26-314. Immunity of state, political subdivisions and officers, agents, employees and emergency workers; limitation; rules; definitions

A. This state and its departments, agencies, boards and commissions and all political subdivisions are not liable for any claim based on the exercise or performance, or the failure to exercise or perform, a discretionary function or duty by any emergency worker, except for wilful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of the emergency worker, in engaging in emergency management activities or performing emergency functions pursuant to this chapter or title 36, chapter 6, article 9, including operating an unmanned aircraft or a public unmanned aircraft, while engaged in or supporting emergency management activities or performing emergency functions pursuant to this chapter or title 36, chapter 6, article 9.

B. The immunities from liability, exemptions from laws, ordinances and rules, all pensions, relief, disability workers' compensation and other benefits that apply to the activity of officers, agents, employees or emergency workers of this state or of any political subdivision when performing their respective functions within this state or the territorial limits of their respective political subdivisions apply to them to the same degree and extent while engaged in the performance of any of their functions and duties extraterritorially under this chapter or title 36, chapter 6, article 9, except for wilful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

C. Emergency workers engaging in emergency management activities or performing emergency functions under this chapter or title 36, chapter 6, article 9, in carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply with any order or rule issued under this chapter, title 36, chapter 6, article 9 or any local ordinance, or performing any of their authorized functions or duties or training for the performance of their authorized functions or duties have the same degree of responsibility for their actions and enjoy the same immunities and disability workers' compensation benefits as officers, agents and employees of this state and its political subdivisions performing similar work. Except as otherwise provided under chapter 3, article 1 of this title, this state and its departments, agencies, boards and commissions and all political subdivisions that supervise or control emergency workers engaging in emergency management activities or performing emergency functions under this chapter or title 36, chapter 6, article 9 are responsible for providing for liability coverage, including legal defense, of an emergency worker if necessary. Coverage is provided if the emergency worker is acting within the course and scope of assigned duties and is engaged in an authorized activity, except for actions of wilful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

D. Any other state or its officers, agents, emergency workers or employees rendering aid in this state pursuant to any interstate mutual aid arrangement, agreement or compact are not liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part of the state or its officers, agents, emergency workers or employees while so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection with an emergency.

E. The division shall adopt rules prescribing the procedures for registration of emergency workers.

F. For the purposes of this section, " public unmanned aircraft" and " unmanned aircraft" have the same meanings prescribed in section 13-3729.