DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 388 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Hodges
Abstract: Authorizes a registry and credentialing of volunteers in disaster or emergency response,
provides limitations of liability for volunteers, and adds provisions governing leave from
employment for volunteers deployed on a mission.
Present law provides a limitation of liability for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster or its member organizations who gratuitously render disaster relief or recovery services,
except for acts involving gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct.
Proposed law adds a similar limitation of liability applicable to other volunteers.
Present law provides for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact which, in part, provides
that officers or employees of a state, political subdivisions, or local governments rendering aid to
another state pursuant to the compact shall be considered agents of the requesting state for purpose
of liability and immunity.
Proposed law extends the application of present law to registered and credentialed volunteer
organizations.
Proposed law authorizes the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
(GOHSEP) to establish a registry of volunteers to be deployed either by GOHSEP or the parish
office of homeland security and emergency preparedness. Defines "volunteer" and authorizes
GOHSEP to provide credentials, including identification cards or badges for volunteers. Requires,
at a minimum, a check of volunteers on the state sex offender and child predator registry. A federal
and state background check may be required in some circumstances, depending upon the mission
of the volunteer. Requires the costs of the background check to be paid by the volunteer or his
affiliated agency.
Proposed law provides that registered and credentialed volunteers shall be treated as unpaid agents
of the state or parish for purposes of liability when in the course and scope of their deployment.
Further requires them to make every effort when deployed to coordinate with local officials.
Proposed law provides for a leave of absence from employment, both public and private, for
volunteers serving, with an exception for peace officers. Proposed law provides for leave without
loss of pay up to 15 days per calendar year for public sector employees, and provides for leave
without pay up to 5 days per calendar year for private sector employees. Provides for additional
restrictions and criteria in this regard. Present law provides that firefighters employed by this state shall not be denied leave, work-related
benefits, or employment for absenting himself from his employment for the purpose of emergency
response.
Proposed law provides that no volunteer firefighter shall be denied leave, work-related benefits, or
employment for absenting himself from the volunteer fire department for the purpose of emergency
response not to exceed five days per declared disaster.
Proposed law further provides that GOHSEP may coordinate the sharing of equipment between
public and private entities.
(Amends R.S. 9:2793.8, R.S. 23:893, R.S. 29:733(C)(Art. 6), and R.S. 33:4712.18(A)(3); Adds R.S.
29:735.4 and R.S. 42:1102(18)(b)(iii))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original bill:
1. Modify the proposed limitation of liability to apply to volunteers, instead of volunteer
agencies gratuitously rendering disaster relief or recovery services.
2. Remove proposed law authorizing volunteers to make claims if they suffer damage to
their property or expend funds to accomplish an assigned mission, and to receive state
or parish commodities.
3. Require volunteers to make every effort to coordinate with local officials.
4. With respect to proposed law protections for volunteers who take leave from
employment:
(a)Provide an exception from proposed law for peace officers.
(b)Change the proposed law protections applicable to public officers and employees
to leave without pay.
(c)Change the proposed law protections applicable to private employees to authorize
leave not to exceed five days, instead of fifteen days.
(d)Provide that no volunteer firefighter shall be denied leave, work-related benefits,
or employment for absenting himself from the volunteer fire department for the
purpose of emergency response not to exceed five days per declared disaster.
5. Modify the definition of "volunteer" to include individuals who donate labor through a
nonprofit organization registered and approved by the state as a private, nonprofit, tax-
exempt organization pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(c), instead of 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).