Federal National Flood Insurance Program; guidance document.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the consequences for non-compliance by local governments.

Helping Local Areas Follow Flood Rules

This law directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to work with other state agencies and local governments to create a guide that helps local areas comply with federal flood insurance rules.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation, in collaboration with other state agencies and local representatives, to develop and maintain a guidance document for localities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.
• The guidance document must assist localities in complying with federal floodplain management requirements, including permitting rules for development in flood-prone areas.
• The department is required to review and revise this guide every five years with input from other state agencies and representatives of localities.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local governments that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program
• State agencies involved in health, environmental quality, transportation, marine resources, and research

Terms To Know

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

A federal program providing flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses.

Floodplain

An area of land near a river or stream that is likely to be flooded during heavy rains.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the consequences if localities do not follow the guidance document.
• It's unclear how much funding will be provided for creating and maintaining this guide.

Official Summary Text

Department of Conservation and Recreation; federal National Flood Insurance Program; guidance document.
Requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation, in collaboration with the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, representatives from localities, and any other state agency issuing permits in a floodplain, to develop and maintain a comprehensive guidance document to assist localities in complying with federal floodplain management requirements under the National Flood Insurance Program. The bill requires such guidance document to provide the proper implementation of enforcement provisions regulating development in floodplain management areas, including floodplain permitting requirements for all man-made development, within localities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The bill requires the Department to review and revise the guidance document, with input from other state agencies and representatives of localities, at least every five years.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Department of Conservation and Recreation, in collaboration with other state agencies and localities, to develop and maintain a guidance document to assist localities in complying with the federal National Flood Insurance Program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Department of Conservation and Recreation (
the
Department)
,
in collaboration with
the
Department of H
ealth, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
,
representatives from localities,
and any other state agency issuing permits
in
a
floodplain
,
shall develop and maintain a comprehensive guidance document to assist localities
in
comply
ing
with the federal floodplain management requirements under the
National Flood Insurance Program
,
authorized by the federal National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, P.L.
90-448
. Such guidance
document
shall provide the proper
implementation
of enforcement provisions regulating
development
in floodplain management areas, including floodplain permitting requirements for all man-made development, within localities that
participate
in the

National
Flood
Insurance
Program. The Department shall review and revise the guidance document, with input from other state agencies and representatives of
localities
,
at least every five years
.