§ 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.)