or construction of an electric transmission facility or a generating facility necessary to ensure the stability or reliability of the electric system or a natural gas facility. Waivers issued under this subdivision shall be subject to conditions required by the Governor and shall be valid for the duration of the declared emergency plus 180 days, or such lesser overall term as determined by the Governor. Upon the expiration of a waiver under this subdivision, if a certificate of public good has not been issued by the Public Utility Commission under 30 V.S.A. § 248, the Commission shall require the removal, relocation, or alteration of the facilities, subject to the waiver, as the Commission finds will best promote the general good of the State.

  (11) In consultation with the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee, to authorize the Agency to issue temporary emergency permits, with appropriate conditions to minimize significant adverse environmental impacts, after limited or no opportunity for public comment, allowing site preparation for, construction of, or operation of an electric transmission facility or a generating facility necessary to ensure the stability or reliability of the electric system or a natural gas facility. A permit issued under this subdivision shall be subject to conditions required by the Governor and shall be valid for the duration of the declared emergency plus 180 days, or such lesser overall term as determined by the Governor. Upon the expiration of a temporary emergency permit under this subdivision, if any applicable permits have not been issued by the Secretary or the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, the Secretary may seek enforcement under applicable law. (Amended 1959, No. 23, § 2, eff. March 6, 1959; 1983, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 16, 1984; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2003, No. 82 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2021, No. 20, § 116; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 27, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 10. Request to Governor by municipal authorities

  The all-hazards event provisions of this chapter shall not be brought into action unless the municipal director of emergency management, a member of the legislative body of the municipality, the city or town manager, or the mayor of a city that is within the area affected by an all-hazards event shall declare an emergency and request the Governor to find that a state of emergency exists and the Governor so finds, or unless the Governor declares a state of emergency under section 9 of this title. (Amended 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 11.)

• § 11. Additional emergency powers

  In the event of an all-hazards event, the Governor may exercise any or all of the following additional powers:

  (1) To authorize any department or agency of the State to lease or lend, on such terms and conditions and for a period related to the declaration of emergency to promote the public welfare and protect the interests of the State, any real or personal property of the State government.

  (2) To enter into a contract on behalf of the State for the lease or loan, on such terms and conditions and for such period as the Governor deems necessary to promote the public welfare and protect the interests of the State, of any real or personal property of the State government, or the temporary transfer or employment of personnel thereof to any town or city of the State. The chief executive, the chair or president of the legislative branch, or the emergency management director of the town or city is authorized for and in the name of the town or city to enter into the contract with the Governor for the leasing or lending of the property and personnel, and the chief executive, the chair or president of the legislative branch, or the emergency management director of the town or city may equip, maintain, utilize, and operate such property except news outlets, radio stations, places of worship and assembly, and other facilities for the exercise of constitutional freedom, and employ necessary personnel in accordance with the purposes for which such contract is executed.

  (3) To seize, take, or condemn property for the protection of the public or at the request of the President, or his or her authorized representatives including:

  (A) All means of transportation;

  (B) All stocks of fuel of whatever nature;

  (C) Food, clothing, equipment, materials, medicines, and all supplies;

  (D) Facilities, including buildings and plants; provided that neither this nor any other authority in this chapter shall be deemed to authorize the eviction of a householder and his or her family from their own home.

  (4) To sell, lend, give, or distribute all or any such property among the inhabitants of the State and to account to the State Treasurer for any funds received for such property.

  (5) To make compensation for the property seized, taken, or condemned on the following basis:

  (A) Whenever the Governor deems it advisable for the State to take property for temporary use or to take property permanently, the Governor, at the time of the taking, shall fix the amount of compensation to be paid for the property. In case the property is taken for temporary use and returned to the owner in a damaged condition the Governor shall fix the amount of compensation to be paid for the damage.

  (B) Whenever the Governor deems it advisable for the State to temporarily or permanently take title to property taken under this section, the Governor shall notify the owner of the property of the taking in writing by registered mail or in person, and shall file a copy of the notice with the Secretary of State.

  (C) Any owner of property of which possession has been either temporarily or permanently taken under the provisions of this chapter to whom no award has been made or who is dissatisfied with the amount awarded by the Governor may file a petition in the Superior Court within the county wherein the property was situated at the time of taking to have the amount to which the owner is entitled by way of damages or compensation determined, and either the petitioner or the State shall have the right to have the amount of such damages or compensation fixed after hearing by three disinterested appraisers appointed by the court, and who shall operate under substantive and administrative procedure to be established by the Superior judges. If the owner of the property is dissatisfied with the award of the appraisers, the owner may appeal the award to the Superior Court and thereafter have a trial by jury to determine the amount of the damages or compensation. The court costs of a proceeding brought under this section by the owner of the property shall be paid by the State, and the fees and expenses of any attorney for the owner shall also be paid by the State after allowances by the court in which the petition is brought in an amount determined by the court. The statute of limitations shall not apply to proceedings brought by owners of property under this section for and during the time that any court having jurisdiction over the proceedings is prevented from holding its usual and stated sessions due to conditions resulting from emergencies described in this chapter.

