CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                   SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        54th Legislature

                      1995 Regular Session

Passed by the House April 19, 1995

  Yeas 74   Nays 23

 

 

 

 

Speaker of the

       House of Representatives

 

Passed by the Senate April 5, 1995

  Yeas 35   Nays 7

               CERTIFICATE

 

I, Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1017 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

 

President of the Senate

 

                               Chief Clerk

 

 

Approved Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

                                     FILED

          

 

 

Governor of the State of Washington

                        Secretary of State

                       State of Washington


                  _______________________________________________

 

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1017

                  _______________________________________________

 

                             AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

                     Passed Legislature - 1995 Regular Session

 

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

 

By House Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Representatives D. Schmidt, Horn, Robertson, Padden, Lisk, Scott, Dyer, Thompson, Goldsmith, K. Schmidt, Sehlin, Campbell, Sheldon and Talcott)

 

Read first time 01/23/95. 

 

Transferring emergency management functions from the department of community development to the military department.



     AN ACT Relating to emergency management; amending RCW 38.52.005, 38.52.090, 38.52.420, 38.54.010, 38.54.020, 38.54.050, 46.16.340, and 88.46.100; reenacting and amending RCW 38.52.010; adding a new section to chapter 38.52 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 38.52.005 and 1986 c 266 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

     The department ((of community development)) shall administer the comprehensive emergency management program of the state of Washington as provided for in this chapter.  All local organizations, organized and performing emergency management functions pursuant to RCW 38.52.070, may change their name and be called the . . . . . . department/division of emergency management.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 38.52.010 and 1993 c 251 s 5 and 1993 c 206 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Emergency management" or "comprehensive emergency management" means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which the military forces are primarily responsible, to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters, and to aid victims suffering from injury or damage, resulting from disasters caused by all hazards, whether natural or man-made, and to provide support for search and rescue operations for persons and property in distress.  However, "emergency management" or "comprehensive emergency management" does not mean preparation for emergency evacuation or relocation of residents in anticipation of nuclear attack.

     (2) "Local organization for emergency services or management" means an organization created in accordance with the provisions of this chapter by state or local authority to perform local emergency management functions.

     (3) "Political subdivision" means any county, city or town.

     (4) "Emergency worker" means any person, including but not limited to an architect registered under chapter 18.08 RCW or a professional engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW, who is registered with a local emergency management organization or the department ((of community development)) and holds an identification card issued by the local emergency management director or the department ((of community development)) for the purpose of engaging in authorized emergency management activities or is an employee of the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof who is called upon to perform emergency management activities.

     (5) "Injury" as used in this chapter shall mean and include accidental injuries and/or occupational diseases arising out of emergency management activities.

     (6)(a) "Emergency or disaster" as used in all sections of this chapter except RCW 38.52.430 shall mean an event or set of circumstances which:  (i) Demands immediate action to preserve public health, protect life, protect public property, or to provide relief to any stricken community overtaken by such occurrences, or (ii) reaches such a dimension or degree of destructiveness as to warrant the governor declaring a state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010.

     (b) "Emergency" as used in RCW 38.52.430 means an incident that requires a normal police, coroner, fire, rescue, emergency medical services, or utility response as a result of a violation of one of the statutes enumerated in RCW 38.52.430.

     (7) "Search and rescue" means the acts of searching for, rescuing, or recovering by means of ground, marine, or air activity any person who becomes lost, injured, or is killed while outdoors or as a result of a natural or man-made disaster, including instances involving searches for downed aircraft when ground personnel are used.  Nothing in this section shall affect appropriate activity by the department of transportation under chapter 47.68 RCW.

     (8) "Executive head" and "executive heads" means the county executive in those charter counties with an elective office of county executive, however designated, and, in the case of other counties, the county legislative authority.  In the case of cities and towns, it means the mayor.

     (9) "Director" means the ((director of community development)) adjutant general.

     (10) "Local director" means the director of a local organization of emergency management or emergency services.

     (11) "Department" means the state military department ((of community development)).

