FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5256

C 288 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Enacting the emergency management assistance compact.

Sponsors:  Senators Kastama and Regala.

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on State Government

House Committee on Appropriations

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:  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.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate460

House     92 0 (House amended)

Senate    46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001