Chapter 1. Military Laws of Virginia.

National Guard Mutual Assistance Compact.

Regulations as to Active Service.

Article 4.1. National Guard Mutual Assistance Compact.

§ 44-54.1. Compact enacted into law; terms.

The National Guard Mutual Assistance Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the Commonwealth of Virginia with all other states legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows: NATIONAL GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE COMPACT Article I. Purposes.

The purposes of this compact are to:

  1. Provide for mutual aid among the party states in the utilization of the national guard to cope with emergencies.
  2. Permit and encourage a high degree of flexibility in the deployment of national guard forces in the interest of efficiency.
  3. Maximize the effectiveness of the national guard in those situations which call for its utilization under this compact.
  4. Provide protection for the rights of national guard personnel when serving in other states on emergency duty.

Article II. Entry into Force and Withdrawal.

  1. This compact shall enter into force when enacted into law by any two states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any other state upon its enactment thereof.
  2. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the governors of all other party states.

Article III. Mutual Aid.

  1. As used in this article:
    1. "Emergency" means an occurrence or condition, temporary in nature, in which police and other public safety officials and locally available national guard forces are, or may reasonably be expected to be, unable to cope with substantial and imminent danger to the public safety.
    2. "Requesting state" means the state whose governor requests assistance in coping with an emergency.
    3. "Responding state" means the state furnishing aid, or requested to furnish aid.
  2. Upon request of the governor of a party state for assistance in an emergency, the governor of a responding state shall have authority under this compact to send without the borders of his state and place under the temporary command of the appropriate national guard or other military authorities of the requesting state all or any part of the national guard forces of his state as he may deem necessary, and the exercise of his discretion in this regard shall be conclusive.
  3. The governor of a party state may withhold the national guard forces of his state from such use and recall any forces or part or member thereof previously deployed in a requesting state.
  4. Whenever national guard forces of any party state are engaged in another state in carrying out the purposes of this compact, the members thereof so engaged shall have the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as members of national guard forces in such other state. The requesting state shall save members of the national guard forces of responding states harmless from civil liability for acts or omissions in good faith which occur in the performance of their duty while engaged in carrying out the purposes of this compact, whether the responding forces are serving the requesting state within its borders or are in transit to or from such service.
  5. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (f), (g) and (h) of this article, all liability that may arise under the laws of the requesting state, the responding state, or a third state on account of or in connection with a request for aid, shall be assumed and borne by the requesting state.
  6. Any responding state rendering aid pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the requesting state for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost of the materials, transportation and maintenance of national guard personnel and equipment incurred in connection with such request: Provided, that nothing herein contained shall prevent any responding state from assuming such loss, damage, expense or other cost.
  7. Each party state shall provide, in the same amounts and manner as if they were on duty within their state, for the pay and allowances of the personnel of its national guard units while engaged without the state pursuant to this compact and while going to and returning from such duty pursuant to this compact. Such pay and allowances shall be deemed items of expense reimbursable under paragraph (f) by the requesting state.
  8. Each party state providing for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members and the representatives of deceased members of its national guard forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed within their own state, shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits in the same manner and on the same terms in case such members sustain injury or are killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact. Such compensation and death benefits shall be deemed items of expense reimbursable pursuant to paragraph (f) of this article.

Article IV. Delegation.

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent the governor of a party state from delegating any of his responsibilities or authority respecting the national guard, provided that such delegation is otherwise in accordance with law. For purposes of this compact, however, the governor shall not delegate the power to request assistance from another state.

Article V. Limitations.

Nothing in this compact shall:

  1. Expand or add to the functions of the national guard, except with respect to the jurisdictions within which such functions may be performed.
  2. Authorize or permit national guard units to be placed under the field command of any person not having the military or national guard rank or status required by law for the field command position in question.

Article VI. Construction and Severability.

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating herein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

(1968, c. 36.)

The numbers of §§ 44-54.1 through 44-54.3 were assigned by the Virginia Code Commission, the 1968 act having assigned no numbers.

Compact cross references. - As to provisions of other member states, see:

Alaska: Alaska Stat. §§ 26.25.010 - 26.25.030.

Kansas: K.S.A. §§ 48-1701 - 48-1703.

North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 127A-175 - 127A-185.

South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §§ 33-9-12.

§ 44-54.2. Payment of liability of State pursuant to Article III (f) of compact.

Upon presentation of a claim therefor by an appropriate authority of a state whose national guard forces have aided this State pursuant to the compact, any liability of this State pursuant to Article III (f) of the compact shall be paid out of funds appropriated to the Department of Military Affairs.

(1968, c. 36; 1980, c. 221.)

§ 44-54.3. Members of National Guard deemed to be in state service when engaged pursuant to compact.

