HB 313 Summary

• Expands the intrastate mutual aid compact to include state institutions of higher education (except community colleges, technical colleges, state community colleges, and university branches) as participating political subdivisions.

• Broadens the scope of the compact to cover preparation, response, and recovery from incidents, disasters, exercises, training activities, planned events, and emergencies requiring additional resources (not just formally declared emergencies).

• Allows requests for mutual assistance or aid through either a declared state of emergency or a direct verbal/written request to another participating political subdivision, with written confirmation required within 72 hours if verbal.

• Establishes that responding political subdivisions are not reimbursed for the first eight hours of assistance provided or for worker injury/death benefits, which remain the responsibility of the responding subdivision's workers' compensation coverage.

• Permits responding political subdivisions to voluntarily assume costs, loan equipment, or donate services without reimbursement, and allows subdivisions to enter into agreements establishing different cost-sharing arrangements.