  (6) To perform and exercise other functions, powers, and duties as necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population. (Amended 1959, No. 23, § 3, eff. March 6, 1959; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974; 1985, No. 4, eff. March 9, 1985; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 12; 2021, No. 20, § 117; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 28, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 12. Repealed. 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 35.

• § 13. Termination of emergencies

  The Governor:

  (1) May terminate by declaration the emergencies provided for in sections 9 and 11 of this title; provided, however, that no emergencies shall be terminated prior to the termination of such emergency as provided in federal law.

  (2) May declare the state of emergency terminated in any area affected by an all-hazards event.

  (3) Upon receiving notice that a majority of the legislative body of a municipality affected by a natural disaster no longer desires that the state of emergency continue within its municipality, may declare the state of emergency terminated within that particular municipality. Upon the termination of the state of emergency, the functions as set forth in section 9 of this title shall cease, and the local authorities shall resume control. (Amended 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 14. Repealed. 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 35.

• § 15. Return of property

  (a) Whenever the need for the purposes of this chapter of any real or personal property acquired under this chapter shall terminate, the Governor may dispose of such property on such terms and conditions as he or she deems appropriate, but to the extent feasible and practicable the Governor shall give to the former owner of any property so disposed of an opportunity to reacquire it:

  (1) at its then fair value as determined by the Governor; or

  (2) if it is to be disposed of, other than at a public sale of which the Governor shall give reasonable notice, at less than such value, at the highest price any other person is willing to pay for the property.

  (b) The Governor need not provide an opportunity to reacquire property in the case of items that lose their identity in use or to property having a fair value of less than $500.00. (Amended 2021, No. 20, § 118.)

• § 16. Orders and rules

  The towns and cities of the State and other agencies designated or appointed by the Governor are authorized and empowered to make, amend, and rescind orders and rules as necessary for emergency management purposes and to supplement the carrying out of the provisions of this chapter. Orders and rules adopted pursuant to this section shall not be inconsistent with any orders and rules adopted by the Governor or by any State agency exercising a power delegated to it by him or her. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; 2021, No. 20, § 119.)

• § 17. Gift, grant, or loan

  (a) Federal. Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, whenever the federal government or any agency or officer of the federal government offers to the State, or through the State to any town or city within Vermont, services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, or loan for purposes of emergency management, the State, acting through the Governor in coordination with the Department of Public Safety, or such town or city acting with the consent of the Governor and through its executive officer or legislative branch, may accept the offer, and upon such acceptance, the Governor or the executive officer or legislative branch of the political subdivision may authorize any officer of the State or of the political subdivision, as the case may be, to receive the services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds on behalf of the State or the political subdivisions, and subject to the terms of the offer and rules, if any, of the agency making the offer. Whenever a federal grant is contingent upon a State or local contribution, or both, the Department of Public Safety and the political subdivision shall determine whether the grant shall be accepted and, if accepted, the respective shares to be contributed by the State and town or city concerned.

  (b) Private. Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, whenever any person, firm, or corporation offers to the State or to any town or city in Vermont services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, or loan, for purposes of emergency management, the State, acting through the Governor, or the political subdivision, acting through its executive officer or legislative branch, may accept the offer, and upon such acceptance, the Governor or executive officer or legislative branch of the political subdivision may authorize any officer of the State or the political subdivision, as the case may be, to receive the services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds on behalf of the State or the political subdivision and subject to the terms of the offer.

  (c)(1) Any services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, or loan for purposes of emergency management, accepted by the Governor pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be accepted in accordance with the provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 5.

  (2)(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Governor shall have the sole authority to accept services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, or loan for purposes of emergency management pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, or both, if there exists a reasonable expectation that without the acceptance the all-hazards event will imminently cause bodily harm, loss of life, or significant property damage within the State.

  (B) As soon as practicable after an acceptance pursuant to subdivision (A) of this subdivision (2), the Department of Finance and Management shall provide the Joint Fiscal Committee and Legislative Joint Fiscal Office a report detailing the acceptance and shall include information with respect to the following items:

  (i) the circumstances leading the Governor to reasonably expect that without the acceptance the all-hazards event would have imminently caused bodily harm, loss of life, or significant property damage within the State;

  (ii) the source and value;

  (iii) the legal and referenced title, in the case of a grant;

  (iv) the costs, direct and indirect, for the present and future years;

  (v) the receiving department or program, or both; and

  (vi) a brief statement of purpose. (Amended 1985, No. 4, eff. March 9, 1985; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 14; 2021, No. 20, § 120; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 30, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 18. Personnel requirements and nonsubversion

  No person shall be employed or associated in any capacity in any emergency management organization established under this chapter who advocates a change by force or violence in the constitutional form of the government of the United States or in this State or the overthrow of any government in the United States by force or violence, or who has been convicted of or is under indictment or information charging any subversive act against the United States. Each person who is employed by an emergency management organization established under this chapter and whose access to facilities, materials, or information requires a security clearance, as determined by the Commissioner, shall be subject to a background check and a criminal history record check. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 15.)

