Senate File 282 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY BOETTGER
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for the ongoing existence of a disaster
2 behavioral health responder ready reserve and providing an
3 appropriation.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 2096SS 82
6 jp/je/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 29C.23 DISASTER BEHAVIORAL
1 2 HEALTH RESPONDER READY RESERVE.
1 3 1. The administrator of the homeland security and
1 4 emergency management division shall provide for the ongoing
1 5 existence of a disaster behavioral health responder ready
1 6 reserve in accordance with this section. The purpose of the
1 7 reserve is to maintain a group of trained individuals to work
1 8 with state and local officials and others in providing crisis
1 9 counseling assistance in response to crises, disasters, and
1 10 public disorder emergencies.
1 11 2. The ready reserve shall be considered to be a homeland
1 12 security and emergency response team for purposes of section
1 13 29C.8, and the members of the ready reserve shall be subject
1 14 to section 29C.8 when the ready reserve is acting as a
1 15 homeland security and emergency response team upon the
1 16 directive of the administrator or pursuant to a governor's
1 17 disaster emergency proclamation as provided in section 29C.6.
1 18 3. The membership of the ready reserve may include but is
1 19 not limited to nurses, social workers, teachers, farmers,
1 20 mental health professionals, college students, and other
1 21 persons trained to serve as a disaster behavioral health
1 22 responder.
1 23 4. Functions associated with maintaining the existence of
1 24 the ready reserve shall include administration, project
1 25 activities, provision of information through the internet,
1 26 initial and ongoing training of ready reserve members, and
1 27 other related activities. The administrator may contract for
1 28 the performance of all or a part of the functions described in
1 29 this subsection.
1 30 5. Implementation of the ready reserve is subject to the
1 31 funding appropriated or made available for purposes of the
1 32 ready reserve.
1 33 Sec. 2. READY RESERVE == APPROPRIATION. There is
1 34 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
1 35 department of public defense for the fiscal year beginning
2 1 July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the following amount,
2 2 or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the
2 3 purposes designated:
2 4 For initial implementation of the disaster behavioral
2 5 health responder ready reserve by the homeland security and
2 6 emergency management division in accordance with section
2 7 29C.23, as enacted by this Act:
2 8 .................................................. $ 75,000
2 9 EXPLANATION
2 10 This bill provides for the ongoing existence of a disaster
2 11 behavioral health responder ready reserve.
2 12 New Code section 29C.23 requires the department of public
2 13 defense's homeland security and emergency management division
2 14 administrator to provide for the ongoing existence of the
2 15 ready reserve. The purpose of the reserve is to maintain a
2 16 group of trained individuals to work with state and local
2 17 officials and others in providing crisis counseling assistance
2 18 in response to crises, disasters, and public disorder
2 19 emergencies.
2 20 The ready reserve is considered to be a homeland security
2 21 and emergency response team for purposes of Code section 29C.8
2 22 when acting as such a team upon the directive of the
2 23 administrator or pursuant to a governor's disaster emergency
2 24 proclamation. When this status applies, the ready reserve
2 25 members are considered to be state employees and are afforded
2 26 tort liability protection as a state employee as well as
2 27 disability, workers' compensation, and death benefits.
2 28 The bill describes the individuals who may serve as members
2 29 of the ready reserve and functions associated with maintaining
2 30 the existence of the ready reserve. The administrator may
2 31 contract for performance of all or part of these functions.
2 32 Implementation of the ready reserve is subject to the
2 33 availability of funding. The bill provides an appropriation
2 34 from the general fund of the state of $75,000 for initial
2 35 implementation costs for FY 2007=2008.
3 1 LSB 2096SS 82
3 2 jp:nh/je/5.1