In accordance with Article III (h) of the compact, members of the National Guard forces of this Commonwealth shall be deemed to be in state service at all times when engaged pursuant to this compact, and shall be entitled to all rights and benefits provided pursuant to this title as amended.

(1968, c. 36.)

Article 7. Regulations as to Active Service.

Michie's Jurisprudence. - For related discussion, see 12B M.J. Military, § 14.

§ 44-75.1:1. Compact enacted into law; terms.

The National Guard Mutual Assistance Counterdrug Activities Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the Commonwealth of Virginia with all other states legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:

INTERSTATE COMPACT ON NATIONAL GUARD

COUNTERDRUG OPERATIONS

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE.

The purposes of this compact are to:

  1. Provide for mutual assistance and support among the party states in the utilization of the National Guard in drug interdiction, counterdrug and demand reduction activities.
  2. Permit the National Guard of this Commonwealth to enter into mutual assistance and support agreements, on the basis of need, with one or more law-enforcement agencies operating within this Commonwealth, for activities within this Commonwealth, or with a National Guard of one or more other states, whether said activities are within or without this Commonwealth in order to facilitate and coordinate efficient, cooperative enforcement efforts directed toward drug interdiction, counterdrug activities, and demand reduction.
  3. Permit the National Guard of this Commonwealth to act as a requesting or a responding state as defined within this compact and to ensure the prompt and effective delivery of National Guard personnel, assets, and services to agencies or areas that are in need of increased support and presence.
  4. Permit and encourage a high degree of flexibility in the deployment of National Guard forces in the interest of efficiency.
  5. Maximize the effectiveness of the National Guard in those situations which call for its utilization under this compact.
  6. Provide protection for the rights of National Guard personnel when performing duty in other states in counterdrug activities.
  7. Ensure uniformity of state laws in the area of National Guard involvement in interstate counterdrug activities by incorporating said uniform laws within the compact.

ARTICLE II.

ENTRY INTO FORCE AND WITHDRAWAL.

  1. This compact shall enter into force when enacted by any two states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any other state upon its enactment thereof.
  2. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the governors of all other party states.

ARTICLE III.

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.

  1. As used in this article:

    "Demand reduction" means providing available National Guard personnel, equipment, support and coordination to federal, state, local and civic organizations, institutions, and agencies for the purposes of the prevention of drug abuse and the reduction in the demand for illegal drugs.

    "Drug interdiction and counterdrug activities" means the use of National Guard personnel, while not in federal service, in any law-enforcement support activities that are intended to reduce the supply or use of illegal drugs in the United States. These activities include, but are not limited to:

    1. Providing information obtained, during either the normal course of military training or operations or during counterdrug activities, to federal, state or local law-enforcement officials that may be relevant to a violation of any federal or state law within the jurisdiction of such officials;
    2. Making available any equipment, including associated supplies or spare parts, base facilities, or research facilities of the National Guard to any federal, state or local civilian law-enforcement official for law-enforcement purposes, in accordance with other applicable laws or regulations;
    3. Providing available National Guard personnel to train federal, state or local civilian law-enforcement personnel in the operation and maintenance of equipment, including equipment made available above, in accordance with other applicable laws;
    4. Providing available National Guard personnel to operate and maintain equipment provided to federal, state or local law-enforcement officials pursuant to activities defined and referred to in this compact;
    5. Operating and maintaining equipment and facilities of the National Guard or other law-enforcement agencies used for the purposes of drug interdiction and counterdrug activities;
    6. Providing available National Guard personnel to operate equipment for the detection, monitoring and communication of the movement of air, land and sea traffic; to facilitate communications in connection with law-enforcement programs; to provide transportation for civilian law-enforcement personnel; and to operate bases of operations for civilian law-enforcement personnel;
    7. Providing available National Guard personnel, equipment and support for administrative, interpretive, analytic or other purposes; and
    8. Providing available National Guard personnel and equipment to aid federal, state and local officials and agencies otherwise involved in the prosecution or incarceration of individuals processed within the criminal justice system who have been arrested for criminal acts involving the use, distribution or transportation of controlled substances as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. or otherwise by law, in accordance with other applicable law.

      "Law-enforcement agency" means a lawfully established federal, state, or local public agency that is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of penal, traffic, regulatory, game, immigration, postal, customs or controlled substances laws.

      "Mutual assistance and support agreement" or "agreement" means an agreement between the National Guard of this Commonwealth and one or more law-enforcement agencies or between the National Guard of this Commonwealth and the National Guard of one or more other states, consistent with the purposes of this compact.

      "Official" means the appointed, elected, designated or otherwise duly selected representative of an agency, institution or organization authorized to conduct those activities for which support is requested.

      "Party state" refers to a state that has lawfully enacted this compact.

      "Requesting state" means the party state whose governor requested assistance in the area of counterdrug activities.

