(a) The Office of Resilience shall:
(1) coordinate and administer federal prevention, protection, mitigation, and recovery–focused programs;
(2) administer State mitigation grants and loans;
(3) identify flood risk assessment tools for use by programs and projects statewide;
(4) administer other programs as directed by the Secretary and the Chief Resilience Officer;
(5) prioritize vulnerable communities and ensure that investments are made with a focus on environmental justice; and
(6) conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions to support the development of local resiliency plans.
(b) (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) The report shall include:
(i) a summary of the activity of the Office of Resilience during the previous calendar year;
(ii) recommendations based on information gathered by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; and
(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.