| 7 | 19 | | emergency management, so as to provide for the creation of the Georgia Resilience Office2 |
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| 8 | 20 | | under the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; to provide for3 |
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| 9 | 21 | | a board of directors; to provide for the purpose, membership, and duties of such board; to4 |
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| 10 | 22 | | provide for reports; to provide for the hiring of staff; to provide for compensation and5 |
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| 11 | 23 | | funding; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title;6 |
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| 12 | 24 | | to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 |
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| 13 | 25 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 |
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| 14 | 26 | | SECTION 1.9 |
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| 15 | 27 | | Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency10 |
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| 16 | 28 | | management, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:11 |
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| 22 | 35 | | 38-3-201.15 |
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| 23 | 36 | | As used in this article, the term:16 |
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| 24 | 37 | | (1) 'Board of directors' or 'board' means the governing body of the office.17 |
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| 25 | 38 | | (2) 'Critical infrastructure' means publicly or privately owned facilities, systems,18 |
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| 26 | 39 | | functions, or assets, whether physical or virtual, providing or distributing services for the19 |
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| 27 | 40 | | benefit of the public, including, but not limited to, energy, fuel, water, agriculture,20 |
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| 29 | 42 | | (3) 'Office' means the Georgia Resilience Office established pursuant to Code22 |
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| 30 | 43 | | Section 38-3-202.23 |
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| 31 | 44 | | 38-3-202.24 |
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| 32 | 45 | | (a) There is established the Georgia Resilience Office. The office shall be an entity within25 |
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| 33 | 46 | | the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and attached to such26 |
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| 34 | 47 | | agency for all operational purposes.27 |
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| 35 | 48 | | (b) The primary purpose of the office shall be to plan for and coordinate state-wide28 |
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| 36 | 49 | | resilience and disaster recovery efforts, including coordination with federal, state, and local29 |
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| 37 | 50 | | governmental agencies, stakeholders, and nongovernmental entities. Responsibilities shall30 |
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| 38 | 51 | | include, but are not limited to, the following:31 |
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| 39 | 52 | | (1) To establish mechanisms to coordinate, integrate, and expand disaster recovery,32 |
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| 40 | 53 | | hazard mitigation, and resilience related programs and activities among state agencies and33 |
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| 41 | 54 | | to encourage intergovernmental as well as cross-sector coordination and collaboration;34 |
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| 42 | 55 | | (2) To develop, implement, and maintain a state-wide resilience plan as a framework to35 |
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| 43 | 56 | | guide state investments in disaster mitigation projects and the adoption of programs and36 |
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| 44 | 57 | | policies to protect the people and property of Georgia from the damage and destruction37 |
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| 45 | 58 | | of extreme weather events. The state-wide resilience plan shall be reviewed and revised38 |
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| 46 | 59 | | by December 31 in even-numbered years to ensure that it continues to serve the health,39 |
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| 47 | 60 | | safety, and welfare of the citizens of Georgia. The first version of the resilience plan40 |
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| 50 | 63 | | shall be completed by December 31, 2026, and shall, at minimum, include provisions41 |
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| 51 | 64 | | that:42 |
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| 52 | 65 | | (A) Describe known risks in each of the regional commissions established in Code43 |
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| 53 | 66 | | Section 50-8-32 and examine present and potential losses associated with the44 |
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| 54 | 67 | | occurrence of disaster events in this state and land management practices that potentiate45 |
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| 55 | 68 | | extreme weather events, resulting in increased flooding, wildfire, drought, and extreme46 |
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| 56 | 69 | | heat conditions. The risk assessment shall use best available scientific data to consider47 |
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| 57 | 70 | | present and potential state-wide impacts across a wide spectrum of hazards;48 |
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| 58 | 71 | | (B) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure systems including transportation and49 |
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| 59 | 72 | | energy distribution systems and critical infrastructure at the state and municipal levels,50 |
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| 60 | 73 | | including, but not limited to, hospitals, schools, fire stations, comparable facilities, and51 |
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| 61 | 74 | | historical and cultural resources;52 |
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| 62 | 75 | | (C) Identify data and information gaps that affect the capacity of state agencies or local53 |
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| 63 | 76 | | governments to adequately evaluate and address the factors that increase disaster risk,54 |
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| 64 | 77 | | and recommend strategies to overcome such gaps;55 |
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| 65 | 78 | | (D) Develop a prioritized list of specific policies, programs, and resilience actions to56 |
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| 66 | 79 | | decrease vulnerabilities and adverse impacts associated with extreme weather and57 |
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| 67 | 80 | | disasters. Descriptions of proposed resilience actions shall include intended benefits,58 |
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| 68 | 81 | | potential costs, and an anticipated timeline for implementation. In developing these59 |
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| 69 | 82 | | actions, the office shall, at a minimum, consider:60 |
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| 70 | 83 | | (i) Economic impacts attributed to current and best available projections of future61 |
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| 71 | 84 | | risk from extreme weather events in this state, including, but not limited to, impacts62 |
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| 72 | 85 | | on forestry, agriculture, water and other natural resources, food systems, housing63 |