      "Responding state" means the party state furnishing assistance, or requested to furnish assistance, in the area of counterdrug activities.

      "State" means each of the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a territory or possession of the United States.

  2. Upon the request of a governor of a party state for assistance in the area of drug interdiction, counterdrug and demand reduction activities, the governor of a responding state shall have authority under this compact to send without the borders of his state and place under the temporary operational control of the appropriate National Guard or other military authority of the requesting state, for the purposes of providing such requested assistance, all or any part of the National Guard forces of his state as he may deem necessary, and the exercise of his discretion in this regard shall be conclusive.
  3. The governor of a party state may, within his discretion, withhold the National Guard forces of his state from such use and recall any forces or part or member thereof previously deployed in a requesting state.
  4. The National Guard of this Commonwealth is hereby authorized to engage in counterdrug activities and demand reduction.
  5. The Adjutant General of this Commonwealth, in order to further the purposes of this compact, may enter into a mutual assistance and support agreement with one or more law-enforcement agencies of this Commonwealth, including federal law-enforcement agencies operating within this Commonwealth, or with the National Guard of one or more other party states to provide personnel, assets, and services in the area of counterdrug activities and demand reduction, provided that all parties to the agreement are not specifically prohibited by law to perform said activities.

    The agreement shall set forth the powers, rights, and obligations of the parties to the agreement, where applicable, as follows:

    1. Its duration;
    2. The organization, composition, and nature of any separate legal entity created thereby;
    3. The purpose of the agreement;
    4. The manner of financing the agreement and establishing and maintaining its budget;
    5. The method to be employed in accomplishing the partial or complete termination of the agreement and for disposing of property upon such partial or complete termination;
    6. A provision for administering the agreement, which may include creation of a joint board responsible for such administration;
    7. The manner of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and personal property used in this agreement, if necessary;
    8. The minimum standards for National Guard personnel implementing the provisions of this agreement;
    9. The minimum insurance required of each party to the agreement, as necessary;
    10. The chain of command or delegation of authority to be followed by National Guard personnel acting under the provisions of the agreement;
    11. The duties and authority that the National Guard personnel of each party state may exercise; and
    12. Any other necessary and proper matters.

      Agreements prepared under the provisions of this compact are exempt from any general law pertaining to intergovernmental agreements.

  6. As a condition precedent to an agreement becoming effective under this article, the agreement must be submitted to and receive the approval of the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia. The Attorney General of Virginia may delegate his approval authority to the appropriate attorney for the Virginia National Guard subject to those conditions which he decides are appropriate. Such delegation must be in writing.
    1. The Attorney General, or his agent for the Virginia National Guard as stated above, shall approve an agreement submitted to him under this article unless he finds that it is not in proper form, does not meet the requirements set forth in this article, or otherwise does not conform to the laws of Virginia. If the Attorney General disapproves an agreement, he shall provide a written explanation to the Adjutant General of the National Guard.
    2. If the Attorney General, or his authorized agent, does not disapprove an agreement within thirty days after its submission to him, it shall be considered approved by him.
  7. Whenever National Guard forces of any party state are engaged in the performance of their duties, in the area of drug interdiction, counterdrug and demand reduction activities, pursuant to orders, they shall not be held personally liable for any acts or omissions which occur during the performance of their duty.

ARTICLE IV.

RESPONSIBILITIES.

  1. Nothing in this compact shall be construed as a waiver of any benefits, privileges, immunities, or rights otherwise provided for National Guard personnel performing duty pursuant to Title 32 of the United States Code nor shall anything in this compact be construed as a waiver of coverage provided for under the Federal Tort Claims Act. In the event that National Guard personnel performing counterdrug activities do not receive rights, benefits, privileges and immunities otherwise provided for National Guard personnel as stated above, the following provisions shall apply:
    1. Whenever National Guard forces of any responding state are engaged in another state in carrying out the purposes of this compact, the members thereof so engaged shall have the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as members of National Guard forces of the requesting state. The requesting state shall save and hold members of the National Guard forces of responding states harmless from civil liability, except as otherwise provided herein, for acts or omissions which occur in the performance of their duties while engaged in carrying out the purposes of this compact, whether the responding forces are serving the requesting state within the borders of the responding state or are attached to the requesting state for purposes of operational control.
    2. Subject to the provisions of subdivisions 3, 4, and 5 of this section, all liability that may arise under the laws of the requesting state or the responding state, in connection with a request for assistance or support, shall be assumed and borne by the requesting state.
    3. Any responding state rendering aid or assistance pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the requesting state for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of, any equipment answering a request for aid and for the cost of the materials, transportation and maintenance of National Guard personnel and equipment incurred in connection with such request; however, nothing herein contained shall prevent any responding state from assuming such loss, damage, expense, or other cost.
    4. Unless there is a written agreement to the contrary, each party state shall provide, in the same amounts and manner as if its National Guard units were on duty within their own state, for pay and allowances of personnel of its National Guard units while engaged without the state pursuant to this compact and while going to and returning from such duty pursuant to this compact.
    5. Each party state providing for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members and the representatives of deceased members of its National Guard forces, in case such members sustain injuries or are killed within their own state, shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits in the same manner and on the same terms in the event such members sustain injury or are killed while rendering assistance or support pursuant to this compact. Such benefits and compensation shall be deemed items of expense reimbursable pursuant to subdivision 3 of this section.
  2. Officers and enlisted personnel of the National Guard performing duties subject to proper orders pursuant to this compact shall be subject to and governed by the provisions of their home state code of military justice whether they are performing duties within or without their home state. In the event that any National Guard member commits, or is suspected of committing, a criminal offense while performing duties pursuant to this compact without his home state, he may be returned immediately to his home state and the home state shall be responsible for any disciplinary action to be taken. However, nothing in this section shall abrogate the general criminal jurisdiction of the state in which the offense occurred.

