Auxiliary Emergency Communications

The act creates the auxiliary emergency communications unit (unit) within the office of emergency management (office) within the division of homeland security and emergency management in the department of public safety. The unit is in the charge of the director of the office. The unit's powers and duties, and the powers and duties of the director of the office in connection with the powers and duties of the unit, are specified.

Statutory provisions governing compensation benefits to volunteer civil defense workers are modified. Specifically:

• The definition of 'emergency volunteer service' is expanded to include activities undertaken during a training exercise, drill, or class conducted in preparation for a disaster if the exercise, drill, or class is organized or under the direction of the county sheriff, local government, local emergency planning committee, or state agency;
• Any credentialed member of the unit is a qualified volunteer and is eligible to receive accompanying protections and benefits under existing statutory provisions;
• The activities for which a qualified volunteer may be called to service is expanded to include a training exercise, drill, or class conducted in preparation for a disaster if the exercise, drill, or class is organized or under the direction of the county sheriff, local government, local emergency planning committee, or state agency. The statutory provisions protecting qualified volunteers do not apply to a training exercise, drill, or class without the express prior consent and approval of the volunteer's employer. Parallel language is added to the statute to assist a volunteer in obtaining proof of service to provide to his or her employer.
• The process used to verify that a qualified volunteer provided volunteer services is modified to include volunteer service provided during an organized training exercise, drill, or class.

For the 2016-17 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $60,238 to the department of public safety from the general fund for use by the office of emergency management. To implement the act, the office may use the appropriation for program administration.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)