CT HB06913

Each town or city must establish a local organization for civil preparedness in accordance with the state plan, or multiple towns/cities may establish a joint organization with commissioner approval.

Towns and cities must submit a current emergency plan of operations to the commissioner by January 1, 2017, and biennially thereafter (changed from annual submissions) to remain eligible for state or federal benefits.

Plans may be resubmitted with a notice indicating they remain unchanged from the previously submitted version.

Coastal towns and cities must include provisions addressing emergencies caused by liquefied natural gas terminals on the Long Island Sound and submit plans to both the commissioner and the joint standing committee on public safety for approval.

The joint standing committee must hold a public hearing within 30 days and conduct a roll-call vote within 5 days to approve or reject coastal emergency plans, forwarding results to the General Assembly.

Emergency plans must address all civil preparedness activities and measures, and should consider provisions for non-military evacuation and sheltering of livestock, horses, pets, service animals, and animals trained to assist first responders.