ARTICLE V.

DELEGATION.

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent the governor of a party state from delegating any of his responsibilities or authority respecting the National Guard, provided that such delegation is otherwise in accordance with law. For purposes of this compact, however, the governor shall not delegate the power to request assistance from another state.

ARTICLE VI.

LIMITATIONS.

Nothing in this compact shall:

  1. Authorize or permit National Guard units or personnel to be placed under the operational control of any person not having the National Guard rank or status required by law for the command in question.
  2. Deprive a properly convened court of jurisdiction over an offense or a defendant merely because of the fact that the National Guard, while performing duties pursuant to this compact, was utilized in achieving an arrest or indictment.
  3. Authorize the National Guard to directly engage in the personal apprehension, arrest and incarceration of any individual or the physical search and seizure of any person. The National Guard may indirectly support any such law-enforcement activities by an otherwise appropriate law-enforcement agency. The National Guard may engage in direct or indirect legal searches and seizures of any property through the use of aerial surveillance, provided that appropriate law-enforcement agents are present to provide supervision of such activity.

ARTICLE VII.

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY.

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of any state or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or the circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating herein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

(1993, c. 932; 1996, cc. 153, 566.)

Compact cross references. - As to provisions of other member states, see:

Alabama: Code of Ala. § 31-11-2.

Florida: Fla. Stat. § 250.531 et seq.

Louisiana: La. R.S. 29:742.

Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 192.88.

Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. § 33-7-503.

North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code, § 37-17.2-01.

South Carolina: S.C. Code Ann. § 1-3-490.

South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws § 33-9-15.

Washington: Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 38.08.500.

Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 19-9-211.

Applied in Doggett v. State, 791 So. 2d 1043, 2000 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 222 (Ala. Crim. App. 2000).

Chapter 3.2. Emergency Services and Disaster Law.

Sec.

§ 44-146.17. Powers and duties of Governor.

The Governor shall be Director of Emergency Management. He shall take such action from time to time as is necessary for the adequate promotion and coordination of state and local emergency services activities relating to the safety and welfare of the Commonwealth in time of disasters.

The Governor shall have, in addition to his powers hereinafter or elsewhere prescribed by law, the following powers and duties:

