The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 20 : Internal Security and Public Safety
Chapter 001 : Emergency Management
(Cite as: 20 V.S.A. § 31)-
§ 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.)
