Title 20, Internal Security and Public Safety

§ 108. Reimbursement — Article VII Upon request by a party state rendering aid in another party state pursuant to this Compact, the receiving state shall reimburse the state rendering aid for any loss, except losses pursuant to Article VI of this Compact, damage or expense incurr…

§ 109. Evacuation — Article VIII The party states and their emergency management services directors shall develop and implement a plan for the orderly evacuation and interstate transport of any civilian population dislocated by any disaster or emergency. The plan shall include th…

§ 110. Implementation — Article IX (a) This Compact shall be effective upon enactment into law by any two states. The Compact shall be effective as to any other state upon enactment by that state. (b) Any party state may withdraw from this Compact by repealing the law that enacte…

§ 111. Validity — Article IX If any provision of this Compact is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this act and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumsta…

§ 112. Additional provisions — Article X (a) Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to authorize or permit the use of military force by the National Guard of any state outside that state for a disaster or emergency for which the President of the United States is authorized to…

§ 151. Agreements or compacts Pursuant to the provisions and authority of Congress, as amended by Pub. L. No. 84-564, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5195a and 5196, the Governor is authorized to enter into, amend, supplement, and implement agreements or compacts with the executive authorities of o…

§ 152. Provisions Agreements or compacts entered into pursuant to this chapter may include provisions for joint military action against a common enemy; for the protection of bridges, tunnels, ferries, pipelines, communication facilities, and other vital installations, plants, and…

§ 153. Construction Nothing contained in sections 151 and 152 of this title shall be construed as a direct or indirect limitation of the power of the Governor to enter into, and to amend or supplement such compacts, with legal force and effect and without the legislative authoriz…

§ 154. Pursuit by military forces of another state Any military forces or organization, unit, or detachment thereof, of another state who are in fresh pursuit of insurrectionists, saboteurs, enemies, or enemy forces may continue such pursuit into this State until the military or …

§ 181. Statement of policy Because of the existing possibility of a catastrophic incident in the United States of unprecedented size and destructiveness, and in order, in the event of a catastrophic incident, to ensure continuity of government through legally constituted leadersh…

§ 182. Definitions Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, as used in this chapter: (1) The term “unavailable” means either that a vacancy in office exists and there is no deputy authorized to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office or that the lawful…

§ 183. Additional successor to office of Governor In the event that there is a vacancy in both the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor within the meaning of the Constitution and the Speaker of the House of Representatives is unavailable, the President Pro Tempore of the S…

§ 184. Emergency interim successors for State offices All State officers, subject to such exceptions and rules as the Governor, or other official authorized under the Constitution and this chapter or other act to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of, or t…

§ 185. Emergency interim successors for local elected officers The elected officers of political subdivisions shall, immediately after the date that they shall have been appointed and qualified, designate by title, if feasible, or by named person, emergency interim successors and…

§ 186. Emergency interim successors for local appointed officers The legislative branch of a municipal corporation, as defined in 24 V.S.A. § 1751, shall, with the same effect as in section 185 of this title, designate emergency interim successors to any officer appointed by it, …

§ 188. Formalities of taking office; bonds At the time of their designation, emergency interim successors and special emergency judges shall take such oath as may be required for them to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which they may succeed. Certifi…

§ 189. Period in which authority may be exercised Officials authorized to act as Governor pursuant to this chapter, emergency interim successors, and special emergency judges shall be authorized to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office as authorized by this ch…

§ 190. Removal of designees Until such time as the provisions of section 189 of this title shall be applicable, persons designated as emergency interim successors or special emergency judges shall serve in their designated capacities at the pleasure of the designating authority a…

§ 191. Training and compensation of interim successors Each officer, by or for whom interim successors are designated under the provisions of this chapter, shall, immediately after their designation, instruct his or her interim successors how to exercise the powers and discharge …

§ 192. Disputes Any dispute concerning a question of fact arising under this chapter with respect to an office in the Executive Branch of the State government (except a dispute of fact relative to the office of Governor) shall be adjudicated by the Governor (or other official aut…

§ 201. International Emergency Management Assistance Compact; adoption The State of Vermont adopts the International Emergency Management Assistance Compact as provided in this chapter. (Added 2003, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 84, eff. June 8, 2004.)

