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. The program requires county governing bodies 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 create consistent alert plans that include communication strategies, emergency cooling centers, and transportation options. Volunteer organizations may assist in executing these plans, operating autonomously while receiving logistical support from the county coordinator.

Additionally, the bill mandates that a county emergency management coordinator declare a Code Red alert when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for the region. It also allows counties to seek reimbursement for administrative costs incurred during the pilot program and requires the State Office of Emergency Management to report on the program's effectiveness and challenges, along with recommendations for its future. The bill includes provisions that protect the State, local governments, and volunteers from civil liability while providing emergency services under the Code Red alert plan.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: .A:9-52