     (12) "Emergency response" as used in RCW 38.52.430 means a public agency's use of emergency services during an emergency or disaster as defined in subsection (6)(b) of this section.

     (13) "Expense of an emergency response" as used in RCW 38.52.430 means reasonable costs incurred by a public agency in reasonably making an appropriate emergency response to the incident, but shall only include those costs directly arising from the response to the particular incident.  Reasonable costs shall include the costs of providing police, coroner, fire fighting, rescue, emergency medical services, or utility response at the scene of the incident, as well as the salaries of the personnel responding to the incident.

     (14) "Public agency" means the state, and a city, county, municipal corporation, district, or public authority located, in whole or in part, within this state which provides or may provide fire fighting, police, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services.

 

     Sec. 3.  RCW 38.52.090 and 1987 c 185 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The director of each local organization for emergency management may, in collaboration with other public and private agencies within this state, develop or cause to be developed mutual aid arrangements for reciprocal emergency management aid and assistance in case of disaster too great to be dealt with unassisted.  Such arrangements shall be consistent with the state emergency management plan and program, and in time of emergency it shall be the duty of each local organization for emergency management to render assistance in accordance with the provisions of such mutual aid arrangements.  The ((director of community development)) adjutant general shall adopt and distribute a standard form of contract for use by local organizations in understanding and carrying out said mutual aid arrangements.

     (2) The ((director of community development)) adjutant general and the director of each local organization for emergency management may, subject to the approval of the governor, enter into mutual aid arrangements with emergency management agencies or organizations in other states for reciprocal emergency management aid and assistance in case of disaster too great to be dealt with unassisted.  All such arrangements shall be pursuant to either of the compacts contained in subsection (2) (a) or (b) of this section.

     (a) The legislature recognizes that the compact language contained in this subsection is inadequate to meet many forms of emergencies.  For this reason, after June 7, 1984, the state may not enter into any additional compacts under this subsection (2)(a).

 

                             INTERSTATE CIVIL DEFENSE

                               AND DISASTER COMPACT

 

     The contracting States solemnly agree:

     Article 1.  The purpose of this compact is to provide mutual aid among the States in meeting any emergency or disaster from enemy attack or other cause (natural or otherwise) including sabotage and subversive acts and direct attacks by bombs, shellfire, and atomic, radiological, chemical, bacteriological means, and other weapons.  The prompt, full and effective utilization of the resources of the respective States, including such resources as may be available from the United States Government or any other source, are essential to the safety, care and welfare of the people thereof in the event of enemy action or other emergency, and any other resources, including personnel, equipment or supplies, shall be incorporated into a plan or plans of mutual aid to be developed among the civil defense agencies or similar bodies of the States that are parties hereto.  The Directors of Civil Defense (Emergency Services) of all party States shall constitute a committee to formulate plans and take all necessary steps for the implementation of this compact.

     Article 2.  It shall be the duty of each party State to formulate civil defense plans and programs for application within such State.  There shall be frequent consultation between the representatives of the States and with the United States Government and the free exchange of information and plans, including inventories of any materials and equipment available for civil defense.  In carrying out such civil defense plans and programs the party States shall so far as possible provide and follow uniform standards, practices and rules and regulations including:

     (a) Insignia, arm bands and any other distinctive articles to designate and distinguish the different civil defense services;

     (b) Blackouts and practice blackouts, air raid drills, mobilization of civil defense forces and other tests and exercises;

     (c) Warnings and signals for drills or attacks and the mechanical devices to be used in connection therewith;

     (d) The effective screening or extinguishing of all lights and lighting devices and appliances;

     (e) Shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power connections and the suspension of all other utility services;

     (f) All materials or equipment used or to be used for civil defense purposes in order to assure that such materials and equipment will be easily and freely interchangeable when used in or by any other party State;

     (g) The conduct of civilians and the movement and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic, prior, during, and subsequent to drills or attacks;

     (h) The safety of public meetings or gatherings; and

     (i) Mobile support units.

