# Presentation: 675814

## Citizen Corps Volunteer Issues

- Liability & Credentialing

## Background

- January 2003 Governor Gary Locke appointed the Washington Commission for National and Community Service as the State Citizen Corps Council.
- June 2003 State Citizen Corps Coordinator hired to address Citizen Corps issues.

## Background “Continued”

- Reviewed Citizen Corps Programs, Initiatives and Affiliate partner programs.
- Reviewed funding opportunities.
- Reviewed registered programs in Washington state.

## Regional Homeland SecurityCoordination Districts (RHSCD)

- Clallam

- Jefferson

- Grays Harbor

- Pacific

- Whatcom

- Skagit

- Snohomish

- King

- Pierce

- Lewis

- Mason

- Cowlitz

- Thurston

- Clark

- Skamania

- Klickitat

- Yakima

- Kittitas

- Chelan

- Douglas

- Grant

- Okanogan

- Ferry

- Stevens

- Pend
- Oreille

- Spokane

- Lincoln

- Adams

- Whitman

- Franklin

- Benton

- Walla Walla

- Columbia

- Garfield

- Asotin

- Wahkiakum

- Island

- Kitsap

**Region 2**

**Region 3**

**Region**
**6**

**Region**
**5**

**Region 4**

- San Juan

**Region 9**

**Region 7**

**Region 1**

**Region 8**

**Notes:**
From the beginning Washington State approached Homeland Security from a Regional perspective.

Here is a map of our current Homeland Security Regions and these mirror our Bioterrorism Public Health Regions.

We also have different Fire and Law enforcement, EMS and Hospital Regions, but we are beginning to address and look at regional alignments across the board.  Is this feasible?

Citizen Corps programs are local programs, but in Washington we have several that are looking at a multi county/Regional approach to address limited resources and funding to support the development of CERT and other programs.

##  State Citizen Corps Council Coordinator’s Role and Responsibilities

- Technical support for local programs
- Collaboration
- Public ~ Private partnership development
- Grant Management and Coordination
- Conduit for information sharing and issue development

## Volunteer Issues Working Group

- State Citizen Corps Council
- WA State Department of Health
- WA State Emergency Management Division
- WA State Insurance Commissioner’s Office
- WA State Department of Labor & Industries
- U.S. Surgeon General Seattle Office
- Federal Emergency Management Agency

- Kitsap County
- Emergency Management
- Snohomish County
- Public Health
- Spokane County
- Retired Physicians Group
- Thurston County
- Public Health
- Washington Hospital Association
- Physician Insurance
- Washington Dental Association

**Notes:**
Here is a brief list of some of the current participants in the Volunteer Issues working group and it continues to grow as we need to address specific issues and concerns.

## Volunteer Issues

**Liability/Malpractice**
**Training **
**Registration/**
**Credentialing**

**Role in Response**
- Specialized Teams
- Support to First Responder Activities
**Exercising**

**Notes:**
There were several themes and issues that I encountered as I went across the state to give presentation on Citizen Corps, its Programs and initiatives.

The largest being liability, but with medical reserve corps we included malpractice.  Training is another issue throughout the state. Finally what about registration and credentials, including verification of training and current licenses.

Then we encounter the question about the volunteers role in response and also how they support first responder activities.  Exercising can be a new topic for some volunteer programs new to all hazards response and planning.

The Volunteer Issues Working Group is tackling all of theses areas.  

## Good Samaritan Act VS. Emergency Worker Program

- Where is our protection?

## Good Samaritan Law

- Protection for immediate response and care provided.
- If you transport in your automobile, then auto insurance is primary coverage.
- General protections for an individual during a basic response.

**Notes:**
This is excellent protection for the general citizen.  In Washington it does not mean that you cannot be sued for negligence, it just means you have some added protection for the response you provide, as long as it is within your scope of training. 

An example...you arrive on a scene of an accident, a car accident, and have basic first aid know about C-spine injuries and you move the individual in a haphazard way and do harm you may be liable because of  gross negligence.

The Good Samaritan law does not work in Washington once you are called  upon to respond to an event or  given a specific assignment from and authorized official to support the emergency response.  The farther away you move from basic initial care, the more you are getting into a situation where you may not be covered as a good Samaritan.

We have found that it also has some limitations in the coverage, like transportation of an individual.  That would fall to your Auto Insurance.

## The White Paper

- Washington State Attorney General
- Staff from various Divisions are looking at current laws and provisions that support the development of volunteer resources.
- Emphasis on Chapter 38.53 RCW and Chapter 118.04 WAC.

**Notes:**
Through the Volunteer Issues working group we identified many questions that required input from the Attorney General’s Office and legal council.  Through the Committee on Homeland Security we were able to find a point of contact in the AG’s office that graciously agreed to assist with the beginning dialog.  We decided that we did not want a decision package but a legal review through a white paper so that any findings were not binding.

Collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office in Emergency Management, Department of Health, Insurance Commissioner and many other Divisions we have been working on a draft White Paper.

In the interim we found that RCW 38.52 and WAC 118.04 provided us the general protections we needed to move forward with the Citizen Corps initiatives and programs.

Through the work that the Attorney General has done to date, the paper is not quite finished, there have been claims submitted and paid, but no litigation through the courts.

## Washington State Law

- Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
- Chapter 4.92
- Actions and Claims against the State
- Chapter 38.52
- Emergency Management

- Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
- Chapter 118-04
- Emergency Worker Program

**Notes:**
There is a general policy atmosphere that we will protect life and property.    Through this public policy we want people, business and the community to volunteer to respond to an emergency, therefore there are protections through Washington Law that provide coverage and protections for the work a volunteer would do.

Currently on the books there are several laws that work to protect volunteers from liability.

RCW 4.92.060Action against state officers, employees, volunteers, or foster parents -- Request for defense. 
Whenever an action or proceeding for damages shall be instituted against any state officer, including state elected officials, employee, volunteer, or foster parent licensed in accordance with chapter 74.15 RCW, arising from acts or omissions while performing, or in good faith purporting to perform, official duties, or, in the case of a foster parent, arising from the good faith provision of foster care services, such officer, employee, volunteer, or foster parent may request the attorney general to authorize the defense of said action or proceeding at the expense of the state. 

RCW 4.92.075Action against state officers, employees, or volunteers -- Judgment satisfied by state. 
When a state officer, employee, or volunteer has been represented by the attorney general pursuant to RCW 4.92.070, and the body presiding over the action or proceeding has found that the officer, employee, or volunteer was acting within the scope of his or her official duties, and a judgment has been entered against the officer, employee, or volunteer pursuant to chapter 4.92 RCW or 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981 et seq., thereafter the judgment creditor shall seek satisfaction only from the state, and the judgment shall not become a lien upon any property of such officer, employee, or volunteer. 

## RCW 38.52

- 38.52.180 Liability for Property Damage, bodily injury, death –Immunity—Assumption by State—Indemnification.
- 38.51.195 Exemption from liability while providing construction, equipment or work.
- 38.52.310 Coverage, Classification, Registration of workers.

**Notes:**
 RCW 38.52.010Definitions. 
(4) "Emergency worker" means any person, including but not limited to an architect registered under chapter 18.08 RCW or a professional engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW, who is registered with a local emergency management organization or the department and holds an identification card issued by the local emergency management director or the department for the purpose of engaging in authorized emergency management activities or is an employee of the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof who is called upon to perform emergency management activities. (6)(a) "Emergency or disaster" as used in all sections of this chapter except RCW 38.52.430 shall mean an event or set of circumstances which: (I) Demands immediate action to preserve public health, protect life, protect public property, or to provide relief to any stricken community overtaken by such occurrences, or (ii) reaches such a dimension or degree of destructiveness as to warrant the governor declaring a state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010.RCW 38.52.180Liability for property damage, bodily injury, death -- Immunity -- Assumption by state -- Indemnification. 
(2) All legal liability for damage to property or injury or death to persons (except an emergency worker, regularly enrolled and acting as such), caused by acts done, or attempted, under the color of this chapter in a bona fide attempt to comply therewith shall be the obligation of the state of Washington. Suits may be instituted and maintained against the state for the enforcement of such liability, or for the indemnification of persons appointed and regularly enrolled as emergency workers while actually engaged in emergency management duties, or as members of any agency of the state or political subdivision thereof engaged in emergency management activity, or their dependents, for damage done to their private property, or for any judgment against them for acts done in good faith in compliance with this chapter: PROVIDED, That the foregoing shall not be construed to result in indemnification in any case of willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith on the part of any agent of emergency management: PROVIDED, That should the United States or any agency thereof, in accordance with any federal statute, rule or regulation, provide for the payment of damages to property and/or for death or injury as provided for in this section, then and in that event there shall be no liability or obligation whatsoever upon the part of the state of Washington for any such damage, death, or injury for which the United States government assumes liability.     (3) Any requirement for a license to practice any professional, mechanical or other skill shall not apply to any authorized emergency worker who shall, in the course of performing his duties as such, practice such professional, mechanical or other skill during an emergency described in this chapter.RCW 38.52.195Exemption from liability while providing construction, equipment or work. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person, firm, corporation, or other entity acting under the direction or control of the proper authority to provide construction, equipment, or work as provided for in RCW 38.52.110, 38.52.180, 38.52.195, 38.52.205, 38.52.207, 38.52.220 and 38.52.390 while complying with or attempting to comply with RCW 38.52.110, 38.52.180, 38.52.195, 38.52.205, 38.52.207, 38.52.220 and 38.52.390 or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of RCW 38.52.110, 38.52.180, 38.52.195, 38.52.205, 38.52.207, 38.52.220 and 38.52.390 shall be liable for the death of or any injury to persons or damage to property as a result of any such activity: PROVIDED, That said exemption shall only apply where all of the following conditions occur:     (1) Where, at the time of the incident the worker is performing services as an emergency worker, and is acting within the course of his duties as an emergency worker;     (2) Where, at the time of the injury, loss, or damage, the organization for emergency management which the worker is assisting is an approved organization for emergency management;     (3) Where the injury, loss, or damage is proximately caused by his service either with or without negligence as an emergency worker;     (4) Where the injury, loss, or damage is not caused by the intoxication of the worker; and     (5) Where the injury, loss, or damage is not due to willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of a worker. 

