(a) Education and assistance. The Secretary, in consultation with regional planning commissions, shall provide ongoing education, technical assistance, and guidance to municipalities regarding the requirements under 24 V.S.A. chapter 117 necessary for compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.

(b) Model flood hazard area bylaw or ordinance. The Secretary shall create and make available to municipalities a model flood hazard area bylaw or ordinance for potential adoption by municipalities pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 117 or 24 V.S.A. § 2291. The model bylaw or ordinance shall set forth the minimum provisions necessary to meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. The model bylaw may include alternatives that exceed the minimum requirements for compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program in order to allow a municipality to elect whether it wants to adopt the minimum requirement or an alternate requirement that further minimizes the risk of harm to life, property, and infrastructure from flooding.

(c) Assistance to municipalities with no flood hazard area bylaw or ordinance. The Secretary, in consultation with municipalities, municipal organizations, and regional planning commissions, shall provide education and technical assistance to municipalities that lack a flood hazard area bylaw or ordinance in order to encourage adoption of a flood hazard area bylaw or ordinance that qualifies the municipality for the National Flood Insurance Program. (Added 2011, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 14, 2012.)