Effective 28 Aug 2016

44.023. Disaster volunteer program established, agency's duties — expenses — immunity from liability, exception. — 1. The Missouri state emergency management agency shall establish and administer an emergency volunteer program to be activated in the event of a disaster whereby volunteer architects, engineers licensed under chapter 327, any individual including, but not limited to, building officials and building inspectors employed by local governments, qualified by training and experience, who has been certified by the state emergency management agency, and who performs his or her duties under the direction of an architect or engineer licensed under chapter 327, and construction contractors, equipment dealers and other owners and operators of construction equipment may volunteer the use of their services and equipment, either manned or unmanned, for up to five consecutive days for in-state deployments as requested and needed by the state emergency management agency.

2. In the event of a disaster, the enrolled volunteers shall, where needed, assist local jurisdictions and local building inspectors to provide essential demolition, cleanup or other related services and to determine whether structures affected by a disaster:

(1) Have not sustained serious damage and may be occupied;

(2) Must be restricted in their use pending repairs; or

(3) Are unsafe and shall not be occupied pending repair or demolition.

3. Any person when utilized as a volunteer under the emergency volunteer program shall have his or her incidental expenses paid by the local jurisdiction for which the volunteer service is provided. Enrolled volunteers under the emergency volunteer program shall be provided workers' compensation insurance by the state emergency management agency during their official duties as authorized by the state emergency management agency.

4. Emergency volunteers who are certified by the state emergency management agency shall be considered employees of the state for purposes of the emergency mutual aid compact under section 44.415 and shall be eligible for out-of-state deployments in accordance with such section.

5. Architects, engineers, individuals including, but not limited to, building officials and building inspectors employed by local governments, qualified by training and experience, who have been certified by the state emergency management agency, and who perform their duties under the direction of an architect or engineer licensed under chapter 327, construction contractors, equipment dealers and other owners and operators of construction equipment and the companies with which they are employed, working under the emergency volunteer program, shall not be personally liable either jointly or separately for any act or acts committed in the performance of their official duties as emergency volunteers except in the case of willful misconduct or gross negligence.

6. Any individuals, employers, partnerships, corporations or proprietorships, that are working under the emergency volunteer program providing demolition, cleanup, removal or other related services, shall not be liable for any acts committed in the performance of their official duties as emergency volunteers except in the case of willful misconduct or gross negligence.

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(L. 1991 S.B. 265 § l, A.L. 2002 S.B. 712, A.L. 2016 S.B. 732)