• § 19. Powers outside town of appointment

  Whenever the employees of any town or city are rendering outside aid pursuant to the authority contained in this chapter, such employees shall have the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities as if they were performing their duties in the town or city in which they are normally employed. (Amended 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 371, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 20. Immunities and defenses

  (a) Except in the case of willful misconduct or gross negligence, the State; any of its agencies; State employees as defined in 3 V.S.A. § 1101; political subdivisions; local emergency planning committees; or an individual, partnership, association, or corporation involved in emergency management activities shall not be liable for the death of or any injury to persons or loss or damage to property resulting from an emergency management service or response activity, including the development of local emergency plans and the response to those plans. Nothing in this section shall exclude the State, its agencies, political subdivisions, or employees from the protections and rights provided in 12 V.S.A. chapter 189.

  (b) Any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or facility that provides personnel, training, or equipment through an agreement with the local emergency planning committee, the State Emergency Response Commission, or local emergency response officials is immune from civil liability to the same extent provided in subsection (a) of this section for any act performed within the scope of the agreement. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 372, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 21. Compensation for injury or death

  A volunteer, as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 1101(b)(4), shall be entitled to compensation as provided in Titles 21 and 29. (Amended 1981, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 18; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 17.)

• § 22. Repealed. 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 35, eff. May. 31, 2006.

• § 23. General powers not limited by specific powers

  The general powers provided for in this chapter shall not be limited by any specific powers granted to the Governor by any of the provisions of this chapter.

• § 24. Penalties

  Any person violating any provision of this chapter or any rule or order adopted pursuant to this chapter, which rule or order shall be filed with the Secretary of State, shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500.00 or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. (Amended 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 373, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 25. Matching funds

  To the extent of any appropriation available to carry out the purposes of this chapter, federal monies for emergency management within the State may be matched from such an appropriation. (Added 1959, No. 23, § 5, eff. March 6, 1959; amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 20; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 19; 2021, No. 20, § 121.)

• § 26. Change of venue because of an all-hazards event

  In the event that the place where a civil action or a criminal prosecution is required by law to be brought has become and remains unsafe because of an attack upon the United States or Canada or an all-hazards event, such action or prosecution may be brought in or, if already pending, may be transferred to the Superior Court in an unaffected unit and there tried in the place provided by law for such court. (Added 1959, No. 23, § 7, eff. March 6, 1959; amended 1965, No. 194, § 10; 1973, No. 118, § 23, eff. Oct. 1, 1973; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 156; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 31, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 27. Auxiliary State Police

  For the purposes of emergency management, as the term is defined in section 2 of this title, the Commissioner of Public Safety may recruit and train for police duty citizens, including sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables, and police officers, from whom he or she may augment the State Police, in emergency functions, by employing such number of them, for such period and at such compensation as the Governor may fix, as auxiliary State Police, who shall take the oath prescribed for sheriffs and, while so employed, shall each wear a distinctive arm badge marked with the words “AUXILIARY STATE POLICE” and shall have the powers and immunities of the State Police as defined in section 1914 of this title. (Added 1959, No. 23, § 8, eff. March 6, 1959; amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 21.)

• § 28. Emergency management medical program

  The Department of Health is hereby directed, within the limits of appropriations and grants made to it, and in coordination with local, State, and federal emergency management officials, to plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive emergency management medical program to protect and assist the people of the State in an all-hazards event. (Added 1961, No. 151; amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 22; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 20.)

• § 29. Emergency shelters; no private liability

  Any person owning or controlling premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants a license or privilege, or otherwise permits the designation or use of the whole or any part of such land and premises for the purpose of sheltering persons or animals or providing health-related services during a declared emergency or practice drill in cooperation with a federal, State, or political subdivision, shall, together with successors in interest, not be civilly liable for negligence causing the death of or injury to any person on or about the land and premises or for loss of or damage to the property of the person during a declared emergency or practice drill. (Added 1963, No. 67, eff. May 2, 1963; amended 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 21.)

• § 30. State Emergency Response Commission; creation

  (a) The State Emergency Response Commission is created within the Department of Public Safety. The Commission shall consist of 18 members: eight ex officio members, including the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Secretary of Natural Resources, the Secretary of Transportation, the Commissioner of Health, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Commissioner of Labor, the Director of Fire Safety, and the Director of Emergency Management, or designees; and 10 public members, including a representative from each of the following: local government, the local emergency planning committee, a regional planning commission, the fire service, law enforcement, public works, emergency medical service, a hospital, a transportation entity required under EPCRA to report chemicals to the State Emergency Response Commission, and another entity required to report extremely hazardous substances under EPCRA.

  (b) The 10 public members shall be appointed for staggered three-year terms as described in this subsection.

  (1) Three public members, appointed by the Speaker of the House.

  (2) Three public members, appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees.

