1     
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Suzanne Harrison

5     
Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell

6     Cosponsor:
7     Phil Lyman


8     

9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This bill amends provisions of the Emergency Management Act related to emergency
12     preparedness and response, and other duties of the Division of Emergency
13     Management.
14     Highlighted Provisions:
15          This bill:
16          ▸     amends definitions and defines terms;
17          ▸     requires political subdivisions to designate an emergency manager and create an
18     emergency operations plan;
19          ▸     requires state agencies to coordinate with the Division of Emergency Management
20     before construction of a state building in a flood plain;
21          ▸     extends the sunset of the Emergency Management Administration Council;
22          ▸     amends appointment of membership of the Utah Seismic Safety Commission; and
23          ▸     makes technical changes.
24     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
25          None
26     Other Special Clauses:
27          None

28     Utah Code Sections Affected:
29     AMENDS:
30          53-2a-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 85
31          53-2a-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 85
32          53-2a-807, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 85
33          63C-6-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 154
34          63I-1-253, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapters 154, 174, 214, 234, 242,
35     269, 335, and 354
36     ENACTS:
37          53-2a-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38          53-2a-1401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39          53-2a-1402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40          53-2a-1403, Utah Code Annotated 1953
41     

42     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43          Section 1. Section 53-2a-102 is amended to read:
44          53-2a-102. Definitions.
45          As used in this chapter:
46          (1) "Alerting authority" means a political subdivision that has received access to send
47     alerts through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
48          (2) "Attack" means a nuclear, cyber, conventional, biological, act of terrorism, or
49     chemical warfare action against the United States of America or this state.
50          (3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety or the
51     commissioner's designee.
52          (4) "Director" means the division director appointed under Section 53-2a-103 or the
53     director's designee.
54          (5) "Disaster" means an event that:

55          (a) causes, or threatens to cause, loss of life, human suffering, public or private
56     property damage, or economic or social disruption resulting from attack, internal disturbance,
57     natural phenomena, or technological hazard; and
58          (b) requires resources that are beyond the scope of local agencies in routine responses
59     to emergencies and accidents and may be of a magnitude or involve unusual circumstances that
60     require response by government, not-for-profit, or private entities.
61          (6) "Division" means the Division of Emergency Management created in Section
62     53-2a-103.
63          (7) "Emergency manager" means an individual designated as the emergency manager
64     for a political subdivision as described in Section 53-2a-1402.
65          [(7)] (8) "Energy" includes the energy resources defined in this chapter.
66          [(8)] (9) "Expenses" means actual labor costs of government and volunteer personnel,
67     and materials.
68          [(9)] (10) "Hazardous materials emergency" means a sudden and unexpected release of
69     any substance that because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious
70     characteristics presents a direct and immediate threat to public safety or the environment and
71     requires immediate action to mitigate the threat.
72          [(10)] (11) "Internal disturbance" means a riot, prison break, terrorism, or strike.
73          [(11)] (12) "IPAWS" means the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System
74     administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
75          [(12)] (13) "Municipality" means the same as that term is defined in Section 10-1-104.
76          [(13)] (14) "Natural phenomena" means any earthquake, tornado, storm, flood,
77     landslide, avalanche, forest or range fire, drought, or epidemic.
78          (15) "Officer" means a person who is elected or appointed to an office or position
79     within a political subdivision.
80          (16) "Political subdivision" means the same as that term is defined in Section
81     11-61-102.

82          [(14)] (17) "State of emergency" means a condition in any part of this state that
83     requires state government emergency assistance to supplement the local efforts of the affected
84     political subdivision to save lives and to protect property, public health, welfare, or safety in
85     the event of a disaster, or to avoid or reduce the threat of a disaster.
86          [(15)] (18) "Technological hazard" means any hazardous materials accident, mine
87     accident, train derailment, air crash, radiation incident, pollution, structural fire, or explosion.
88          [(16)] (19) "Terrorism" means activities or the threat of activities that:
89          (a) involve acts dangerous to human life;
90          (b) are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of this state; and
91          (c) to a reasonable person, would appear to be intended to:
92          (i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
93          (ii) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
94          (iii) affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or
95     kidnapping.
96          [(17)] (20) "Urban search and rescue" means the location, extrication, and initial
97     medical stabilization of victims trapped in a confined space as the result of a structural
98     collapse, transportation accident, mining accident, or collapsed trench.
99          Section 2. Section 53-2a-104 is amended to read:
100          53-2a-104. Division duties -- Powers.
101          (1) The division shall:
102          (a) respond to the policies of the governor and the Legislature;
103          (b) perform functions relating to emergency management as directed by the governor
104     or by the commissioner, including:
105          (i) coordinating with state agencies and local governments the use of personnel and
106     other resources of these governmental entities as agents of the state during an interstate disaster
107     in accordance with the Emergency Management Assistance Compact described in Section
108     53-2a-402;