     Article 3.  Any party State requested to render mutual aid shall take such action as is necessary to provide and make available the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that it is understood that the State rendering aid may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protection for such State.  Each party State shall extend to the civil defense forces of any other party State, while operating within its State limits under the terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers (except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving State), duties, rights, privileges and immunities as if they were performing their duties in the State in which normally employed or rendering services.  Civil defense forces will continue under the command and control of their regular leaders but the organizational units will come under the operational control of the civil defense authorities of the State receiving assistance.

     Article 4.  Whenever any person holds a license, certificate or other permit issued by any State evidencing the meeting of qualifications for professional, mechanical or other skills, such person may render aid involving such skill in any party State to meet an emergency or disaster and such State shall give due recognition to such license, certificate or other permit as if issued in the State in which aid is rendered.

     Article 5.  No party State or its officers or employees rendering aid in another State pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part of such forces while so engaged, or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith.

     Article 6.  Inasmuch as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ from that appropriate among other States party hereto, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all States, and nothing herein contained shall preclude any State from entering into supplementary agreements with another State or States.  Such supplementary agreements may comprehend, but shall not be limited to, provisions for evacuation and reception of injured and other persons, and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications personnel, equipment and supplies.

     Article 7.  Each party State shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members of the civil defense forces of that State and the representatives of deceased members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained within such State.

     Article 8.  Any party State rendering aid in another State pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the party State receiving such aid for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost incurred in connection with such requests; provided, that any aiding State may assume in whole or in part such loss, damage, expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such services to the receiving party State without charge or cost; and provided further that any two or more party States may enter into supplementary agreements establishing a different allocation of costs as among those States.  The United States Government may relieve the party State receiving aid from any liability and reimburse the party State supplying civil defense forces for the compensation paid to and the transportation, subsistence and maintenance expenses of such forces during the time of the rendition of such aid or assistance outside the State and may also pay fair and reasonable compensation for the use or utilization of the supplies, materials, equipment or facilities so utilized or consumed.

     Article 9.  Plans for the orderly evacuation and reception of the civilian population as the result of an emergency or disaster shall be worked out from time to time between representatives of the party States and the various local civil defense areas thereof.  Such plans shall include the manner of transporting such evacuees, the number of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing, and medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the providing of facilities for the notification of relatives or friends and the forwarding of such evacuees to other areas or the bringing in of additional materials, supplies, and all other relevant factors.  Such plans shall provide that the party State receiving evacuees shall be reimbursed generally for the out-of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such evacuees, for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care and like items.  Such expenditures shall be reimbursed by the party State of which the evacuees are residents, or by the United States Government under plans approved by it.  After the termination of the emergency or disaster the party State of which the evacuees are resident shall assume the responsibility for the ultimate support or repatriation of such evacuees.

     Article 10.  This compact shall be available to any State, territory or possession of the United States, and the District of Columbia.  The term "State" may also include any neighboring foreign country or province or state thereof.

     Article 11.  The committee established pursuant to Article 1 of this compact may request the Civil Defense Agency of the United States Government to act as an informational and coordinating body under this compact, and representatives of such agency of the United States Government may attend meetings of such committee.

     Article 12.  This compact shall become operative immediately upon its ratification by any State as between it and any other State or States so ratifying and shall be subject to approval by Congress unless prior Congressional approval has been given.  Duly authenticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time of their approval, be deposited with each of the party States and with the Civil Defense Agency and other appropriate agencies of the United States Government.

     Article 13.  This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each party State until the legislature or the Governor of such party State takes action to withdraw therefrom.  Such action shall not be effective until 30 days after notice thereof has been sent by the Governor of the party State desiring to withdraw to the Governors of all other party States.

     Article 14.  This compact shall be construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article 1 hereof.  If any provision of this compact is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be effected thereby.

     Article 15.  (a) This Article shall be in effect only as among those states which have enacted it into law or in which the Governors have adopted it pursuant to constitutional or statutory authority sufficient to give it the force of law as part of this compact.  Nothing contained in this Article or in any supplementary agreement made in implementation thereof shall be construed to abridge, impair or supersede any other provision of this compact or any obligation undertaken by a State pursuant thereto, except that if its terms so provide, a supplementary agreement in implementation of this Article may modify, expand or add to any such obligation as among the parties to the supplementary agreement.