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| 73 | 86 | | stock, economic activity, wildlife, critical infrastructure, economic development64 |
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| 74 | 87 | | potential and security, education, and public health;65 |
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| 75 | 88 | | (ii) The long-term costs, including ongoing operation and maintenance costs of66 |
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| 76 | 89 | | specific projects, suites, and approaches of hazard mitigation;67 |
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| 79 | 92 | | (iii) Opportunities to prioritize the role of nature based solutions and other methods68 |
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| 80 | 93 | | to restore the resilience functions of natural systems and reduce disaster risk;69 |
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| 81 | 94 | | (iv) Potential co-benefits that may be achieved beyond risk mitigation, including, but70 |
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| 82 | 95 | | not limited to, enhanced water supply, improvements in water quality, tourism and71 |
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| 83 | 96 | | recreational opportunities, or protection of wildlife and aquatic resources;72 |
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| 84 | 97 | | (v) Statutory or regulatory remedies for consideration by the General Assembly;73 |
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| 85 | 98 | | (vi) State policies or responses, including alterations to state building codes and land74 |
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| 86 | 99 | | use management;75 |
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| 87 | 100 | | (vii) Potential benefits of additional programs or offices;76 |
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| 88 | 101 | | (viii) How the action may complement or operate concurrently to any relevant77 |
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| 89 | 102 | | existing activities undertaken by any state agency, unit of local government, or other78 |
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| 90 | 103 | | relevant public or private entity, or any activity included in the state-wide resilience79 |
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| 91 | 104 | | plan;80 |
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| 92 | 105 | | (ix) Practical steps that can be taken to improve efficiencies and to pool and leverage81 |
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| 93 | 106 | | resources to improve disaster recovery and resilience; and82 |
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| 94 | 107 | | (x) Potential financial resources available for increasing resilience throughout this83 |
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| 95 | 108 | | state;84 |
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| 96 | 109 | | (E) Provide for the provision of resources, technical assistance, and other support to85 |
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| 97 | 110 | | local governments to develop resilience plans or incorporate resilience planning into86 |
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| 98 | 111 | | local and regional plans, and propose and implement resilience projects;87 |
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| 99 | 112 | | (F) Identify metrics and measure progress and success toward state-wide resilience88 |
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| 100 | 113 | | goals;89 |
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| 101 | 114 | | (G) Integrate recommended approaches to risk reduction into existing state strategies90 |
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| 102 | 115 | | for hazard mitigation, environmental protection, and economic opportunity and91 |
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| 103 | 116 | | development; and92 |
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| 104 | 117 | | (H) Incorporate stakeholder and community input from citizens across this state;93 |
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| 109 | 122 | | a presidential declaration of a major disaster under Section 406 of the federal Robert T.96 |
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| 110 | 123 | | Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act;97 |
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| 111 | 124 | | (4) To provide education and outreach on issues of disaster risk to the citizens of this98 |
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| 112 | 125 | | state;99 |
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| 113 | 126 | | (5) To collect, pursue, and expend additional funds and resources to assist not only with100 |
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| 114 | 127 | | long-term recovery efforts but also long-term community and state-wide resiliency101 |
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| 115 | 128 | | efforts, including to:102 |
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| 116 | 129 | | (A) Accept and use funds from the federal government and its agencies and103 |
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| 117 | 130 | | instrumentalities, private corporations, partnerships, associations, and individuals for104 |
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| 118 | 131 | | the purposes of the development and implementation of the state-wide resilience plan,105 |
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| 119 | 132 | | improved coordination of resilience activities, disaster recovery, hazard mitigation, risk106 |
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| 120 | 133 | | mitigation, and disaster response programs;107 |
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| 121 | 134 | | (B) Monitor federal funds and initiatives that become available for disaster recovery108 |
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| 122 | 135 | | and economic and community resiliency or other flood or hazard mitigation; and109 |
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| 123 | 136 | | (C) Use funds administered by the office for the maintenance, construction, or110 |
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| 124 | 137 | | reconstruction of capital repair and replacement items as necessary to effectuate the111 |
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| 125 | 138 | | purposes of this article; and112 |
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| 126 | 139 | | (6) To provide grants to institutions of higher education and other state and local113 |
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| 127 | 140 | | governmental entities to conduct research related to resilience concerns specific to114 |
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| 128 | 141 | | Georgia and consult with qualified nonpartisan experts from the scientific and disaster115 |
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| 129 | 142 | | resilience community.116 |
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| 130 | 143 | | (c) Control and management of the office shall be vested in a board of directors which117 |
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| 131 | 144 | | shall consist of 13 members as follows:118 |
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| 132 | 145 | | (1) The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency119 |
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| 133 | 146 | | or his or her designee;120 |
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| 139 | 152 | | (5) The director of the State Forestry Commission or his or her designee;124 |
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| 140 | 153 | | (6) The state hazard mitigation officer or his or her designee;125 |
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| 141 | 154 | | (7) One member shall be a representative of county-level government and appointed by126 |