109          (ii) coordinating the requesting, activating, and allocating of state resources during an
110     intrastate disaster or a local state of emergency;
111          (iii) receiving and disbursing federal resources provided to the state in a declared
112     disaster;
113          (iv) appointing a state coordinating officer who is the governor's representative and
114     who shall work with a federal coordinating officer during a federally declared disaster; and
115          (v) appointing a state recovery officer who is the governor's representative and who
116     shall work with a federal recovery officer during a federally declared disaster;
117          (c) prepare, implement, and maintain programs and plans to provide for:
118          (i) prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by disasters;
119          (ii) prompt and effective response to and recovery from disasters;
120          (iii) identification of areas particularly vulnerable to disasters;
121          (iv) coordination of hazard mitigation and other preventive and preparedness measures
122     designed to eliminate or reduce disasters;
123          (v) assistance to local officials, state agencies, and the business and public sectors, in
124     developing emergency action plans;
125          (vi) coordination of federal, state, and local emergency activities;
126          (vii) coordination of emergency operations plans with emergency plans of the federal
127     government;
128          (viii) coordination of urban search and rescue activities;
129          (ix) coordination of rapid and efficient communications in times of emergency; and
130          (x) other measures necessary, incidental, or appropriate to this part;
131          (d) coordinate with local officials, state agencies, and the business and public sectors in
132     developing, implementing, and maintaining a state energy emergency plan in accordance with
133     Section 53-2a-902;
134          (e) coordinate with state agencies regarding development and construction of state
135     buildings within a flood plain to ensure compliance with minimum standards of the National

136     Flood Insurance Program, 42 U.S.C. Chapter 50, Subchapter I, as described in Section
137     53-2a-106;
138          [(e)] (f) administer Part 6, Disaster Recovery Funding Act, in accordance with that
139     part;
140          [(f)] (g) conduct outreach annually to agencies and officials who have access to
141     IPAWS; and
142          [(g)] (h) coordinate with counties to ensure every county has the access and ability to
143     send, or a plan to send, IPAWS messages, including Wireless Emergency Alerts and
144     Emergency Alert System messages.
145          (2) Every three years, organizations that have the ability to send IPAWS messages,
146     including emergency service agencies, public safety answering points, and emergency
147     managers shall send verification of Federal Emergency Management Agency training to the
148     Division.
149          (3) (a) The Department of Public Safety shall designate state geographical regions and
150     allow the political subdivisions within each region to:
151          (i) coordinate planning with other political subdivisions, tribal governments, and as
152     appropriate, other entities within that region and with state agencies as appropriate, or as
153     designated by the division;
154          (ii) coordinate grant management and resource purchases; and
155          (iii) organize joint emergency response training and exercises.
156          (b) The political subdivisions within a region designated in Subsection (3)(a) may not
157     establish the region as a new government entity in the emergency disaster declaration process
158     under Section 53-2a-208.
159          (4) The division may make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
160     Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
161          (a) establish protocol for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and
162     the activities described in Subsection (3);

