The bill amends Section 30-15-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-15 entitled "Emergency Management" to provide additional protections and benefits to disaster response workers. The amendment declares all disaster response functions as governmental functions and provides immunity from liability for the state, political subdivisions, and disaster response workers, except in cases of willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith. It also specifies that disaster response workers will not be liable for death, injury, or property damage as a result of their activities, while preserving their rights to benefits under other laws, including Workers' Compensation and pension laws.

Significant insertions include a new subsection (d), which states that in the absence of other benefits provided by law, disaster response workers practicing their professional skills during an emergency will be considered state employees and entitled to the same rights and benefits as state employees under chapters 29 through 38 of title 28 and under § 9-31-8. The definition of "disaster response worker" is also clarified to include a wide range of individuals and entities performing disaster response services. The bill would take effect upon passage, ensuring that disaster response workers are recognized as state employees and receive appropriate compensation and legal protections during their service in emergencies.

Statutes affected:
7936: 30-15-15