§ 202. Purpose and authorities — Article I (a) The International Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding, hereinafter referred to as the “Compact,” is made and entered into by and among such of the jurisdictions as shall enact or adopt this Compact, hereinafte…

§ 203. General implementation — Article II (a) Each party jurisdiction entering into this Compact recognizes that many emergencies may exceed the capabilities of a party jurisdiction, and that intergovernmental cooperation is essential in such circumstances. Each jurisdiction fur…

§ 204. Party jurisdiction responsibilities — Article III (a) Formulate plans and programs. It is the responsibility of each party jurisdiction to formulate procedural plans and programs for interjurisdictional cooperation in the performance of the responsibilities listed in this …

§ 205. Limitation — Article IV Any party jurisdiction requested to render mutual aid or conduct exercise and training for mutual aid shall undertake to respond as soon as possible, except that it is understood that the jurisdiction rendering aid may withhold or recall resources t…

§ 206. Licenses and permits — Article V Whenever a person holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any jurisdiction party to the Compact evidencing the meeting of qualifications for professional, mechanical, or other skills, and when such assistance is requested by…

§ 207. Liability — Article VI Any person or entity of a party jurisdiction rendering aid in another jurisdiction pursuant to this Compact is considered an agent of the requesting jurisdiction for tort liability and immunity purposes. Any person or entity rendering aid in another …

§ 208. Supplementary agreements — Article VII Because it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more jurisdictions may differ from that among the jurisdictions that are party to this Compact, this Compact contains elements of a broad …

§ 209. Workers’ compensation and death benefits — Article VIII Each party jurisdiction shall provide in accordance with its own laws for the payment of workers’ compensation and death benefits to injured members of the emergency forces of that jurisdiction and to representatives …

§ 210. Reimbursement — Article IX Any party jurisdiction rendering aid in another jurisdiction pursuant to this Compact shall, if requested, be reimbursed by the party jurisdiction receiving such aid for any loss or damage to or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment …

§ 211. Evacuation — Article X Each party jurisdiction shall initiate a process to prepare and maintain plans to facilitate the movement of and reception of evacuees into its territory or across its territory, according to its capabilities and powers. The party jurisdiction from w…

§ 212. Implementation — Article XI (a) This Compact is effective upon its execution or adoption by any two jurisdictions, and is effective as to any other jurisdiction upon its execution or adoption thereby, subject to approval or authorization by the U.S. Congress, if required, …

§ 213. Severability — Article XII This Compact is construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article I of this Compact. If any provision of this Compact is declared unconstitutional or the applicability of the Compact to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the validi…

§ 214. Inconsistency of language — Article XIII The validity of the arrangements and agreements consented to in this Compact shall not be affected by any insubstantial difference in form or language as may be adopted by the various states and provinces. (Added 2003, No. 121 (Adj.…

§ 215. Amendment — Article XIV This Compact may be amended by agreement of the party jurisdictions. (Added 2003, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 84, eff. June 8, 2004.)

§ 361. Military Department; National Guard (a) The Military Department, created by 3 V.S.A. § 212, shall be administered by the Adjutant General and shall include the National Guard and all military components of the State. (b) The organized militia shall be known as the National…

§ 362. Federal laws and regulations Matters relating to the organization, discipline, training, and government of the National Guard not otherwise provided for in this chapter and chapters 23 through 39 of this title, nor in the rules adopted by the Governor or Adjutant General, …

§ 363. Officers generally (a)(1) The General Assembly shall biennially elect an Adjutant General for a term of two years, in accordance with 2 V.S.A. § 10(c). (2) An Adjutant General appointed to fill a vacancy occurring during a term shall serve the remainder of the unexpired te…

§ 364. Governor’s staff officers The Governor may detail not more than five officers of the National Guard, Reserve Components of the U.S. Armed Forces, or retired officers of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces who are residents of Vermont for duty on his or her staff. The appoi…

§ 365. Discharges to officers Discharges to commissioned officers may be granted by the Governor under rules adopted by the Adjutant General. (Amended 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 116; 2021, No. 10, § 5; 2025, No. 88 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. July 1, 2026.)

§ 366. Special duty When necessary for the military or public service, the Governor or designee may designate officers or enlisted personnel, or both, for the performance of special duty as required under the circumstances. (Amended 1999, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2021, No. 10, …

§ 367. Costs; fines and forfeiture Costs incurred in a proceeding to enforce a penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter or chapters 23 to 39 of this title shall be paid by the State. Fines and forfeitures imposed pursuant to this chapter or chapters 23 to 39 of this title shall b…

§ 368. Activation or deployment of National or State Guard or reserve members; professions and occupations; State regulation Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a member of the National Guard, State Guard, or a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, whose p…

§ 369. Awards and medals Upon the approval of the Governor, the Adjutant General may create and design awards and medals to recognize meritorious service or outstanding achievement for members of the Vermont National Guard. The Adjutant General shall publish a roster of these awa…

§ 421. Duties generally The Adjutant General shall issue, sign, and transmit the orders of the Governor, and the rules that may be established, and obey the orders from the Governor as to carrying into execution the laws of the United States and of this State. The Adjutant Genera…

§ 422. Forms; return (a) The Adjutant General shall prepare and provide at the expense of the State, or procure from the federal government, all necessary rosters and books of record and the blank forms for commissions, discharges, returns, and other papers required by law. The A…