163          (b) coordinate federal, state, and local resources in a declared disaster or local
164     emergency; and
165          (c) implement provisions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact as
166     provided in Section 53-2a-402 and Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 3, Statewide Mutual Aid Act.
167          (5) The division may consult with the Legislative Management Committee, the Judicial
168     Council, and legislative and judicial staff offices to assist the division in preparing emergency
169     succession plans and procedures under Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 8, Emergency Interim
170     Succession Act.
171          (6) The division shall report annually in writing not later than October 31 to the Law
172     Enforcement and Criminal Justice, and Political Subdivisions Interim Committees regarding
173     the status of the emergency alert system in the state. The report shall include:
174          (a) a status summary of the number of alerting authorities in Utah;
175          (b) any changes in that number;
176          (c) administrative actions taken; and
177          (d) any other information considered necessary by the division.
178          Section 3. Section 53-2a-106 is enacted to read:
179          53-2a-106. Coordination for state development in a flood plain.
180          Any state agency that plans to develop or construct a building within a flood plain shall
181     consult and coordinate with the division to ensure compliance with minimum standards of the
182     National Flood Insurance Program, 42 U.S.C. Chapter 50, Subchapter I.
183          Section 4. Section 53-2a-807 is amended to read:
184          53-2a-807. Emergency interim successors for local officers.
185          (1) By July 1 of each year, each political subdivision shall:
186          (a) for each officer and the emergency manager described in Part 14, Local Emergency
187     Management Act, designate three emergency interim successors and specify their order of
188     succession;
189          (b) identify the political subdivision's alerting authority and any individuals authorized

190     to send emergency alerts;
191          (c) provide a list of those designated successors and individuals to the division; and
192          (d) have an emergency alert plan in place and provide a copy of the plan to the
193     division.
194          (2) In the event that a political subdivision does not designate emergency interim
195     successors as required under Subsection (1), the order of succession shall be as follows:
196          (a) the chief executive officer of the political subdivision;
197          (b) the chief deputy executive officer of the political subdivision;
198          (c) the chair of the legislative body of the political subdivision; and
199          (d) the chief law enforcement officer of the political subdivision.
200          (3) (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
201          (i) if any political subdivision officer or the political subdivision officer's legal deputy,
202     if any, is unavailable, a designated emergency interim successor shall exercise the powers and
203     duties of the office according to the order of succession specified by the political subdivision
204     officer; or
205          (ii) counties may provide by ordinance that one member of the county legislative body
206     may act as the county legislative body if the other members are absent.
207          (b) An emergency interim successor shall exercise the powers and duties of the office
208     only until:
209          (i) the vacancy is filled in accordance with the constitution or statutes; or
210          (ii) the political subdivision officer, the political subdivision officer's deputy, or an
211     emergency interim successor earlier in the order of succession becomes available to exercise
212     the powers and duties of the office.
213          (4) The legislative bodies of each political subdivision may enact resolutions or
214     ordinances consistent with this part and also provide for emergency interim successors to
215     officers of the political subdivision not governed by this section.
216          Section 5. Section 53-2a-1401 is enacted to read:

217     
Part 14. Local Emergency Management Act

218          53-2a-1401. Title.
219          This part is known as the "Local Emergency Management Act."
220          Section 6. Section 53-2a-1402 is enacted to read:
221          53-2a-1402. Designation and duties of emergency managers.
222          (1) Each political subdivision of the state of Utah shall designate an emergency
223     manager.
224          (2) A political subdivision may designate an officer of the political subdivision to serve
225     as the emergency manager.
226          (3) An emergency manager shall:
227          (a) create a plan to coordinate emergency preparedness, response, mitigation,
228     coordination, and other recovery activities; and
229          (b) coordinate with other emergency managers and officials to ensure efficient,
230     appropriate, and coordinated emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.
231          (4) Each political subdivision shall provide for emergency interim succession of the
232     emergency manager as described in Part 8, Emergency Interim Succession Act.
233          Section 7. Section 53-2a-1403 is enacted to read:
234          53-2a-1403. Emergency operations plan.
235          (1) Each county shall create and maintain an emergency operations plan.
236          (2) Each city, town, and metro township shall:
237          (a) create and maintain an emergency operations plan; or
238          (b) adopt the emergency operations plan created by the county in which the city, town,
239     or metro township is located.
240          Section 8. Section 63C-6-101 is amended to read:
241          63C-6-101. Creation of commission -- Membership -- Appointment -- Vacancies.
242          (1) There is created the Utah Seismic Safety Commission consisting of 15 members,
243     designated as follows:

