HB216 Summary

• State Emergency Management Agency must develop uniform guidelines by December 31, 2020, in cooperation with the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers and Association of County Commissions of Alabama, for identifying and volunteering safer place facilities during severe weather events.

• Guidelines must include methods for notifying communities about safer places, an application process for property owners/entities to volunteer their structures, nondiscrimination requirements based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, or religion, and procedures for withdrawal of designation.

• Designated safer place facilities are not required to provide staff, food, water, medicine, electricity, air conditioning, first aid, telecommunications, toilet facilities, or other life-sustaining goods or services before, during, or after severe weather events.

• No state or local government entity may provide compensation or financial support to individuals or entities for designating or operating safer place facilities, and individuals using such facilities use them at their own risk without acquiring invitee or licensee status.

• Individuals and entities volunteering structures as safer place facilities are designated as volunteers under Alabama's Volunteer Service Act and receive associated legal protections.