1. (a) The Office of Resilience shall:

   1. (1) coordinate and administer federal prevention, protection, mitigation, and recovery-focused programs;
   2. (2) administer State mitigation grants and loans;
   3. (3) identify flood risk assessment tools for use by programs and projects statewide;
   4. (4) administer other programs as directed by the Secretary and the Chief Resilience Officer;
   5. (5) prioritize vulnerable communities and ensure that investments are made with a focus on environmental justice; and
   6. (6) conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions to support the development of local resiliency plans.

2. (b)

   1. (1) On or before January 1, 2024, and each January 1 thereafter, the Office of Resilience shall report to the State Treasurer, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the current status and efficacy of State and local resiliency efforts.

   2. (2) The report shall include:

      1. (i) a summary of the activity of the Office of Resilience during the previous calendar year;
      2. (ii) recommendations based on information gathered by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; and
      3. (iii) plans to increase resiliency in the State for the next year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years, including potential funding sources for the plans.

Added by Acts 2022, c. 482, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022.