SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5256

As Passed Senate, March 6, 2001

Title:  An act relating to enacting the emergency management assistance compact.

Brief Description:  Enacting the emergency management assistance compact.

Sponsors:  Senators Kastama and Regala.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/29/01, 1/31/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/6/01, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Aaron Jennings (786‑7445)

Background:  Intrastate local organizations may enter into mutual emergency response compacts among themselves and may enter interstate compacts with the Governor's consent.  The compacts are to include provisions dealing with liability of the local organizations and their employees, how expenses are to be paid, and who, what, when, where, and how to respond.  Currently Title 38 contains no provisions dealing with state-level compacts.

Summary of Bill:  The state may enter emergency assistance compacts with other states.  The compact must provide for the responsibilities of each party state.  Responsibilities include proper emergency response preparation by each state, proper preparation for responding to out-of-state emergencies, and having proper representatives in place to request emergency assistance.

The compact also must contain other provisions.  First, the compact must provide for state officer and employee liability.  Second, state licenses and permits for professional and skilled labors from the assisting state will temporally be recognized by the state with an emergency.  Third, the compact allows for certain supplementary agreements to be entered into.  Fourth, employees from the assisting state workers compensation will be maintained with the same manner of coverage as in the employees' home state.  Fifth, evacuation plans must be in place.  Finally, the state with the emergency is liable for the loss or damage to emergency response equipment and is liable for expenses incurred by the responding state, unless the loss, damages, or expenses are forgiven by the assisting state.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The state needs the emergency compact so to avoid delays caused by the need to negotiate deals with other states before they will provide aid.  Currently 37 states are members of the compact.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Michael Wehr, King County OEM; Eric Holdeman, King County Em. Mgmt.

House Amendment(s):  A technical amendment is made, which inserts a missing word.