  (3) Four public members, appointed by the Governor.

  (4) When the seat of a public member is vacated, the replacement member shall be appointed on a rotating basis starting with the Speaker of the House, with the next appointment to be made by the Senate Committee on Committees, and then the next appointment to be made by the Governor, and then beginning again.

  (c) The Governor shall appoint the Chair of the Commission.

  (d) Members of the Commission, except State employees who are not otherwise compensated as part of their employment and who attend meetings, shall be entitled to a per diem and expenses as provided in 32 V.S.A. § 1010. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; amended 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 14, 1994; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 22; 2007, No. 47, § 16; 2021, No. 52, § 13; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 32, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 31. State Emergency Response Commission; duties

  (a) The Commission shall have authority to:

  (1) Carry out all the requirements of a commission under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001-11050 (1986) (EPCRA).

  (2) Adopt rules necessary for the implementation of EPCRA and for the reporting of hazardous chemicals or substances, including setting minimum limits on the level of hazardous chemicals to be reported.

  (3) Designate and appoint local emergency planning committees.

  (4) Review and comment on the development and implementation of local emergency plans by the local emergency planning committee and provide assistance to that committee in executing its duties.

  (5) Review and comment on the comprehensive State Emergency Management Plan and the local emergency planning committee plans.

  (6) Meet with interested parties, which may include representatives of the carrier industry shippers, and State and local agencies having an interest, responsibility, or expertise concerning hazardous materials.

  (7) Ensure that the State Emergency Management Plan will go into effect when an accident occurs involving the transportation of hazardous materials. The Plan shall be exercised at least once annually and shall be coordinated with local and State emergency plans.

  (8) Jointly adopt rules concerning reportable quantities of economic poison as defined in 6 V.S.A. § 911(5) with the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The Commission may enter into contracts with governmental agencies or private organizations to carry out the duties of this section.

  (9) Recommend funding for awards to be made by the Commissioner for planning, training, exercises, and response capabilities from funds that are available from federal sources or through the Hazardous Substances Fund created in section 38 of this title. The Commission may create committees as necessary for other related purposes and delegate funding recommendation powers to those committees.

  (b) The Department of Public Safety shall provide administrative support to the State Emergency Response Commission. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 24; amended 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. June 14, 1994; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2021, No. 52, § 14; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 32. Local emergency planning committees; creation; duties

  (a) One or more local emergency planning committees, created under EPCRA, shall be appointed by the State Emergency Response Commission. “EPCRA” means the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001–11050.

  (b) All local emergency planning committees shall include representatives from the following: fire departments; local and regional emergency medical services; local, county, and State law enforcement; other entities providing first responders or emergency management personnel; media; transportation; regional planning commissions; hospitals; industry; the Vermont National Guard; the Department of Health’s district office; and an animal rescue organization, and may include any other interested public or private individual or organization. Where the local emergency planning committee represents more than one region of the State, the Commission shall appoint representatives that are geographically diverse.

  (c) A local emergency planning committee shall perform all the following duties:

  (1) Carry out all the requirements of a committee pursuant to EPCRA, including preparing a local emergency planning committee plan. The plan shall be coordinated with the State emergency management plan and may be expanded to address all-hazards identified in the State emergency management plan. At a minimum, the local emergency planning committee plan shall include the following:

  (A) Identifies facilities and transportation routes of extremely hazardous substances.

  (B) Describes the utilization of first responders and other emergency management personnel and emergency response procedures, including those identified in facility plans.

  (C) Designates a local emergency planning committee coordinator and facility coordinators to implement the plan.

  (D) Outlines emergency notification procedures.

  (E) Describes how to determine the probable affected area and population by releases of hazardous substances.

  (F) Describes local emergency equipment and facilities and the persons responsible for them.

  (G) Outlines evacuation plans.

  (H) Provides for coordinated local training to ensure integration with the State emergency management plan.

  (I) Provides methods and schedules for exercising emergency plans.

  (2) Upon receipt by the committee or the committee’s designated community emergency coordinator of a notification of a release of a hazardous chemical or substance, ensure that the local emergency plan has been implemented.

  (3) Consult and coordinate with the heads of local government emergency services, the emergency management director or designee, persons in charge of local first responders and other local emergency management personnel, regional planning commissions, and the managers of all facilities within the jurisdiction regarding the facility plan.

  (4) Review and evaluate requests for funding and other resources and advise the State Emergency Response Commission concerning disbursement of funds.

  (5) Work to support the various emergency services and other entities providing first responders or emergency management personnel, mutual aid systems, town governments, regional planning commissions, State agency district offices, and others in their area in conducting coordinated all-hazards emergency management activities. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 25; amended 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 24; 2021, No. 20, § 122; 2021, No. 52, § 15; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 33. HAZMAT teams; team chiefs; creation

  (a) The Department of Public Safety is authorized to create a State hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response team. The Commissioner shall appoint a HAZMAT team chief, consistent with rules adopted by the Department of Human Resources, to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the HAZMAT response team.