     (b) In addition to the occurrences, circumstances and subject matters to which preceding articles of this compact make it applicable, this compact and the authorizations, entitlements and procedures thereof shall apply to:

     1.  Searches for and rescue of person who are lost, marooned, or otherwise in danger.

     2.  Action useful in coping with disasters arising from any cause or designed to increase the capability to cope with any such disasters.

     3.  Incidents, or the imminence thereof, which endanger the health or safety of the public and which require the use of special equipment, trained personnel or personnel in larger numbers than are locally available in order to reduce, counteract or remove the danger.

     4.  The giving and receiving of aid by subdivisions of party States.

     5.  Exercises, drills or other training or practice activities designed to aid personnel to prepare for, cope with or prevent any disaster or other emergency to which this compact applies.

     (c) Except as expressly limited by this compact or a supplementary agreement in force pursuant thereto, any aid authorized by this compact or such supplementary agreement may be furnished by any agency of a party State, a subdivision of such State, or by a joint agency providing such aid shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor to the same extent and in the same manner as a State.  The personnel of such a joint agency, when rendering aid pursuant to this compact shall have the same rights, authority and immunity as personnel of party States.

     (d) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to exclude from the coverage of Articles 1-15 of this compact any matter which, in the absence of this Article, could reasonably be construed to be covered thereby.

     (b) The compact language contained in this subsection (2)(b) is intended to deal comprehensively with emergencies requiring assistance from other states.

 

                           INTERSTATE MUTUAL AID COMPACT

 

                                      Purpose

 

The purpose of this Compact is to provide voluntary assistance among participating states in responding to any disaster or imminent disaster, that over extends the ability of local and state governments to reduce, counteract or remove the danger.  Assistance may include, but not be limited to, rescue, fire, police, medical, communication, transportation services and facilities to cope with problems which require use of special equipment, trained personnel or personnel in large numbers not locally available.

 

                                   Authorization

 

Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of the United States permits a state to enter into an agreement or compact with another state, subject to the consent of Congress.  Congress, through enactment of Title 50 U.S.C. Sections 2281(g), 2283 and the Executive Department, by issuance of Executive Orders No. 10186 of December 1, 1950, encourages the states to enter into emergency, disaster and civil defense mutual aid agreements or pacts.

 

                                  Implementation

 

It is agreed by participating states that the following conditions will guide implementation of the Compact:

     1.  Participating states through their designated officials are authorized to request and to receive assistance from a participating state.  Requests will be granted only if the requesting state is committed to the mitigation of the emergency, and other resources are not immediately available.

     2.  Requests for assistance may be verbal or in writing.  If the request is made by other than written communication, it shall be confirmed in writing as soon as practical after the request.  A written request shall provide an itemization of equipment and operators, types of expertise, personnel or other resources needed.  Each request must be signed by an authorized official.

     3.  Personnel and equipment of the aiding party made available to the requesting party shall, whenever possible, remain under the control and direction of the aiding party.  The activities of personnel and equipment of the aiding party must be coordinated by the requesting party.

     4.  An aiding state shall have the right to withdraw some or all of their personnel and/or equipment whenever the personnel or equipment are needed by that state.  Notice of intention to withdraw should be communicated to the requesting party as soon as possible.

 

                             General Fiscal Provisions

 

The state government of the requesting party shall reimburse the state government of the aiding party.  It is understood that reimbursement shall be made as soon as possible after the receipt by the requesting party of an itemized voucher requesting reimbursement of costs.

     1.  Any party rendering aid pursuant to this Agreement shall be reimbursed by the state receiving such aid for any damage to, loss of, or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment used in responding to a request for aid, and for the cost incurred in connection with such requests.