RCW 38.52.310Coverage, classification, registration, of workers. 
The department shall establish by rule and regulation various classes of emergency workers, the scope of the duties of each class, and the conditions under which said workers shall be deemed to be on duty and covered by the provisions of this chapter. The department shall also adopt rules and regulations prescribing the manner in which emergency workers of each class are to be registered. 

## WAC 118.04

- 118-04-080 Registration.
- 118-04-100 Classes of Emergency Worker.
- 118-04-180 Responsibilities of authorized officials registering and using emergency workers.
- 118-04-200 Personal responsibilities of emergency workers.

**Notes:**
WAC 118-04-080   Registration.  Registration is a prerequisite for eligibility of emergency workers for benefits and legal protection under chapter 38.52 RCW._x0001__x0001_     (1) Emergency workers shall register in their jurisdiction of residence or in the jurisdiction where their volunteer organization is headquartered by completing and filing an emergency worker registration card, Form EMD-024 or equivalent, with the local emergency management agency._x0001__x0001_     (a) The information provided during registration may be used by local authorized officials to conduct criminal history and driving record background checks._x0001__x0001_     (b) Failure to truthfully respond to statements set forth on the registration form may result in the denial of registration, revocation of registration as an emergency worker, or denial of compensation for claims or damage._x0001__x0001_     (c) Registration and subsequent issuance of an emergency worker identification card, Form EMD-025 or equivalent, shall be at the discretion of the local emergency management agency director. Denial of registration should only be made for cause._x0001__x0001_     (d) Each emergency worker shall be assigned to an emergency worker class as listed in WAC 118-04-100 in accordance with their skills, abilities, licenses, and qualifications._x0001__x0001_     (2) An employee of the state or of a political subdivision of the state who is required to perform emergency duties as a normal part of their job shall be considered as registered with the local emergency management agency in the jurisdiction in which they reside._x0001__x0001_     (a) When such individuals are outside the jurisdiction of their employment during a disaster or emergency, except when acting under the provisions of a mutual aid agreement, they should report to the on-scene authorized official and announce their capabilities and willingness to serve as a volunteer during the emergency or disaster. These individuals will be afforded the same protection as all other emergency workers._x0001__x0001_     (b) Such individuals, including volunteer fire fighters enrolled under chapter 41.24 RCW, shall not be eligible for compensation as emergency workers when, during an emergency or disaster, they are performing their normal duties in the geographic area they are normally assigned to work or in another geographic area under the provisions of a mutual aid agreement._x0001__x0001_     (3) Temporary registration._x0001__x0001_     (a) Temporary registration may be authorized:_x0001__x0001_     (i) In those emergency situations requiring immediate or on-scene recruiting of volunteers to assist in time-critical or life-threatening situations._x0001__x0001_     (ii) In those training or exercise situations where certain duties can be performed by persons who have no permanent and specific emergency worker assignments and who are not registered emergency workers but whose participation may be essential or necessary for the conduct of the training or exercise activity such as persons serving as disaster victims during a medical exercise._x0001__x0001_     (b) Persons shall be temporarily registered during the period of service if they have filled out a temporary registration card which includes name, date of birth, and address, as well as information describing the emergency, training, or exercise function they participated in, and the date and time they were involved in these activities, are issued a temporary identification card, and have reported to and are under the control and supervision of an authorized official operating under the provisions of chapter 38.52 RCW._x0001__x0001_     (c) When the lack of available time or resources precludes the completion of separate temporary registration and identification cards for each person, entry of the person's name, assignment, date and times of work, total hours worked, and miles driven (if applicable) on an emergency worker daily activity report, Form EMD-078 or equivalent, shall suffice until such time as the required forms can be completed. In these cases, the emergency worker's date of birth shall be used in lieu of an emergency worker identification card number in the appropriate block on the Form EMD-078._x0001__x0001_     (d) Period of service:_x0001__x0001_     (i) The period of service for persons temporarily registered shall commence no earlier than the date and time of issuance of an emergency management division mission, evidence search mission, or training event number._x0001__x0001_     (ii) The period of service for persons temporarily registered shall terminate no later than the termination date and time of the emergency management division mission, evidence search mission, or training event number._x0001__x0001_     (4) Any citizen commandeered for service in accordance with RCW 38.52.110 shall be entitled, during the period of this service, to all privileges, benefits and immunities provided by state law and state or federal regulations for registered emergency workers so long as that citizen remains under the direction and control of an authorized official. Such persons should complete temporary registration at the scene in order to facilitate the processing of any claim that may result from that service._x0001__x0001_     (5) Animals, such as dogs and horses used in search and rescue and other disaster response may be registered with the local emergency management agency._x0001__x0001_     (a) The purpose of this provision is to support those instances where a search dog or other animal must be transported on commercial aircraft. Registration as an emergency search and rescue animal will aid the airline in determining the proper method of transporting the animal._x0001__x0001_     (b) Registration of an animal also will facilitate the processing of claims for that animal should it become injured or killed during a training event or mission._x0001__x0001__x0001__x0001_WAC 118-04-100   Classes of emergency workers.  