(a)The Department of Public Safety is authorized to create the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team to provide for the rapid response of trained professionals to emergencies and other hazards occurring in the State. The Commissioner shall appoint a USAR Team program manager to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the USAR Team.
(b)The USAR Team program manager shall perform all the following duties:
(1)organize the State USAR Team to assist local first responders in response to emergencies and other hazards;
(2)hire persons for the USAR Team from fire, police, and emergency medical services and persons with specialty backgrounds in emergency response or search and rescue;
(3)coordinate the acquisition and maintenance of adequate vehicles and equipment for the USAR Team;
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(a) The Department of Public Safety is authorized to create the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team to provide for the rapid response of trained professionals to emergencies and other hazards occurring in the State. The Commissioner shall appoint a USAR Team program manager to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the USAR Team.
(b) The USAR Team program manager shall perform all the following duties:
(1) organize the State USAR Team to assist local first responders in response to emergencies and other hazards;
(2) hire persons for the USAR Team from fire, police, and emergency medical services and persons with specialty backgrounds in emergency response or search and rescue;
(3) coordinate the acquisition and maintenance of adequate vehicles and equipment for the USAR Team;
(4) ensure that USAR Team personnel are organized, trained, and exercised in accordance with the appropriate search and rescue standards or certifications;
(5) negotiate and enter into agreements with municipalities, municipal agencies that maintain swiftwater rescue teams, State-recognized swiftwater rescue teams, or other technical rescue teams to provide expert assistance and services to the USAR Team when necessary; and
(6) coordinate USAR Team participation in search and rescue operations under chapter 112 of this title.
(c) The Department of Public Safety may employ as many USAR Team responders as the Commissioner deems necessary as temporary State employees, who shall be compensated as such when authorized to respond to an emergency or hazard incident or to attend USAR Team training. State USAR Team responders, whenever acting as State agents in accordance with this section, shall be afforded all of the protections and immunities of State employees. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. July 1, 2024.)