     2.  Any state rendering aid pursuant to this Agreement shall be reimbursed by the state receiving such aid for the cost of payment of compensation and death benefits to injured officers, agents, or employees and their dependents or representatives in the event such officers, agents, or employees sustain injuries or are killed while rendering aid pursuant to this arrangement, provided that such payments are made in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained within such state.

 

                             Privileges and Immunities

 

     1.  All privileges and immunities from liability, exemptions from law, ordinances, rules, all pension, relief disability, workers' compensation, and other benefits which apply to the activity of officers, agents, or employees when performing their respective functions within the territorial limits of their respective political subdivisions, shall apply to them to the same degree and extent while engaged in the performance of any of their functions and duties extra-territorially under the provisions of this Agreement.

     2.  All privileges and immunities from liability, exemptions from law, ordinances, and rules, workers' compensation and other benefits which apply to duly enrolled or registered volunteers when performing their respective functions at the request of their state and within its territorial limits, shall apply to the same degree and extent while performing their functions extra-territorially under the provisions of this Agreement.  Volunteers may include, but not be limited to, physicians, surgeons, nurses, dentists, structural engineers, and trained search and rescue volunteers.

     3.  The signatory states, their political subdivisions, municipal corporations and other public agencies shall hold harmless the corresponding entities and personnel thereof from the other state with respect to the acts and omissions of its own agents and employees that occur while providing assistance pursuant to the common plan.

     4.  Nothing in this arrangement shall be construed as repealing or impairing any existing Interstate Mutual Aid Agreements.

     5.  Upon enactment of this Agreement by two or more states, and by January 1, annually thereafter, the participating states will exchange with each other the names of officials designated to request and/or provide services under this arrangement.  In accordance with the cooperative nature of this arrangement, it shall be permissible and desirable for the parties to exchange operational procedures to be followed in requesting assistance and reimbursing expenses.

     6.  This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding upon the states so acting when it has been enacted into law by any two states.  Thereafter, this compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding as to any other of said states upon similar action by such state.

     7.  This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon a party state until it shall have enacted a statute repealing the same and providing for the sending of formal written notice of withdrawal from the compact to the appropriate official of all other party states.  An actual withdrawal shall not take effect until the thirtieth consecutive day after the notice provided in the statute has been sent.  Such withdrawal shall not relieve the withdrawing state from its obligations assumed hereunder prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

 

     Sec. 4.  RCW 38.52.420 and 1994 c 264 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The department ((of community, trade, and economic development)), in consultation with appropriate federal agencies, the departments of natural resources, fish and wildlife, and ecology, representatives of local government, and any other person the director may deem appropriate, shall develop a model contingency plan, consistent with other plans required for hazardous materials by federal and state law, to serve as a draft plan for local governments which may be incorporated into the state and local emergency management plans.

     (2) The model contingency plan shall:

     (a) Include specific recommendations for pollution control facilities which are deemed to be most appropriate for the control, collection, storage, treatment, disposal, and recycling of oil and other spilled material and furthering the prevention and mitigation of such pollution;

     (b) Include recommendations for the training of local personnel consistent with other training proposed, funded, or required by federal or state laws for hazardous materials;

     (c) Suggest cooperative training exercises between the public and private sector consistent with other training proposed, funded, or required by federal or state laws for hazardous materials;

     (d) Identify federal and state laws requiring contingency or management plans applicable or related to prevention of pollution, emergency response capabilities, and hazardous waste management, together with a list of funding sources that local governments may use in development of their specific plans;

     (e) Promote formal agreements between the department ((of community, trade, and economic development)) and local entities for effective spill response; and

     (f) Develop policies and procedures for the augmentation of emergency services and agency spill response personnel through the use of volunteers:  PROVIDED, That no contingency plan may require the use of volunteers by a responding responsible party without that party's consent.

 

     Sec. 5.  RCW 38.54.010 and 1992 c 117 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

     (2) "Director" means the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development.

     (3) "State fire marshal" means the assistant director of the division of fire protection services in the department of community, trade, and economic development.

     (4) "Fire chief" includes the chief officer of a statutorily authorized fire agency, or the fire chief's authorized representative.  Also included are the department of natural resources fire control chief, and the department of natural resources regional managers.

