A. The Legislature finds that individuals appointed to the local emergency planning committees pursuant to the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Planning and Notification Act in developing effective comprehensive local emergency response plans serve to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and the environment of this state. The Legislature, in addition, finds that potential exposure to liability has a detrimental effect on the participation of the individuals on local emergency planning committees and that in order for these local emergency planning committees to function effectively, individuals serving on such committees shall be exempt from civil liability, except as otherwise provided by the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Planning and Notification Act, for any act or omissions made in the performance of their official duties which resulted in direct or proximate harm to any person or property.

B. 1. Any individual serving on a local emergency planning committee pursuant to appointment by the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission, any duly authorized alternate member to a local emergency planning committee shall be exempt from civil liability for any acts or omissions made in the performance of their official duties which resulted in the direct or proximate harm or injury to any person or property.

2. The immunity provided by this subsection shall only extend to the acts or omissions of the individual while serving in their designated, official capacity.

3. The immunity provided by this subsection shall not extend to intentional torts or grossly negligent acts or omissions of such individual or to the extent specifically stated in the federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act.

4. Any action taken by an individual serving on the committee within the scope of his authority pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Planning and Notification Act shall be deemed to be the actions of the individual as a member of the committee and not the actions of such individual as a representative of the group or organization nominating such individual.

5. The nomination of any individual to serve on the committee by any group or organization specified in subsection G of Section 689.1 of this title shall not subject such group or organization to any civil liability as a result of such nomination.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 166, § 2, emerg. eff. May 8, 1989. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 292, § 3, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1993, c. 145, § 245, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from Title 63, § 689.2 by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993.