5768.E AMH SG H2393.1

5768.E AMH SG H2393.1

ESB 5768 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED 4-15-93

By Committee on State Government

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1. RCW 38.52.010 and 1986 c 266 s 23 are each 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) "Emergency or disaster" as used in this chapter shall mean an event or set of circumstances which: (a) 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 (b) reaches such a dimension or degree of destructiveness as to warrant the governor declaring a state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010.

(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.

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

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:

For purposes of the liability of an architect or engineer serving as a volunteer emergency worker, the exemption from liability provided under RCW 38.52.195 extends to all damages, so long as the conditions specified in RCW 38.52.195 (1) through (5) occur."