     (5) "Jurisdiction" means state, county, city, fire district, or port district (([fire])) fire fighting units, or other units covered by this chapter.

     (6) "Mobilization" means that fire fighting resources beyond those available through existing agreements will be requested and, when available, sent ((to fight a fire)) in response to an emergency or disaster situation that has ((or soon will exceed)) exceeded the capabilities of available local resources.  During a large scale ((fire)) emergency, mobilization includes the redistribution of regional or state-wide fire fighting resources to either direct ((fire fighting)) emergency incident assignments or to assignment in communities where fire fighting resources are needed.

     When mobilization is declared and authorized as provided in this chapter, all fire fighting resources except those of the host fire protection authorities, i.e. incident jurisdiction, shall be deemed as mobilized under this chapter, including those that responded earlier under existing mutual aid or other agreement.  All nonhost fire protection authorities providing fire fighting resources in response to a mobilization declaration shall be eligible for expense reimbursement as provided by this chapter from the time of the mobilization declaration.

     This chapter shall not reduce or suspend the authority or responsibility of the department of natural resources under chapter 76.04 RCW.

     (7) "Mutual aid" means emergency interagency assistance provided without compensation under ((and [an])) an agreement between jurisdictions under chapter 39.34 RCW.

 

     Sec. 6.  RCW 38.54.020 and 1992 c 117 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

     Because of the possibility of the occurrence of disastrous fires or other disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness, the need to insure that the state is adequately prepared to respond to such a fire or disaster, the need to establish a mechanism and a procedure to provide for reimbursement to fire fighting agencies that respond to help others in time of need or to a host fire district that experiences expenses beyond the resources of the fire district, and generally to protect the public peace, health, safety, lives, and property of the people of Washington, it is hereby declared necessary to:

     (1) Provide the policy and organizational structure for large scale mobilization of fire fighting resources in the state through creation of the Washington state fire services mobilization plan;

     (2) Confer upon the director ((of the department of community development)) the powers provided herein; ((and))

     (3) Provide a means for reimbursement to fire jurisdictions that incur expenses when mobilized by the director under the Washington state fire services mobilization plan; and

     (4) Provide for reimbursement of host district fire fighting resources when the local district has:  (a) Exhausted all of its resources; and (b) invoked its local mutual aid network and exhausted those resources.  Upon implementation of state fire mobilization, the host district resources shall become state fire mobilization resources consistent with the fire mobilization plan.

     It is the intent of the legislature that mutual aid and other interlocal agreements providing for enhanced emergency response be encouraged as essential to the public peace, safety, health, and welfare, and for the protection of the lives and property of the people of the state of Washington.  If possible, mutual aid agreements should be without stated limitations as to resources available, time, or area.  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or interpreted to limit the eligibility of any nonhost fire protection authority for reimbursement of expenses incurred in providing fire fighting resources for mobilization.

 

     Sec. 7.  RCW 38.54.050 and 1992 c 117 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

     The department ((of community development)) in consultation with the office of financial management shall develop procedures to facilitate reimbursement to jurisdictions from appropriate federal and state funds when jurisdictions are mobilized by the director under the Washington state fire services mobilization plan.  The department shall ensure that these procedures provide reimbursement to the host district in as timely a manner as possible.

 

     Sec. 8.  RCW 46.16.340 and 1986 c 266 s 49 are each amended to read as follows:

     The director, from time to time, shall furnish the state military department, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the Washington state patrol, and all county sheriffs a list of the names, addresses, and license plate or radio station call letters of each person possessing the special amateur radio station license plates so that the facilities of such radio stations may be utilized to the fullest extent in the work of these governmental agencies.

 

     Sec. 9.  RCW 88.46.100 and 1991 c 200 s 423 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) In order to assist the state in identifying areas of the navigable waters of the state needing special attention, the owner or operator of a covered vessel shall notify the coast guard within one hour:

     (a) Of the disability of the covered vessel if the disabled vessel is within twelve miles of the shore of the state; and

     (b) Of a collision or a near miss incident within twelve miles of the shore of the state.