  (b) The HAZMAT team chief shall perform all the following duties:

  (1) organize a State HAZMAT response team to assist local emergency planning committees, fire chiefs, and other emergency management officials in response to hazardous chemical and substance (HAZMAT) incidents;

  (2) hire persons for the HAZMAT team from fire, police, and emergency organizations and persons with specialty backgrounds in hazardous materials, and, with the approval of the Director of the Division of Fire Safety, appoint crew chiefs;

  (3) negotiate with municipalities that maintain firefighting departments to secure appropriate facilities and personnel to house and maintain the response team’s vehicles and equipment and to provide drivers for the response vehicles;

  (4) coordinate the acquisition and maintenance of adequate vehicles and equipment for the response teams;

  (5) ensure that response team personnel are organized, trained, and exercised in accordance with the standards set by the Fire Service Training Council and the State Emergency Response Commission; and

  (6) ensure that appropriate regional mutual aid agreements are created so that all firefighting departments within the region may participate with the regional HAZMAT response team.

  (c) The State shall reimburse a municipality for the actual costs expended to cover the duties of a municipality’s employee who is an employee of the State HAZMAT team and who is requested to leave his or her employment at the municipality to respond to a HAZMAT incident or attend HAZMAT team training.

  (d) The Department of Public Safety may employ as many State HAZMAT team responders as the Commissioner deems necessary as temporary State employees, who shall be compensated as such when authorized to respond to a HAZMAT incident or to attend HAZMAT training. State HAZMAT team responders, whenever acting as State agents in accordance with this section, shall be afforded all of the protections and immunities of State employees.

  (e) The team chief and the crew chiefs, referred to in subdivision (b)(2) of this section, shall have the authority to accept the transfer of control of a hazardous material incident from the chief engineer or senior fire officer at a scene. (Added 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. June 14, 1994; amended 1995, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2-4, eff. April 23, 1996; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 78, eff. May 24, 2000; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 25; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 374, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 34. Temporary housing for disaster victims

  (a) Whenever the Governor declares an emergency under the laws of this State, or the President has declared an emergency or an all-hazards event to exist in this State, the Governor is authorized:

  (1) To enter into purchase, lease, or other arrangements with any agency of the United States for temporary housing units to be occupied by disaster victims and to make such units available to any political subdivision of the State.

  (2) To assist any political subdivision of this State that is the locus of temporary housing for disaster victims to acquire sites necessary for the temporary housing and to prepare the site to receive and utilize temporary housing units by:

  (A) advancing or lending funds available to the Governor from any appropriation made by the General Assembly or from any other source;

  (B) “passing through” funds made available by any agency, public or private; or

  (C) becoming a co-partner with the political subdivision for the execution and performance of any temporary housing for disaster victims project and for such purposes to pledge the credit of the State on such terms as the Governor deems appropriate having due regard for current debt transactions of the State.

  (b) During a declared state of emergency, the Governor may, by order or rule, temporarily suspend or modify for not more than 60 days any law or rule pertaining to public health, safety, zoning, or transportation if, the Governor deems the suspension or modification essential to provide temporary housing for disaster victims.

  (c) Any political subdivision of this State is expressly authorized to acquire, temporarily or permanently, by purchase, lease, or otherwise, sites required for installation of temporary housing units for disaster victims, and to enter into whatever arrangements are necessary to prepare or equip such sites to utilize the housing units, including the purchase of temporary housing units and payment of transportation charges.

  (d) [Repealed.]

  (e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the Governor’s authority to apply for, administer, and expend any grants, gifts, or payments in aid of disaster prevention, preparedness, response, or recovery.

  (f) [Repealed.] (Added 1975, No. 97, § 1, eff. April 30, 1975; amended 2021, No. 20, § 123; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 33, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 35. Community disaster loans

  Whenever, at the request of the Governor, the President has declared a “major disaster” to exist in this State, the Governor is authorized:

  (1) upon the Governor’s determination that a local government of the State will suffer a substantial loss of tax and other revenues from a major disaster and has demonstrated a need for financial assistance to perform its governmental functions, to apply to the federal government, on behalf of the local government, for a loan and to receive and disburse the proceeds of any approved loan to any applicant local government;

  (2) to determine the amount needed by any applicant local government to restore or resume its governmental functions and to certify the same to the federal government; provided, however, that no application amount shall exceed 25 percent of the annual operating budget of the applicant for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs; and

  (3) to recommend to the federal government, based upon the Governor’s review, the cancellation of all or any part of repayment when, in the first three full fiscal year period following the major disaster, the revenues of the local government are insufficient to meet its operating expenses, including additional disaster-related expenses of a municipal operation character. (Added 1975, No. 97, § 2, eff. April 30, 1975; amended 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 375, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 36. Debris and wreckage removal

  (a) Whenever the Governor has declared a disaster emergency to exist under the laws of this State, or the President, at the request of the Governor, has declared a major disaster or emergency to exist in this State, the Governor is authorized:

  (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, through the use of State departments or agencies, or the use of any of the State’s instrumentalities, to clear or remove from publicly or privately owned land or water, debris and wreckage that may threaten public health or safety, or public or private property, in any disaster emergency declared by the Governor or major disaster declared by the President.