244          (a) the director of the Division of Emergency Management or the director's designee;
245          (b) the director of the Utah Geological Survey or the director's designee;
246          (c) the director of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations or the director's
247     designee;
248          (d) the executive director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns or the executive
249     director's designee;
250          (e) a representative from the Structural Engineers Association of Utah biannually
251     selected by its membership;
252          (f) the director of the Division of Facilities Construction and Management or the
253     director's designee;
254          (g) the executive director of the Department of Transportation or the director's
255     designee;
256          (h) the State Planning Coordinator or the coordinator's designee;
257          (i) a representative from the American Institute of Architects, Utah Section;
258          (j) a representative from the American Society of Civil Engineers, Utah Section;
259          (k) [two] three individuals, appointed by the director of the Division of Emergency
260     Management, from earthquake-related organizations that have an interest in reducing
261     earthquake-related loss in the state, with consideration given to recommendations of the Utah
262     Seismic Safety Commission;
263          (l) the commissioner of the Department of Insurance or the commissioner's designee;
264     and
265          [(m) a representative from the Association of Contingency Planners, Utah Chapter,
266     biannually selected by its membership; and]
267          [(n)] (m) a representative from the American Public Works Association, Utah Chapter,
268     biannually selected by its membership.
269          (2) The commission shall annually select one of its members to serve as chair of the
270     commission.

271          (3) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
272     appointed for the unexpired term.
273          Section 9. Section 63I-1-253 is amended to read:
274          63I-1-253. Repeal dates, Titles 53 through 53G.
275          (1) Section 53-2a-105, which creates the Emergency Management Administration
276     Council, is repealed July 1, [2021] 2022.
277          (2) Sections 53-2a-1103 and 53-2a-1104, which create the Search and Rescue Advisory
278     Board, are repealed July 1, 2022.
279          (3) Section 53-5-703, which creates the Concealed Firearm Review Board, is repealed
280     July 1, 2023.
281          (4) Subsection 53-6-203(1)(b)(ii), regarding being 19 years old at certification, is
282     repealed July 1, 2027.
283          (5) Subsection 53-13-104(6)(a), regarding being 19 years old at certification, is
284     repealed July 1, 2027.
285          (6) Section 53B-6-105.5, which creates the Technology Initiative Advisory Board, is
286     repealed July 1, 2024.
287          (7) Title 53B, Chapter 17, Part 11, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
288          (8) Section 53B-17-1203, which creates the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is
289     repealed January 1, 2025.
290          (9) Section 53B-18-1501 is repealed July 1, 2021.
291          (10) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 16, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
292          (11) Title 53B, Chapter 24, Part 4, Rural Residency Training Program, is repealed July
293     1, 2025.
294          (12) Subsection 53C-3-203(4)(b)(vii), which provides for the distribution of money
295     from the Land Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells and other
296     hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
297          (13) Section 53E-3-515 is repealed January 1, 2023.

298          (14) In relation to a standards review committee, on January 1, 2023:
299          (a) in Subsection 53E-4-202(8), the language "by a standards review committee and the
300     recommendations of a standards review committee established under Section 53E-4-203" is
301     repealed; and
302          (b) Section 53E-4-203 is repealed.
303          (15) Subsections 53E-3-503(5) and (6), which create coordinating councils for youth in
304     custody, are repealed July 1, 2027.
305          (16) Section 53E-4-402, which creates the State Instructional Materials Commission, is
306     repealed July 1, 2022.
307          (17) Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, is
308     repealed July 1, 2023.
309          (18) Subsection 53E-8-204(4), which creates the advisory council for the Utah Schools
310     for the Deaf and the Blind, is repealed July 1, 2021.
311          (19) Section 53F-2-514 is repealed July 1, 2020.
312          (20) Section 53F-5-203 is repealed July 1, 2024.
313          (21) Section 53F-5-212 is repealed July 1, 2024.
314          (22) Section 53F-5-213 is repealed July 1, 2023.
315          (23) Section 53F-5-214, in relation to a grant for professional learning, is repealed July
316     1, 2025.
317          (24) Section 53F-5-215, in relation to an elementary teacher preparation grant is
318     repealed July 1, 2025.
319          (25) Subsection 53F-9-203(7), which creates the Charter School Revolving Account
320     Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
321          (26) Section 53F-9-501 is repealed January 1, 2023.
322          (27) Subsections 53G-4-608(2)(b) and (4)(b), related to the Utah Seismic Safety
323     Commission, are repealed January 1, 2025.
324          (28) Subsection 53G-8-211(5), regarding referrals of a minor to court for a class C

325     misdemeanor, is repealed July 1, 2022.