     (2) The ((division of emergency management of the)) state military department ((of community development)) and the office shall request the coast guard to notify the ((division of emergency management)) state military department as soon as possible after the coast guard receives notice of a disabled covered vessel or of a collision or near miss incident within twelve miles of the shore of the state.  The office shall negotiate an agreement with the coast guard governing procedures for coast guard notification to the state regarding disabled covered vessels and collisions and near miss incidents.

     (3) The office shall prepare a summary of the information collected under this section and provide the summary to the regional marine safety committees, the coast guard, and others in order to identify problems with the marine transportation system.

     (4) For the purposes of this section:

     (a) A tank vessel or cargo vessel is considered disabled if any of the following occur:

     (i) Any accidental or intentional grounding;

     (ii) The total or partial failure of the main propulsion or primary steering or any component or control system that causes a reduction in the maneuvering capabilities of the vessel;

     (iii) An occurrence materially and adversely affecting the vessel's seaworthiness or fitness for service, including but not limited to, fire, flooding, or collision with another vessel;

     (iv) Any other occurrence that creates the serious possibility of an oil spill or an occurrence that may result in such a spill.

     (b) A barge is considered disabled if any of the following occur:

     (i) The towing mechanism becomes disabled;

     (ii) The towboat towing the barge becomes disabled through occurrences defined in (a) of this subsection.

     (c) A near miss incident is an incident that requires the pilot or master of a covered vessel to take evasive actions or make significant course corrections in order to avoid a collision with another ship or to avoid a grounding as required by the international rules of the road.

     (5) Failure of any person to make a report under this section shall not be used as the basis for the imposition of any fine or penalty.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.  A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:

     All powers, duties, and functions of the department of community, trade, and economic development pertaining to emergency management are transferred to the state military department.  All references to the director or the department of community development or the department of community, trade, and economic development in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the adjutant general or the state military department when referring to the functions transferred in this section.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11.  All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the department of community, trade, and economic development pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the state military department.  All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the department of community, trade, and economic development in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the state military department.  All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the state military department.

     Any appropriations made to the department of community, trade, and economic development for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on the effective date of this section, be transferred and credited to the state military department.

     Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions transferred, the director of financial management shall make a determination as to the proper allocation and certify the same to the state agencies concerned.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12.  All employees of the department of community, trade, and economic development engaged in performing the powers, functions, and duties transferred are transferred to the jurisdiction of the state military department.  All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, are assigned to the state military department to perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any loss of rights, subject to any action that may be appropriate thereafter in accordance with the laws and rules governing state civil service.  All employees of the department of community, trade, and economic development exempted under chapter 41.06 RCW shall retain such exemption after transfer.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13.  All rules and all pending business before the department of community, trade, and economic development pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the state military department.  All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the state military department.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 14.  The transfer of the powers, duties, functions, and personnel of the department of community, trade, and economic development shall not affect the validity of any act performed prior to the effective date of this section.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15.  If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by sections 11 through 14 of this act, the director of financial management shall certify the apportionments to the agencies affected, the state auditor, and the state treasurer.  Each of these shall make the appropriate transfer and adjustments in funds and appropriation accounts and equipment records in accordance with the certification.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16.  (1) The military department, in cooperation with the Washington state patrol and the emergency management council, shall by December 31, 1995, develop a strategic plan to enhance the coordination and efficiency and decrease the costs of the military department's emergency management programs and services.  The plan shall:

     (a) Evaluate all current programs and services;

     (b) Develop new and innovative techniques for the administration of programs and delivery of services;

     (c) Strengthen military department linkages with local agencies; and

     (d) Assess the use of private sector equipment, materials, and services.

     (2) A summary of the strategic plan shall be delivered to the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than July 10, 1996.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 17.  Nothing contained in sections 10 through 15 of this act may be construed to alter any existing collective bargaining unit or the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement until the agreement has expired or until the bargaining unit has been modified by action of the personnel board as provided by law.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 18.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.

 


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