SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1997 SESSION

973209700
SENATE BILL NO. 945
Offered January 16, 1997
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.1-558 of the Code of Virginia, relating to immunity for volunteers.
----------

Patrons-- Benedetti, Colgan, Howell, Lucas and Martin; Delegates: Cox, Ingram and Watkins
----------
Referred to the Committee on Local Government
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2.1-558 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.1-558. Volunteer benefits.

A. Meals may be furnished without charge to regular-service volunteers, provided 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 § 14.1-5. Volunteers may utilize state vehicles in the performance of their duties, subject to those rules and 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 shall enjoy the protection of the Commonwealth's sovereign immunity to the same extent as paid staff. Volunteers for a county, city or town shall have the same immunity from simple negligence available to employees of the county, city or town for which they are volunteering.