Vermont § 58 - Executive Order No. 20-58 (No. 06-19) [Governor’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council]

§ 58. Executive Order No. 20-58 (No. 06-19) [Governor’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council]

• WHEREAS, Vermont must be prepared to prevent, respond to, recover from, mitigate and
  protect Vermonters from all natural and man-made hazards; and WHEREAS, Vermont must be prepared to prevent, and protect Vermonters from terrorism,
  homegrown violent extremists and evolving threats both domestic and foreign; and WHEREAS, the Governor is responsible for coordinating, to the fullest extent possible,
  the emergency management plans and program of the State; and WHEREAS, it is imperative that there be the greatest possible coordination and communication
  among federal, state and local governments, the Vermont National Guard, first responders,
  law enforcement, emergency managers, public health officials, regional planning commissions
  and private community organizations, including faith-based organizations in order
  to provide the Governor with advice and counsel on approaches to strengthen and improve
  our homeland security and emergency preparedness. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority
  vested in me as the Governor of the State of Vermont, do hereby order and direct: The ‘Governor’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council‘ (Council) is reconstituted
  as set forth below: I. Composition and Appointments The Council shall include members from the following interested parties to be appointed
  by the Governor: volunteer fire service; career fire service; emergency medical services;
  municipal police; sheriffs; state fusion center (in Vermont, known as the Vermont
  Information Center); federal government; municipal government; local emergency management;
  private community organizations; the Vermont utility industry; hospitals; public health
  officials; statewide interoperability governing body; disability inclusion working
  group; a state Citizen Corps representative; and faith-based organizations. The Council shall include the following ex officio members or their designees: the
  Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, the Adjutant General, the Secretary of Administration,
  the Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Secretary of the
  Agency of Transportation, the Secretary of the Agency of Digital Services, the Secretary
  of the Agency of Education, the Secretary of the Agency of Human Services, the Commissioner
  of Health, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the E-911 Director, the state Homeland
  Security Advisor, the Colonel of the Vermont State Police, the Director of the Division
  of Emergency Management, the Chief Information Security Officer and the Statewide
  Interoperability Coordinator. The Governor shall invite the Speaker of the House, the Lieutenant Governor and a
  member of the Senate appointed by the Committee on Committees to participate on the
  Council. The Governor may consult with private sector professionals outside of the Council
  for information and advice. All State Agencies and Departments, as well as the Attorney
  General and the Executive Director of the Office of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs
  shall participate upon request of the Governor or the Chair of the Council, as needs
  dictate. The Governor shall appoint the Chair of the Council. II. Charge The mission of the Council shall be to assess the State’s overall homeland security
  and emergency preparedness programs, policies, and communications and provide for
  coordinated input by stakeholders in the preparation, implementation, evaluation and
  revision of the current systems. Further, the Council shall consider the interdependencies between the private sector,
  non-profit organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and all levels
  of government, including local, state and federal with the goal of maximizing these
  relationships and reducing duplication of effort. The Council shall advise on the
  allocation of funding to support the programs while mindful of available financial
  resources and fiscal realities. III. Council Process The Council shall meet at the call of the Chair and shall advise the Governor, as
  needed, on the State’s overall threat and hazard preparedness, policies and communications. Administrative and staff support shall be provided by the Department of Public Safety. The Council may adopt operating guidelines which are consistent with this Executive
  Order. IV. Effective Date This Executive Order shall be effective as of July 15, 2019 and shall expire on July
  15, 2024. This Executive Order supersedes and replaces Executive Order# 04-13 (codified as Executive
  Order No. 20-48). Dated: July 17, 2019 ADDENDUM 1 TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 06-19 [Governor's Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council Extension] WHEREAS, on July 17, 2019, the Governor issued Executive Order 06-19 which established
  the Governor's Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (“GEPAC Executive Order”),
  to provide the Governor with advice and counsel on approaches to strengthen and improve
  our homeland security and emergency preparedness; and WHEREAS, the mission of the GEPAC is to assess the State's overall homeland security
  and emergency preparedness programs, policies, and communications and provide for
  coordinated input by federal, state and local governments, the Vermont National Guard,
  first responders, law enforcement, emergency managers, public health officials, regional
  planning commissions and private community organizations, including faith-based organizations
  in the preparation, implementation, evaluation and revision of the current systems;
  and WHEREAS, understanding the GEPAC serves a critical public health and safety function,
  the Governor has determined to rescind its 2024 expiration. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
  RESOLVED that I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Governor
  of the State of Vermont, do hereby order and direct that effective July 15, 2024,
  the expiration of Executive Order 06-19 (codified as Executive Order No. 20-58), is
  hereby rescinded. September 19, 2024.