Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 23 (2021GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Thatcher, D.

Final action

Senate/ filed 3/5/2021

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• provides that the Division of Emergency Management may contract with a political subdivision for purposes of operating an emergency task force; and
• provides that an individual who works for the emergency task force shall receive payment and certain benefits.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

EMERGENCY TASK FORCE
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Daniel W. Thatcher
House Sponsor: 
 Paul Ray
LONG TITLE
Committee Note:
The Government Operations Interim Committee recommended this bill.
Legislative Vote: 15 voting for 0 voting against 1 absent
General Description:
This bill authorizes a contract between certain state entities for responding to an
emergency.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ provides that the Division of Emergency Management may contract with a political
subdivision for purposes of operating an emergency task force; and
▸ provides that an individual who works for the emergency task force shall receive
payment and certain benefits.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53-2a-1401
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53-2a-1402
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53-2a-1401
 is enacted to read:
Part 14. Emergency Task Force
 53-2a-1401.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Active task force" means a task force placed at the direction, control, and funding
of the division, in accordance with an agreement entered into under this section, in response to,
or in anticipation of a disaster or emergency.
(2) "Division" means the Division of Emergency Management.
(3) "Sponsoring agency" means a political subdivision that executes a memorandum of
understanding with the United States Department of Homeland Security to organize a task
force.
(4) "State employee" means a full-time, part-time, or temporary employee of:
(a) the state; or
(b) a political subdivision of the state, regardless of whether the employee is
performing duties in the political subdivision that employs the employee.
(5) "Task force" means a National Urban Search and Rescue Response System task
force established by the United States Department of Homeland Security under 44 C.F.R. Part
208.
Section 2. Section 
53-2a-1402
 is enacted to read:
 53-2a-1402.
Emergency task force agreement -- Creation -- Employment.
(1) (a) The division may enter into an agreement with a sponsoring agency to establish
terms and conditions that apply if a task force organized by the sponsoring agency becomes an
active task force.
(b) If the division enters into an agreement described in Subsection (1)(a), the
agreement may allow the division to reimburse the sponsoring agency for:
(i) costs related to the operation of an active task force, as allowed under 44 C.F.R.
Part 208, at the rates provided under 44 C.F.R. Part 208;
(ii) payment for death, disability, or injury of an individual if the individual suffers
death, disability, or injury in the course of performing the individual's duties for the active task
force; and
(iii) payment to an individual serving on an active task force.
(2) While serving on an active task force:
(a) a state employee:
(i) has the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities that are incidental to
the state employee's employment; and
(ii) shall receive the same compensation and benefits that are incidental to the state
employee's employment; and
(b) an individual who is not a state employee shall:
(i) receive the same rights and immunities as a state employee serving in the same
position on an active task force; and
(ii) be considered a temporary employee of the state for purposes of:
(A) Title 34A, Chapter 2, Workers' Compensation Act; and
(B) Title 34A, Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.