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2005 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 2.2-3601, 2.2-3602, 2.2-3605, 32.1-48.016, and 44-146.23 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 2.2-3601. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Department" includes all departments established in the executive branch of state government and local agencies under the jurisdiction or supervision thereof, and for the purposes of §§ 2.2-3602, 2.2-3604 and 2.2-3605, shall include political subdivisions of the Commonwealth.
"Material donor" means any person who, without financial gain, provides funds, materials, employment, or opportunities for clients of agencies, instrumentalities, or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth;
"Occasional-service volunteer" means any person who provides a one-time or occasional voluntary service;
"Regular-service volunteer" means any person engaged in specific voluntary service activities on an ongoing or continuous basis;
"Volunteer" means any person who, of his own free will, provides goods or services, without any financial gain, to any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the Commonwealth;
"Volunteer in state and local services" shall include, but shall not be limited to, any person who serves in a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit or on a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) while engaged in emergency services and preparedness activities as defined in § 44-146.16.
"Regular-service volunteer" means any person
engaged in specific voluntary service activities on an ongoing or continuous
basis;
"Occasional-service volunteer" means any person
who provides a one-time or occasional voluntary service;
"Material donor" means any person who, without
financial gain, provides funds, materials, employment, or opportunities for
clients of agencies, instrumentalities, or political subdivisions of the
Commonwealth;
"Department" includes all departments established
in the executive branch of state government and local agencies under the
jurisdiction or supervision thereof, and for the purposes of §§ 2.2-3602,
2.2-3604 and 2.2-3605, shall include political subdivisions of the
Commonwealth.
§ 2.2-3602. Scope of chapter; status of volunteers; reimbursements.
A. Every department, through its executive head, may develop volunteer programs and accept the services of volunteers, including regular-service volunteers, occasional-service volunteers, or material donors, to assist in programs carried out or administered by that department.
B. Volunteers recruited, trained, or accepted by any department shall, to the extent of their voluntary service, be exempt from all provisions of law relating to state employment, hours of work, rate of compensation, leave time, and employee benefits except those enumerated in or consistent with § 2.2-3605. Volunteers shall, however, at all times comply with applicable work rules.
C. Every department utilizing the services of volunteers may provide volunteers with such incidental reimbursements as are consistent with the provisions of § 2.2-3605, including transportation costs, lodging, and subsistence, as the department deems appropriate to assist volunteers in performing their duties.
D. For the purposes of this chapter, individuals involved in emergency services and preparedness activities pursuant to the definition of "emergency services" in § 44-146.16 shall be considered volunteers in state and local services and shall be accordingly entitled to the benefits conferred in this chapter. As volunteers in state and local services, such individuals shall be deemed to be regular-service volunteers.
§ 2.2-3605. Volunteer benefits.
A. Meals may be furnished without charge to regular-service
volunteers, provided if scheduled work assignments extend over an
established meal period. Meals may be furnished without charge to
occasional-service volunteers at the discretion of the department's executive
head.
B. Lodging, if available, may be furnished temporarily, at no charge, to regular-service volunteers.
C. Transportation reimbursement may be furnished those volunteers whose presence is determined to be necessary to the department. Rates or amounts of such reimbursement shall not exceed those provided in § 2.2-2823. Volunteers may utilize state vehicles in the performance of their duties, subject to those regulations governing use of state vehicles by paid staff.
D. Liability insurance may be provided by the department utilizing their services both to regular-service and occasional-service volunteers to the same extent as may be provided by the department to its paid staff. Volunteers in state and local service, including, but not limited to, any person who serves in a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit or on a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), shall enjoy the protection of the Commonwealth's sovereign immunity to the same extent as paid staff.
§ 32.1-48.016. Immunity from liability.
Any person, including a person who serves in a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit or on a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), who, in good faith and in the performance of his duties, acts in compliance with this article and the Board of Health's regulations shall not be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission resulting from such actions unless such act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
§ 44-146.23. Immunity from liability.
(a) A. Neither the Commonwealth, nor any
political subdivision thereof, nor federal agencies, nor other public or
private agencies, nor, except in cases of willful misconduct, public or private
employees, nor representatives of any of them, engaged in any emergency
services activities, while complying with or attempting to comply with this
chapter or any rule, regulation, or executive order promulgated pursuant to the
provisions of this chapter, shall be liable for the death of, or any injury to,
persons or damage to property as a result of such activities. The provisions of
this section shall not affect the right of any person to receive benefits to
which he would otherwise be entitled under this chapter, or under the Workers'
Compensation Act (§ 65.2-100 et seq.), or under any pension law, nor the right
of any such person to receive any benefits or compensation under any act of
Congress. For the purposes of the immunity conferred by this subsection,
representatives of public or private employees shall include, but shall not be
limited to, volunteers in state and local services who are persons who serve in
a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit or on a Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT).
(b) B. Any person owning or controlling real
estate or other premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants a
license or privilege, or otherwise permits the designation or use of the whole
or any part or parts of such real estate or premises for the purpose of
sheltering persons, of emergency access or of other uses relating to emergency
services shall, together with his successors in interest, if any, not be liable
for negligently causing the death of, or injury to any person on or about such
real estate or premises or for loss of or damage to the property of any person
on or about such real estate or premises during such actual or impending
disaster.
(c) C. If any person holds a license,
certificate, or other permit issued by any state, or political subdivision
thereof, evidencing the meeting of qualifications for professional, mechanical,
or other skills, the person may gratuitously render aid involving that skill in
this the Commonwealth during a disaster, and such person shall not
be liable for negligently causing the death of, or injury to, any person or for
the loss of, or damage to, the property of any person resulting from such
gratuitous service.
(d) D. No person, firm or corporation which
gratuitously services or repairs any electronic devices or equipment under the
provisions of this section after having been approved for the purposes by the
State Coordinator shall be liable for negligently causing the death of, or
injury to, any person or for the loss of, or damage to, the property of any
person resulting from any defect or imperfection in any such device or
equipment so gratuitously serviced or repaired.
(e) E. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
no individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity
shall be liable in civil damages as a result of acts taken voluntarily and
without compensation in the course of rendering care, assistance, or advice
with respect to an incident creating a danger to person, property, or the
environment as a result of an actual or threatened discharge of a hazardous
substance, or in preventing, cleaning up, treating, or disposing of or
attempting to prevent, clean up, treat, or dispose of any such discharge,
provided that such acts are taken under the direction of state or local
authorities responding to the incident. This section shall not preclude
liability for civil damages as a result of gross negligence, recklessness or
willful misconduct. The provisions of this section shall not affect the right
of any person to receive benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled under
this chapter, or under the Workers' Compensation Act (§ 65.2-100 et seq.), or
under any pension law, nor the right of any such person to receive any benefits
or compensation under any act of Congress. The immunity provided by the
provisions of this paragraph shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, any immunities
provided by § 8.01-225.