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1 S.250
2 Introduced by Senators White, Clarkson, McCormack and Watson
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Internal security and public safety; emergency management;
6 emergency management personnel
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to define
8 emergency management personnel and require local emergency management
9 organizations and local emergency planning committees to incorporate
10 information regarding the utilization of emergency management personnel into
11 emergency management plans.
12 An act relating to emergency management personnel
13 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
14 Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. § 2 is amended to read:
15 § 2. DEFINITIONS
16 As used in this chapter:
17 ***
18 (6) “Emergency management” means the preparation for and
19 implementation of all emergency functions, other than the functions for which
20 the U.S. Armed Forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to VT LEG #372610 v.1
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1 prevent, plan for, mitigate, and support response and recovery efforts from all-
2 hazards. Emergency management includes the utilization of emergency
3 management personnel and the equipping, exercising, and training designed to
4 ensure that this State and its communities are prepared to deal with all-hazards.
5 (7) “Emergency management personnel” means State, county, and local
6 governmental and nongovernmental personnel who provide immediate support
7 services necessary to perform emergency management functions, including:
8 (A) emergency management and public safety personnel;
9 (B) firefighters, as that term is defined in section 3151 of this title;
10 (C) law enforcement officers, as that term is defined in section 2351a
11 of this title;
12 (D) public safety telecommunications and dispatch personnel;
13 (E) emergency medical personnel and volunteer personnel, as those
14 terms are defined in 24 V.S.A. § 2651;
15 (F) licensed professionals who provide clinical and emergency health
16 care in hospitals;
17 (G) public health personnel;
18 (H) public works personnel; and
19 (I) equipment operators and other skilled personnel, who provide
20 services necessary to enable the performance of emergency management
21 functions.
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1 (8) “Hazard mitigation” means any action taken to reduce or eliminate
2 the threat to persons or property from all-hazards.
3 (8)(9) “Hazardous chemical or substance” means:
4 ***
5 (9)(10) “Hazardous chemical or substance incident” means any mishap
6 or occurrence involving hazardous chemicals or substances that may pose a
7 threat to persons or property.
8 (10)(11) “Homeland security” means the preparation for and carrying
9 out of all emergency functions, other than the functions for which the U.S.
10 Armed Forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent,
11 minimize, or repair injury and damage resulting from or caused by enemy
12 attack, sabotage, or other hostile action.
13 (11)(12) “Radiological incident” means any mishap or occurrence
14 involving radiological activity that may pose a threat to persons or property.
15 Sec. 2. 20 V.S.A. § 6 is amended to read:
16 § 6. LOCAL ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
17 (a) Each town and city of this State is hereby authorized and directed to
18 establish a local organization for emergency management in accordance with
19 the State emergency management plan and program. The executive officer or
20 legislative branch of the town or city is authorized to appoint a town or city
21 emergency management director who shall have direct responsibility for the VT LEG #372610 v.1
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1 organization, administration, and coordination of the local organization for
2 emergency management, subject to the direction and control of the executive
3 officer or legislative branch. If the town or city that has not adopted the town
4 manager form of government in accordance with 24 V.S.A. chapter 37 and the
5 executive officer or legislative branch of the town or city has not appointed an
6 emergency management director, the executive officer or legislative branch
7 shall be the town or city emergency management director. The town or city
8 emergency management director may appoint an emergency management
9 coordinator and other staff as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this
10 chapter.
11 (b) Each local organization for emergency management shall perform
12 emergency management functions within the territorial limits of the town or
13 city within which it is organized and, in which may include directing the
14 utilization of emergency management personnel pursuant to the all-hazards
15 emergency management plan adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
16 In addition, each local organization for emergency management shall conduct
17 such functions outside the territorial limits as may be required pursuant to the
18 provisions of this chapter and in accord with rules adopted by the Governor.
19 (c) Each local organization shall develop and maintain an all-hazards
20 emergency management plan in accordance with guidance set forth by the
21 Division of Emergency Management.
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1 (d) Regional emergency management committees shall be established by
2 the Division of Emergency Management.
3 ***
4 (3) A regional emergency management committee shall consist of
5 voting and nonvoting members.
6 (A) Voting members. The local emergency management director or
7 designee and one representative from each town and city in the region shall
8 serve as the voting members of the committee. A representative from a town
9 or city shall be a member of the town’s or city’s emergency services
10 community and shall be appointed by the town’s or city’s executive or
11 legislative branch.
12 (B) Nonvoting members. Nonvoting members may include
13 representatives from the following organizations serving within the region: fire
14 departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement, other entities
15 providing emergency management personnel, media, transportation, regional
16 planning commissions, hospitals, the Department of Health’s district office, the
17 Division of Emergency Management, organizations serving vulnerable
18 populations, and any other interested public or private individual or
19 organization.
20 ***
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1 Sec. 3. 20 V.S.A. § 32 is amended to read:
2 § 32. LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEES; CREATION;
3 DUTIES
4 ***
5 (b) All local emergency planning committees shall include representatives
6 from the following: fire departments; local and regional emergency medical
7 services; local, county, and State law enforcement; other entities providing
8 emergency management personnel; media; transportation; regional planning
9 commissions; hospitals; industry; the Vermont National Guard; the
10 Department of Health’s district office; and an animal rescue organization, and
11 may include any other interested public or private individual or organization.
12 Where the local emergency planning committee represents more than one
13 region of the State, the Commission shall appoint representatives that are
14 geographically diverse.
15 (c) A local emergency planning committee shall perform all the following
16 duties:
17 (1) Carry out all the requirements of a committee pursuant to EPCRA,
18 including preparing a local emergency planning committee plan. The plan
19 shall be coordinated with the State emergency management plan and may be
20 expanded to address all-hazards identified in the State emergency management VT LEG #372610 v.1
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1 plan. At a minimum, the local emergency planning committee plan shall
2 include the following:
3 ***
4 (B) Describes the utilization of emergency management personnel
5 and emergency response procedures, including those identified in facility
6 plans.
7 ***
8 (3) Consult and coordinate with the heads of local government
9 emergency services, the emergency management director or designee, persons
10 in charge of local emergency management personnel, regional planning
11 commissions, and the managers of all facilities within the jurisdiction
12 regarding the facility plan.
13 ***
14 (5) Work to support the various emergency services and other entities
15 providing emergency management personnel, mutual aid systems, town
16 governments, regional planning commissions, State agency district offices, and
17 others in their area in conducting coordinated all-hazards emergency
18 management activities.
19 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
20 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected: As Introduced: 20-32