12-16,117. Municipal policies regarding the provision of assistance during times of disaster; immunity from liability. (a) When used in this act:

(1) "Municipality" means any city, county or township;

(2) "public safety agency" means any municipal fire department, law enforcement office, sheriff's department, volunteer and nonvolunteer fire protection associations, emergency management department, public works department or other similar public or private agency; and

(3) "disaster" means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made cause, including but not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, epidemics, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion or riot.

(b) The governing body of a municipality may establish a policy regarding the provision of assistance to other municipalities and public safety agencies located in other municipalities located within or without the state of Kansas. Such policy shall be established by adoption of the appropriate ordinance or resolution. Such ordinance or resolution shall include the procedure for the provision of assistance during times of disaster. Any ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the applicable local or interjurisdictional disaster plan adopted pursuant to K.S.A. 48-901 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(c) When providing assistance pursuant to an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, the municipality and public safety agency shall be subject to the provisions of all laws, including those providing immunity from liability, as if such municipality or public safety agency was acting within such municipality. Any public safety agency of another state providing assistance in this state pursuant to an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, shall be subject to the provisions of all laws of this state, including those providing immunity from liability, as if such public agency was a public agency within the state of Kansas.

(d) A copy of any ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall be filed with the emergency preparedness officer of the county. A copy of such ordinance or resolution also shall be filed with the division of emergency preparedness as part of the local or interjurisdictional disaster plan required pursuant to K.S.A. 48-929, and amendments thereto.

(e) An ordinance or resolution adopted under the provisions of this section shall not be regarded as an interlocal agreement under the provisions of K.S.A. 12-2901 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(f) Nothing in this act shall be construed as invalidating existing mutual aid or disaster relief agreements entered into pursuant to K.S.A. 12-2901 et seq., and amendments thereto.

History: L. 1994, ch. 75, § 1; July 1.