  1. To proclaim and publish such rules and regulations and to issue such orders as may, in his judgment, be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter including, but not limited to such measures as are in his judgment required to control, restrict, allocate or regulate the use, sale, production and distribution of food, fuel, clothing and other commodities, materials, goods, services and resources under any state or federal emergency services programs. He may adopt and implement the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, which provides for state-level emergency operations in response to any type of disaster or large-scale emergency affecting Virginia and that provides the needed framework within which more detailed emergency plans and procedures can be developed and maintained by state agencies, local governments and other organizations. He may direct and compel evacuation of all or part of the populace from any stricken or threatened area if this action is deemed necessary for the preservation of life, implement emergency mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery actions; prescribe routes, modes of transportation and destination in connection with evacuation; and control ingress and egress at an emergency area, including the movement of persons within the area and the occupancy of premises therein. Executive orders, to include those declaring a state of emergency and directing evacuation, shall have the force and effect of law and the violation thereof shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor in every case where the executive order declares that its violation shall have such force and effect. Such executive orders declaring a state of emergency may address exceptional circumstances that exist relating to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation concerning a communicable disease of public health threat that is issued by the State Health Commissioner for an affected area of the Commonwealth pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 32.1. Except as to emergency plans issued to prescribe actions to be taken in the event of disasters and emergencies, no rule, regulation, or order issued under this section shall have any effect beyond June 30 next following the next adjournment of the regular session of the General Assembly but the same or a similar rule, regulation, or order may thereafter be issued again if not contrary to law;
  2. To appoint a State Coordinator of Emergency Management and authorize the appointment or employment of other personnel as is necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and to remove, in his discretion, any and all persons serving hereunder;
  3. To procure supplies and equipment, to institute training and public information programs relative to emergency management and to take other preparatory steps including the partial or full mobilization of emergency management organizations in advance of actual disaster, to insure the furnishing of adequately trained and equipped forces in time of need;
  4. To make such studies and surveys of industries, resources, and facilities in the Commonwealth as may be necessary to ascertain the capabilities of the Commonwealth and to plan for the most efficient emergency use thereof;
  5. On behalf of the Commonwealth enter into mutual aid arrangements with other states and to coordinate mutual aid plans between political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. After a state of emergency is declared in another state and the Governor receives a written request for assistance from the executive authority of that state, the Governor may authorize the use in the other state of personnel, equipment, supplies, and materials of the Commonwealth, or of a political subdivision, with the consent of the chief executive officer or governing body of the political subdivision;
  6. To delegate any administrative authority vested in him under this chapter, and to provide for the further delegation of any such authority, as needed;
  7. Whenever, in the opinion of the Governor, the safety and welfare of the people of the Commonwealth require the exercise of emergency measures due to a threatened or actual disaster, he may declare a state of emergency to exist;
  8. To request a major disaster declaration from the President, thereby certifying the need for federal disaster assistance and ensuring the expenditure of a reasonable amount of funds of the Commonwealth, its local governments, or other agencies for alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering resulting from the disaster;
  9. To provide incident command system guidelines for state agencies and local emergency response organizations; and
  10. Whenever, in the opinion of the Governor or his designee, an employee of a state or local public safety agency responding to a disaster has suffered an extreme personal or family hardship in the affected area, such as the destruction of a personal residence or the existence of living conditions that imperil the health and safety of an immediate family member of the employee, the Governor may direct the Comptroller of the Commonwealth to issue warrants not to exceed $2,500 per month, for up to three calendar months, to the employee to assist the employee with the hardship.

    (1973, c. 260; 1974, c. 4; 1975, c. 11; 1981, c. 116; 1990, c. 95; 1997, c. 893; 2000, c. 309; 2004, cc. 773, 1021; 2006, c. 140; 2007, cc. 729, 742; 2008, cc. 121, 157.)

Cross references. - For local authority to supply emergency financial assistance to farmers during declared major disasters, see § 3.1-22.19.

As to punishment for Class 1 misdemeanors, see § 18.2-11 .

Editor's note. - Acts 2004, cc. 773 and 1021, cl. 2, provides: "That the Board of Health shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act to be effective within 280 days of its enactment."

The 2000 amendments. - The 2000 amendment by c. 309, in the introductory paragraph, substituted "Management" for "Services" at the end of the first sentence, and "emergency services" for "civilian" near the middle of the second sentence; in subdivision (1), inserted the present second sentence, in the present third sentence, substituted "life, implement emergency mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery actions; prescribe" for "life or other emergency mitigation, response or recovery; prescribe" and inserted "including," and in the present fourth sentence, inserted "to include those declaring a state of emergency and directing evacuation"; in subdivision (3), substituted "training and public information programs relative to emergency management and to take other preparatory steps including the partial or full mobilization of emergency management organizations" for "training programs and public information programs, and to take all other preparatory steps including the partial or full mobilization of emergency service organizations"; added "as needed" at the end of subdivision (6); deleted "and" at the end of subdivision (7); in subdivision (8), substituted "To request a major disaster declaration from the President, thereby certifying the need for federal disaster assistance and ensuring the expenditure" for "When necessary, to request predisaster federal assistance or the declaration of a major disaster and certify the need for federal disaster assistance and to give assurance of the expenditure" and added "and" at the end thereof; and added subdivision (9).

The 2004 amendments. - The 2004 amendments by cc. 773, effective April 12, 2004, and 1021, effective April 21, 2004, are identical, and inserted the next-to-last paragraph in subdivision (1).

The 2006 amendments. - The 2006 amendment by c. 140 added subdivision (10) and made related changes.

The 2007 amendments. - The 2007 amendments by cc. 729 and 742 are identical, and added the last sentence in subdivision (5).

The 2008 amendments. - The 2008 amendments by cc. 121 and 157 are identical, and deleted "natural or man-made" preceding "disasters" at the end of the introductory paragraph; and deleted "man-made or natural" preceding "disaster" in subdivison (10).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Waiver of requirements for licensure of health professionals. - The Governor has authority under this section to waive the statutory and regulatory requirements related to the licensure of health professionals during a state of emergency or declared disaster. See opinion of Attorney General to The Honorable John M. O'Bannon, III, Member, House of Delegates, 02-069 (11/13/02).

