This bill establishes a three-year pilot program aimed at protecting at-risk individuals during extreme heat events by implementing a Code Red alert system. Under the program, county governing bodies are required to develop plans for issuing alerts to municipalities, social service agencies, and non-profit organizations that assist at-risk individuals, defined as those living outdoors or in poorly insulated settings. The county offices of emergency management will coordinate with municipal emergency management coordinators in areas with a documented homeless population of at least ten people to ensure consistent communication, outreach, and the establishment of emergency cooling centers. Volunteer organizations may assist in executing these plans, operating autonomously while receiving logistical support from the county coordinator.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the State Office of Emergency Management to report on the pilot program's effectiveness and challenges to the Governor and Legislature, along with recommendations for its future. It also allows counties to seek reimbursement for administrative costs incurred during the pilot program. The bill amends existing legal protections to provide Good Samaritan immunity from civil liability for the State, local governments, and volunteers involved in the Code Red alert plan, ensuring they are not held liable for injuries or damages while providing emergency services to at-risk individuals. The act will take effect immediately and will expire three years after its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: .A:9-52