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| 142 | 155 | | the Governor;127 |
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| 143 | 156 | | (8) One member shall be a representative from a municipal government and appointed128 |
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| 144 | 157 | | by the Governor;129 |
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| 145 | 158 | | (9) Two members shall be from the House of Representatives and appointed by the130 |
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| 146 | 159 | | Speaker of the House of Representatives;131 |
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| 147 | 160 | | (10) Two members shall be from the Senate and appointed by the President of the132 |
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| 148 | 161 | | Senate; and133 |
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| 149 | 162 | | (11) The Commissioner of Agriculture or his or her designee.134 |
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| 150 | 163 | | (d) The initial term for appointments shall be two years and shall be made by135 |
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| 151 | 164 | | December 1, 2025. All subsequent terms shall be for four years. Any vacancies that occur136 |
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| 152 | 165 | | prior to the end of a term shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original137 |
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| 153 | 166 | | appointment and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members shall be138 |
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| 154 | 167 | | eligible for reappointment so long as they continue to meet the requirements for139 |
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| 155 | 168 | | appointment. A member who becomes ineligible for reappointment to his or her seat140 |
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| 156 | 169 | | during his or her term may serve out the remainder of such term.141 |
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| 157 | 170 | | (e) The board may appoint additional persons, such as representatives from educational142 |
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| 158 | 171 | | institutions and nongovernmental organizations with specific expertise in disaster143 |
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| 159 | 172 | | resilience, to serve in an advisory role to the board. Such advisers shall be nonvoting and144 |
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| 160 | 173 | | shall not be counted toward a quorum.145 |
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| 161 | 174 | | (f) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority146 |
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| 162 | 175 | | shall be required for the determination of any matter within its duties.147 |
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| 168 | 181 | | and a treasurer. The board may combine the two latter offices and designate the combined151 |
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| 169 | 182 | | office as secretary-treasurer.152 |
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| 170 | 183 | | (h) The board of directors shall promulgate bylaws and may adopt other procedures for153 |
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| 171 | 184 | | governing its affairs and for discharging its duties as may be permitted or required by law154 |
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| 172 | 185 | | or applicable rules and regulations.155 |
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| 173 | 186 | | (i) The board shall meet no less than once each calendar quarter at a time and place156 |
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| 174 | 187 | | designated by the chairperson.157 |
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| 175 | 188 | | 38-3-203.158 |
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| 176 | 189 | | (a) There is established the position of chief resilience officer who shall be the159 |
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| 177 | 190 | | administrative head of the office.160 |
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| 178 | 191 | | (b) The chairperson of the board shall nominate a chief resilience officer, subject to161 |
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| 179 | 192 | | approval by the board.162 |
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| 180 | 193 | | (c) The chairperson of the board shall establish the salary of the chief resilience officer,163 |
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| 181 | 194 | | subject to approval by the board, and the salary of such officer shall be drawn from the164 |
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| 182 | 195 | | general budget of the office.165 |
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| 183 | 196 | | (d) The chief resilience officer shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The chief resilience166 |
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| 184 | 197 | | officer, with the concurrence and approval of the chairperson of the board, shall:167 |
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| 185 | 198 | | (1) Serve as coordinator of all economic and community resilience planning and168 |
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| 186 | 199 | | implementation efforts, including, but not limited to, resilience programs and activities169 |
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| 187 | 200 | | in this state;170 |
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| 188 | 201 | | (2) Hire officers, agents, and employees; prescribe their duties, responsibilities, and171 |
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| 189 | 202 | | qualifications; set their salaries; and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by172 |
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| 197 | 210 | | (4) Report to the General Assembly at least annually regarding progress developing and178 |
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| 198 | 211 | | implementing a state-wide resilience plan and improving interagency coordination;179 |
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| 199 | 212 | | (5) Coordinate planning of resilience projects with federal agencies;180 |
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| 200 | 213 | | (6) Establish a public website, which shall be the public dissemination of relevant181 |
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| 201 | 214 | | information relevant to state-wide resilience efforts;182 |
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| 202 | 215 | | (7) Establish and facilitate regular communication between federal, state, local, and183 |
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| 203 | 216 | | private sector agencies and organizations to further economic and disaster resilience;184 |
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| 204 | 217 | | (8) Execute cooperative agreements, where appropriate, between the office and the185 |
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| 205 | 218 | | federal and state governments; and186 |
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| 206 | 219 | | (9) Contract, where appropriate, on behalf of the office, with the federal government and187 |
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| 207 | 220 | | its instrumentalities and agencies; any state or territory or the District of Columbia and188 |
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| 208 | 221 | | instrumentalities or agencies thereof; municipalities; foreign governments; public bodies;189 |
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| 209 | 222 | | private corporations; partnerships; associations; and individuals."190 |
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| 210 | 223 | | SECTION 2.191 |
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| 211 | 224 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.192 |
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