  (2) To accept funds from the federal government and utilize the funds to make grants to any local government for the purpose of removing debris or wreckage from publicly or privately owned land or water.

  (b) Authority under this chapter shall not be exercised unless the affected local government, corporation, organization, or individual shall first present an unconditional authorization for removal of the debris or wreckage from public and private property and, in the case of removal of debris or wreckage from private property, shall first agree to indemnify the State government against any claim arising from such removal.

  (c) Whenever the Governor provides for clearance of debris or wreckage pursuant to subsections (a) or (b) of this section, employees of the designated State agencies or individuals appointed by the State are authorized to enter upon private land or waters and perform any tasks necessary to the removal or clearance operation.

  (d) Except in cases of willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith, any State employee or agent complying with orders of the Governor and performing duties pursuant to the Governor’s orders under this chapter shall not be liable for death of or injury to persons or damage to property.

  (e) The Governor is authorized to adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (Added 1975, No. 97, § 3, eff. April 30, 1975; amended 2021, No. 20, § 124.)

• § 37. State financial participation in grants to disaster victims

  (a) Whenever the President, at the request of the Governor, has declared a major disaster to exist in this State, the Governor is authorized:

  (1) Upon his or her determination that financial assistance is essential to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a major disaster that cannot be otherwise adequately met from other means of assistance, to accept a grant by the federal government to fund such financial assistance, subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed upon the grant.

  (2) To enter into an agreement with the federal government, or any officer or agency of the federal government, under which the State is to participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized in subdivision (1) of this subsection, in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the amount of financial assistance and, if State funds are not otherwise available to the Governor, to accept an advance of the State share from the federal government to be repaid when the State is able to do so.

  (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the Governor is authorized to make financial grants to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a major disaster that cannot otherwise adequately be met from other means of assistance, which shall not exceed $5,000.00 in the aggregate to an individual or family in any single major disaster declared by the President.

  (c) The Governor shall adopt rules as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including standards of eligibility for persons applying for benefits; procedures for applying and administration; methods of investigation, filing, and approving applications; and formation of local or statewide boards to pass upon applications and procedures for appeals.

  (d) Any person who fraudulently or willfully makes a misstatement of fact in connection with an application for financial assistance under this title shall, upon conviction of each offense, be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000.00 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. (Added 1975, No. 97, § 4, eff. April 30, 1975; amended 2021, No. 20, § 125.)

• § 38. Special funds

  There is created a Hazardous Chemical and Substance Emergency Response Fund that shall include all monies paid to the State pursuant to section 39 of this title. The Fund shall be managed pursuant to the provisions of 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5. The Fund shall be used to implement and administer this chapter, including planning, training, and response activities as well as the purchase of equipment and assisting local organizations referred to in section 6 of this chapter to develop emergency plans. Each local emergency planning committee shall receive an annual grant from the Commissioner of Public Safety. The annual total grant amount to be allocated to local emergency planning committees statewide shall not exceed $52,000.00, and the Commissioner shall divide the total annual grant amount equally among the local emergency planning committees. After disbursement of the funding and after consideration of the comments and evaluation received from the local emergency planning committee and the State Emergency Response Commission, the Commissioner of Public Safety at the Commissioner’s discretion may make additional grants from the Fund to any local emergency planning committee or regional emergency response commission as well as to any political subdivisions including any city, town, fire district, incorporated village and other incorporated entities in the State in accordance with rules adopted by the State Emergency Response Commission. Unless waived by the State Emergency Response Commission, grants shall be matched by local governments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant. The matching may be by contribution or by privately furnished funds or by in-kind services, space, or equipment that would otherwise be purchased by a local emergency planning committee. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; amended 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. June 14, 1994; 1995, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 425, eff. May 22, 1996; 1997, No. 59, § 5, eff. June 30, 1997; 1999, No. 49, § 206; 2001, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 114; 2003, No. 66, §§ 97a, 97b; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 2005, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 68b; 2007, No. 65, § 71a; 2007, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.904; 2009, No. 33, § 41; 2021, No. 20, § 126; 2021, No. 52, § 16.)

• § 39. Fees to the hazardous substances fund

  (a) Every person required to report the use or storage of hazardous chemicals or substances pursuant to EPCRA shall pay the following annual fees for each hazardous chemical or substance, as defined by the State Emergency Response Commission, that is present at the facility:

  (1) $40.00 for quantities between 100 and 999 pounds.

  (2) $60.00 for quantities between 1,000 and 9,999 pounds.

  (3) $100.00 for quantities between 10,000 and 99,999 pounds.

  (4) $290.00 for quantities between 100,000 and 999,999 pounds.

  (5) $880.00 for quantities exceeding 999,999 pounds.

  (6) An additional fee of $250.00 will be assessed for each extremely hazardous chemical or substance as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 11002.