Enforcement of quarantine in health emergency. - The Governor, State Health Commissioner and Board of Health have the authority in a public health emergency to issue orders or regulations to enforce a quarantine. See opinion of Attorney General to The Honorable John M. O'Bannon, III, Member, House of Delegates, 02-069 (11/13/02).

Control and allocation of services and resources. - The Governor has the authority to control and allocate services and resources, including state government and private medical personnel and supplies, under any state or federal emergency services program; however, the Commonwealth's authority to take private resources is limited by the constitutional requirement to provide just compensation. See opinion of Attorney General to The Honorable John M. O'Bannon, III, Member, House of Delegates, 02-069 (11/13/02).

Authority of Governor to initiate spending plan should legislature fail to enact budget bill. - The Constitution imposes the clear and certain duty solely upon the General Assembly to make appropriations and states that no funds are to be paid out of the state treasury unless appropriated by law by the General Assembly. It is a question of fact whether conditions exist constituting an emergency under the Emergency Services and Disaster Law of 2000, and it is within the authority of the Governor to make that factual decision. See opinion of Attorney General to The Honorable William J. Howell, Speaker of the House of Delegates, 06-044 (6/8/06).

§ 44-146.17.

INTERSTATE CIVIL DEFENSE COMPACT OF 1952

________

FORM OF

CIVIL DEFENSE AND MUTUAL AID COMPACT

An Interstate Compact Between

the

COMMONNWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

and the State of ______________

Whereas, the Congress of the United States of America has enacted the procedure for granting its consent to Civil Defense Compacts by an Act entitled, "Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950' (Public Law 920, 81st Congress, Second Session, Approved January 12, 1951), and

Whereas, Section 44-142 (6) of the Virginia Civil Defense Act, Chapter 121, 1952 Acts of the General Assembly, authorizes the Governor "on behalf of this State, to enter into mutual aid arrangements with other states and to coordinate mutual aid plans between political subdivisions of this State." Now

THEREFORE, I, ____________________________ Governor of the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, Pursuant to the above, do on behalf of the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA enter into and ratify the following agreement with other contracting states, and the District of Columbia which are now or may hereafter become parties thereto:

  1. Insignia, arm bands and any other distinctive articles to designate and distinguish the different civil defense services;
  2. Blackouts and practice blackouts, air raid drills, mobilization of civil defense forces and other tests and exercises;
  3. Warnings and signals for drills or attacks and the mechanical devices to be used in connection therewith;
  4. The effective screening or extinguishing of all lights and lighting devices and appliances;
  5. Shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power connections and the suspension of all other utility services;
  6. All materials or equipment used or to be used for civil defense purposes in order to assure that such materials and equipment will be easily and freely interchangeable when used in or by any other party State;
  7. The conduct of civilians and the movement and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic, prior, during and subsequent to drills or attacks;
  8. The safety of public meetings or gatherings; and
  9. Mobile support units.

Compact cross references. - As to provisions of other member states, see:

Arkansas: A.C.A. § 12-76-102.

California: Cal Gov Code § 178.

Delaware: 20 Del. C. § 3301.

District of Columbia: D.C. Code § 7-2209.

Kansas: K.S.A. § 48-3201.

Maryland: Md. Public Safety Code, § 14-602.

Michigan: MCLS § 30.261

Nebraska: R.R.S. Neb. § 81-829.56.

Nevada: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 415.010.

New Jersey: N.J. Stat. § 38A:20-3.

North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code § 37-17.2-01.

Oregon: ORS § 401.045.

Pennsylvania: 35 Pa.C.S. § 7111.

Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws § 30-15-14.

South Carolina: S.C. Code Ann. § 25-9-20.

Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-2-402.

Utah: Utah Code Ann. § 39-5-2.

Virgin Islands: 23 V.I.C. § 1128.

§ 44-146.28:1. Compact enacted into law; terms.

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the Commonwealth of Virginia with all other states legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE AND AUTHORITIES.

This compact is made and entered into by and between the participating member states which enact this compact, hereinafter called party states. For the purposes of this compact, the term "states" is taken to mean the several states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territorial possessions.

The purpose of this compact is to provide for mutual assistance between the states entering into this compact in managing any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the Governor of the affected state, whether arising from natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency aspects of resources shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or enemy attack.

This compact shall also provide for mutual cooperation in emergency-related exercises, testing, or other training activities using equipment and personnel simulating performance of any aspect of the giving and receiving of aid by party states or subdivisions of party states during emergencies, such actions occurring outside actual declared emergency periods. Mutual assistance in this compact may include the use of the states' National Guard forces, either in accordance with the National Guard Mutual Assistance Compact or by mutual agreement between states.

ARTICLE II.

GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION.