  (b) The fee shall be paid to the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall be deposited into the Hazardous Chemical and Substance Emergency Response Fund.

  (c) The following are exempted from paying the fees required by this section but shall comply with the reporting requirements of this chapter:

  (1) municipalities and other political subdivisions;

  (2) State agencies;

  (3) persons engaged in farming as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6001; and

  (4) nonprofit corporations.

  (d) No person shall be required to pay a fee for a chemical or substance that has been determined to be an economic poison as defined in 6 V.S.A. § 911 or for a fertilizer or agricultural lime as defined in 6 V.S.A. § 363 and for which a registration or tonnage fee has been paid to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets pursuant to 6 V.S.A. chapter 28 or 81.

  (e) The State or any political subdivision, including any municipality, fire district, emergency medical service, or incorporated village, is authorized to recover any and all reasonable direct expenses incurred as a result of the response to and recovery of a hazardous chemical or substance incident from the person or persons responsible for the incident. All funds collected by the State under this subsection shall be deposited into the Hazardous Chemical and Substance Emergency Response Fund created pursuant to subsection 38(b) of this chapter. The Attorney General shall act on behalf of the State to recover these expenses. The State or political subdivision shall be awarded costs and reasonable attorney’s fees that are incurred as a result of exercising the provisions of this subsection.

  (f)(1) The Department of Public Safety shall have authority to inspect the premises and records of any employer to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.

  (2) A person who violates any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 for each violation. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed to be a separate violation.

  (3) The Attorney General may bring an action for injunctive relief in the Superior Court of the county in which a violation occurs to compel compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; amended 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1990; 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 7, 8, eff. June 14, 1994; 1999, No. 49, § 158; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2003, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 2005, No. 72, § 14; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 2007, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2015, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 36; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 376, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 34, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 40. Repealed. 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 35, eff. July 1, 2024.

  (Added 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. June 14, 1994.)

• § 41. State Emergency Management Plan

  The Department of Public Safety’s Vermont Emergency Management Division shall create, and republish as needed, but not less than every five years, a comprehensive State Emergency Management Plan. The Plan shall 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 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 include templates and guidance for regional emergency management and for local emergency plans that support municipalities in their respective emergency management planning. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• §§ 42-44. Repealed. 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 28(b).

• § 45. Emergency relief and assistance

  (a) If a state of emergency due to an all-hazards event is declared by the Governor, the Secretary of Administration may expend from the Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund such funds necessary to meet match requirements for federal grants.

  (b) The Emergency Board established by 32 V.S.A. § 131 may authorize the Secretary of Administration to expend from the Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 to avert an emergency natural or otherwise as identified by the Board and to expend from the Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund to award low-interest loans and grants to municipalities that sustain damage to public infrastructure as a result of a natural disaster and to persons whose homes, farms, or businesses are damaged by a natural disaster. Assistance under this subsection may supplement assistance provided through federal and local emergency assistance programs, but eligibility for federal or local assistance shall not be required for eligibility under this subsection.

  (c) There is created an Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund to be administered by the Secretary of Administration as a special fund under the provisions of 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5. The Fund shall contain any amounts transferred or appropriated to it by the General Assembly.

  (d) Funds utilized under this section shall be distributed in accordance with criteria and procedures established by rule by the Secretary of Administration.

  (e) [Repealed.] (Added 1999, No. 62, § 272a; amended 1999, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 278, eff. May 29, 2000; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 28; 2005, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 282; 2009, No. 33, § 83(i)(1).)

• § 46. Disaster Relief Workers Fund; health care providers; reimbursement

  (a) The Disaster Relief Workers Fund is established in the State Treasury, and shall be managed in accordance with the provisions of 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5. The Fund is established for the purpose of providing pay reimbursement to employers of certain public or private health care providers who perform mental health disaster relief services.

  (b) All monies received by or generated to the Fund shall be used to provide wage reimbursement to any public or private Vermont employer for disaster relief services rendered by its employee. The employee shall be a certified disaster relief service volunteer of the American Red Cross. Reimbursement shall be for not more than 14 days for performing disaster relief work pursuant to a request from the American Red Cross when:

  (1) the work is performed in Vermont;

  (2) the disaster is a federal or presidentially declared disaster designated as Level III or above, according to the American Red Cross rules and procedures; or

  (3) the disaster is declared by the governor of a state or territory.

  (c) The proceeds from grants, donations, contributions, and other sources of revenue, as provided by law, may be deposited in the Fund. Interest earned on the Fund and any balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the Fund. The Treasurer’s Office shall maintain records that indicate the amount of money in the Fund at any given time.

  (d) The Commissioner of Finance and Management shall issue warrants for disbursement from the Fund only for the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, and shall administer the Fund pursuant to an appropriation from the Fund by the General Assembly or authorization from the Emergency Board.