Each party state entering into this compact recognizes that many emergencies transcend political jurisdictional boundaries and that intergovernmental coordination is essential in managing these and other emergencies under this compact. Each state further recognizes that there will be emergencies which require immediate access and present procedures to apply outside resources to make a prompt and effective response to such an emergency. This is because few, if any, individual states have all the resources they may need in all types of emergencies or the capability of delivering resources to areas where emergencies exist.

The prompt, full, and effective utilization of resources of the participating states, including any resources on hand or available from the federal government or any other source, that are essential to the safety, care, and welfare of the people in the event of any emergency or disaster declared by a party state, shall be the underlying principle on which all articles of this compact shall be understood.

On behalf of the Governor of each state participating in the compact, the legally designated state official who is assigned responsibility for emergency management will be responsible for formulation of the appropriate interstate mutual aid plans and procedures necessary to implement this compact.

ARTICLE III.

  1. It shall be the responsibility of each party state to formulate procedural plans and programs for interstate cooperation in the performance of the responsibilities listed in this article. In formulating such plans, and in carrying them out, the party states, insofar as practical, shall:
    1. Review individual state hazards analyses and, to the extent reasonably possible, determine all those potential emergencies the party states might jointly suffer, whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, emergency aspects of resources shortages, civil disorders, insurgency, or enemy attack;
    2. Review party states' individual emergency plans and develop a plan which will determine the mechanism for the interstate management and provision of assistance concerning any potential emergency;
    3. Develop interstate procedures to fill any identified gaps and to resolve any identified inconsistencies or overlaps in existing or developed plans;
    4. Assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing the state boundaries;
    5. Protect and assure uninterrupted delivery of services, medicines, water, food, energy and fuel, search and rescue, and critical lifeline equipment, services, and resources, both human and material;
    6. Inventory and set procedures for the interstate loan and delivery of human and material resources, together with procedures for reimbursement or forgiveness; and
    7. Provide, to the extent authorized by law, for temporary suspension of any statutes or ordinances that restrict the implementation of the above responsibilities.
  2. The authorized representative of a party state may request assistance of another party state by contacting the authorized representative of that state. The provisions of this compact shall only apply to requests for assistance made by and to authorized representatives. Requests may be verbal or in writing. If verbal, the request shall be confirmed in writing within thirty days of the verbal request. Requests shall provide the following information:
    1. A description of the emergency service function for which assistance is needed, including, but not limited to, fire services, law enforcement, emergency medical, transportation, communications, public works and engineering, building inspection, planning and information assistance, mass care, resource support, health and medical services, and search and rescue;
    2. The amount and type of personnel, equipment, materials and supplies needed, and a reasonable estimate of the length of time they will be needed; and
    3. The specific place and time for staging of the assisting party's response and a point of contact at that location.
  3. There shall be frequent consultation between state officials who have assigned emergency management responsibilities and other appropriate representatives of the party states with affected jurisdictions and the United States Government, with free exchange of information, plans, and resource records relating to emergency capabilities.

ARTICLE IV.

LIMITATIONS.

Any party state requested to render mutual aid or conduct exercises and training for mutual aid shall take such action as is necessary to provide and make available the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that it is understood that the state rendering aid may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protection for such state.

Each party state shall afford to the emergency forces of any party state, while operating within its state limits under the terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers, except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving state, duties, rights, and privileges as are afforded forces of the state in which they are performing emergency services. Emergency forces will continue under the command and control of their regular leaders, but the organizational units will come under the operational control of the emergency services authorities of the state receiving assistance. These conditions may be activated, as needed, only subsequent to a declaration of a state emergency or disaster by the governor of the party state that is to receive assistance or upon commencement of exercises or training for mutual aid and shall continue so long as the exercises or training for mutual aid are in progress, the state of emergency or disaster remains in effect, or loaned resources remain in the receiving state, whichever is longer.

ARTICLE V.

LICENSES AND PERMITS.

Whenever any person holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any state party to the compact evidencing the meeting of qualifications for professional, mechanical, or other skills, and when such assistance is requested by the receiving party state, such person shall be deemed licensed, certified, or permitted by the state requesting assistance to render aid involving such skill to meet a declared emergency or disaster, subject to such limitations and conditions as the Governor of the requesting state may prescribe by executive order or otherwise.

ARTICLE VI.

LIABILITY.

Officers or employees of a party state rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be considered agents of the requesting state for tort liability and immunity purposes. No party state or its officers or employees rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part of such forces while so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith. Good faith in this article shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.

ARTICLE VII.

SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS.

Inasmuch as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ from that among the states that are party hereto, this compact contains elements of a broad base common to all states, and nothing herein shall preclude any state entering into supplementary agreements with another state or affect any other agreements already in force between states. Supplementary agreements may comprehend, but shall not be limited to, provisions for evacuation and reception of injured and other persons and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications personnel, and equipment and supplies.