  (e) For mental health care relief services, the Commissioner of Mental Health or a director of a regional mental health center may make timely applications to any and all appropriate federal or other grant programs that provide money for disaster relief or homeland security services, including the Crisis Counseling Training and Assistance Program. Any monies awarded from these sources for the purposes authorized in subsection (b) of this section shall be deposited into the Disaster Relief Workers Fund. The Commissioner of Mental Health shall supervise the administration of mental health care reimbursements under this section.

  (f) Nothing in this section shall render an employer liable for damage, injury, or harm caused or sustained by an employee who performs disaster relief services and who is eligible for reimbursement under this section, whether or not reimbursement occurs. (Added 2001, No. 100 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 120; 2021, No. 20, § 127.)

• § 47. Municipal deadlines, plans, and licenses; extension

  (a) During a state of emergency declared under this chapter, a municipal corporation may:

  (1) extend any statutory deadline applicable to municipal corporations, provided that the deadline does not relate to a license, permit, program, or plan issued or administered by the State or federal government; and

  (2) extend or waive deadlines applicable to licenses, permits, programs, or plans that are issued by the municipal corporation.

  (b) During a state of emergency declared under this chapter, any expiring license, permit, program, or plan issued by a municipal corporation that is due for renewal or review shall remain valid for 90 days after the date that the declared state of emergency ends. (Added 2021, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 48. Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Grant Program

  (a) Program established. There is established the Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Grant Program to award grants to covered municipalities to provide support for disaster mitigation, adaptation, or repair activities.

  (b) Definition. As used in this section, “covered municipality” means a city, town, fire district or incorporated village, and all other governmental incorporated units that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Chapter 50.

  (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:

  (A) technical assistance for natural disaster mitigation, adaptation, or repair to municipalities;

  (B) technical assistance for the improvement of municipal stormwater systems and other municipal infrastructure;

  (C) projects that implement disaster mitigation measures, adaptation, or repair, including watershed restoration and similar activities that directly reduce risks to communities, lives, public collections of historic value, and property; and

  (D) projects to adopt and meet the State’s model flood hazard bylaws.

  (2) Grant Program design. The Department of Public Safety, in coordination with the Department of Environmental Conservation, shall design the Program. The Program design shall:

  (A) establish an equitable system for distributing grants statewide on the basis of need according to a system of priorities, including the following:

  (i) projects that meet the standards established by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Stream Alteration Rule and Flood Hazard Area and River Corridor Rule;

  (ii) projects that use funding as a match for other grants, including grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA);

  (iii) projects that are in hazard mitigation plans; and

  (iv) projects that are geographically located around the State;

  (B) establish guidelines for disaster mitigation measures and costs that will be eligible for grant funding; and

  (C) establish eligibility criteria for covered municipalities, but allow municipalities to partner with community organizations to apply for grants and implement projects awarded funding by those grants.

  (3) Annually, by November 15, the Department of Public Safety shall submit a report detailing the current Program design and any grants awarded pursuant to this section during the preceding year to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 49. Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Fund

  (a) Creation. There is established the Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Fund to provide funding to the Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Grant Program established in section 48 of this title. The Fund shall be administered by the Department of Public Safety.

  (b) Monies in the Fund. The Fund shall consist of monies appropriated or transferred to the Fund.

  (c) Fund administration.

  (1) The Commissioner of Finance and Management may anticipate receipts to this Fund and issue warrants based thereon.

  (2) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall maintain accurate and complete records of all receipts by and expenditures from the Fund.

  (3) All balances remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall be carried over to the following year.

  (d) Reports. On or before January 15 each year, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall submit a report to the House Committees on Environ- ment and Energy and on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committees on Government Operations and on Natural Resources and Energy with an update on the expenditures from the Fund. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 50. Urban Search and Rescue Team

  (a) The Department of Public Safety is authorized to create the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team to provide for the rapid response of trained professionals to emergencies and other hazards occurring in the State. The Commissioner shall appoint a USAR Team program manager to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the USAR Team.

  (b) The USAR Team program manager shall perform all the following duties:

  (1) organize the State USAR Team to assist local first responders in response to emergencies and other hazards;

  (2) hire persons for the USAR Team from fire, police, and emergency medical services and persons with specialty backgrounds in emergency response or search and rescue;

  (3) coordinate the acquisition and maintenance of adequate vehicles and equipment for the USAR Team;

  (4) ensure that USAR Team personnel are organized, trained, and exercised in accordance with the appropriate search and rescue standards or certifications;

  (5) negotiate and enter into agreements with municipalities, municipal agencies that maintain swiftwater rescue teams, State-recognized swiftwater rescue teams, or other technical rescue teams to provide expert assistance and services to the USAR Team when necessary; and

  (6) coordinate USAR Team participation in search and rescue operations under chapter 112 of this title.

  (c) The Department of Public Safety may employ as many USAR Team responders as the Commissioner deems necessary as temporary State employees, who shall be compensated as such when authorized to respond to an emergency or hazard incident or to attend USAR Team training. State USAR Team responders, whenever acting as State agents in accordance with this section, shall be afforded all of the protections and immunities of State employees. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. July 1, 2024.)