ARTICLE VIII.

COMPENSATION.

Each party state shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members of the emergency forces of that state and representatives of deceased members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained within their own state.

ARTICLE IX.

REIMBURSEMENT.

Any party state rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the party state receiving such aid for any loss or damage to or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment and the provision of any service in answering a request for aid and for the costs incurred in connection with such requests; provided, that any aiding party state may assume in whole or in part such loss, damage, expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such services to the receiving party state without charge or cost; and provided further, that any two or more party states may enter into supplementary agreements establishing a different allocation of costs among those states. Article VIII expenses shall not be reimbursable under this article.

ARTICLE X.

EVACUATION.

Plans for the orderly evacuation and interstate reception of portions of the civilian population as the result of any emergency or disaster of sufficient proportions to so warrant, shall be worked out and maintained between the party states and the emergency management/services directors of the various jurisdictions where any type of incident requiring evacuations might occur. Such plans shall be put into effect by request of the state from which evacuees come and shall include the manner of transporting such evacuees, the number of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing, and medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the providing of facilities for the notification of relatives or friends, and the forwarding of such evacuees to other areas or the bringing in of additional materials, supplies, and all other relevant factors. Such plans shall provide that the party state receiving evacuees and the party state from which the evacuees come shall mutually agree as to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such evacuees, for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care, and like items. Such expenditures shall be reimbursed as agreed by the party state from which the evacuees come. After the termination of the emergency or disaster, the party state from which the evacuees come shall assume the responsibility for the ultimate support of repatriation of such evacuees.

ARTICLE XI.

IMPLEMENTATION.

  1. This compact shall become effective immediately upon its enactment into law by any two states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any other state upon enactment by such state.
  2. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until thirty days after the Governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the Governors of all other party states. Such action shall not relieve the withdrawing state from obligations assumed hereunder prior to the effective date of withdrawal.
  3. Duly authenticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time of their approval, be deposited with each of the party states and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate agencies of the United States Government.

ARTICLE XII.

VALIDITY.

This compact shall be construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article I. If any provision of this compact is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected.

ARTICLE XIII.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

Nothing in this compact shall authorize or permit the use of military force by the National Guard of a state at any place outside that state in any emergency for which the President is authorized by law to call into federal service the militia, or for any purpose for which the use of the Army or the Air Force would in the absence of express statutory authorization be prohibited under § 1385 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

(1995, c. 280.)

Compact cross references. - As to provisions of other member states, see:

Alabama: Code of Ala. § 31-9-40.

Alaska: Alaska Stat. § 26.23.136.

Arizona: A.R.S. § 26-402.

Arkansas: A.C.A. § 12-49-402.

California: Cal Gov Code § 179.5.

Colorado: C.R.S. 24-60-2902.

Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 28-23a.

Delaware: 20 Del. C. § 3401.

District of Columbia: D.C. Code § 7-2332.

Florida: Fla. Stat. §§ 252.921 - 252.933.

Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 38-3-81.

Hawaii: HRS § 128F-2.

Idaho: Idaho Code § 46-1018A.

Illinois: 45 ILCS 151/5.

Indiana: Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 10-14-5-1 et seq.

Iowa: Iowa Code § 29C.21.

Kansas: K.S.A. § 48-9 a01.

Kentucky: KRS § 39A.950.

Maine: 37-B M.R.S. §§ 921 - 933.

Maryland: Md. PUBLIC SAFETY Code Ann. § 14-702.

Massachusetts: Mass. Ann. Laws Spec. Laws ch. S140, § 1.

Michigan: MCL § 3.1001.

Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 192.89.

Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. § 45-18-3.

Montana: Mont. Code Anno., § 10-3-1001.

Nevada: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 415.010.

New Hampshire: RSA 108:3.

New Jersey: N.J. Stat. § 38A:20-5.

New Mexico: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 12-10-15.

New York: NY CLS Exec § 29-g.

North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 166A-40 - 166A-53.

Ohio: ORC Ann. 5502.40.

Oklahoma: 63 Okl. St. §§ 684.1 - 684.13.

Oregon: ORS § 401.043.

Pennsylvania: 35 Pa.C.S. § 7601.

Puerto Rico: 1 L.P.R.A. §§ 621 - 633.

Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 30-15.9-1 - 30-15.9-14.

South Carolina: S.C. Code Ann. § 25-9-420.

South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws § 33-15-48.

Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-2-403.

Texas: Tex. Health & Safety Code § 778.001.

Utah: Utah Code Ann. § 53-2-202.

Vermont: 20 V.S.A. §§ 101 - 112.

Vermont: 20 V.S.A. §§ 101 - 112.

Vermont: 20 V.S.A. §§ 101 - 112.

West Virginia: W. Va. Code § 15-5-22.

Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 166.30.

Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 19-13-401 et seq.