The following classes of emergency workers and the scope of duties of each class are hereby established._x0001__x0001_     (1) Administration includes, but is not limited to, technical, administrative, and clerical services and may involve recruiting, coordinating, and directing any emergency support activities._x0001__x0001_     (2) Aviation includes duties performed by pilots licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration, operating Federal Aviation Administration approved aircraft, in support of emergency management activities. No compensation will be provided under chapter 38.52 RCW for those activities of air search which are the statutory responsibility of the Washington state department of transportation, aviation division._x0001__x0001_     (3) Communications includes, but is not limited to, any emergency communications activities carried out in accordance with approved state or local emergency operations and communications plans._x0001__x0001_     (4) Engineering includes, but is not limited to, structural, lifeline, electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering activities, inspection services, structural stability evaluation, and other emergency engineering-related activities such as construction, closure, demolition, repair, and maintenance of highways, roads, streets, bridges, as well as all types of buildings and facilities._x0001__x0001_     (5) Fire service includes, but is not limited to, assisting fire fighting forces or agencies in both urban and rural areas, rescuing persons or protecting property, instructing residents regarding fire prevention, providing emergency information to individual citizens about methods of detecting fires and precautions to be observed to reduce fire hazards. This class does not include volunteer fire fighters enrolled under and while in the performance of duty under chapter 41.24 RCW._x0001__x0001_     (6) General includes, but is not limited to, duties which can be performed by persons without permanent specific emergency assignment. These emergency workers may include personnel who are not ordinarily a part of an emergency response organization and who do not have any specific training or qualifications, but whose participation is essential to a specific emergency operation such as conducting sandbagging operations during a flood. These persons may be necessary for training or exercise activities such as serving as disaster casualties. These personnel shall register as temporary emergency workers for the period of time they are participating in emergency activities._x0001__x0001_     (7) Hazardous materials includes, but is not limited to, hazards materials incident response duties, such as planning and coordination of response resources conducted in accordance with approved state or local emergency operations and hazardous materials plans._x0001__x0001_     (8) Law enforcement includes, but is not limited to, securing compliance with local, state, and federal laws, in a manner consistent with chapter 38.52 RCW, and assisting law enforcement officers with administrative and nonenforcement functions for the purpose of relieving commissioned personnel to carry out their enforcement duties._x0001__x0001_     (9) Mass care includes, but is not limited to, the provision of food, clothing, and lodging in mass care centers for persons whose homes have been destroyed or have been made temporarily uninhabitable by emergency or disaster, evacuation service for other than medical cases, registration and information, health and welfare inquiries, provision of temporary housing, counseling performed by qualified counselors, and other necessary assistance to disaster victims. It includes all duties required by current shelter management guidelines and procedures published in approved state or local emergency operations and shelter plans._x0001__x0001_     (10) Medical includes, but is not limited to, medical and surgical field teams, triage, general emergency and mobile hospitals, nursing service, first aid and ambulance service, sanitation, mortuary and laboratory service, medical-related radiological monitoring, precautionary measures for biological or chemical incidents, identification of sick and injured, and other medical and health services. This class also includes critical incident stress debriefing teams._x0001__x0001_     (11) Public education includes, but is not limited to, duties involving public education and informational activities necessary to keep the public informed during an emergency or disaster as well as activities designed to prevent persons from becoming lost or injured during wilderness or other outdoor activities._x0001__x0001_     (12) Radiological includes, but is not limited to, radiological monitoring, gathering and evaluating radiological data, providing technical guidance concerning radiological decontamination operations, reporting, and planning duties that are in accordance with approved state or local emergency operations and radiological emergency plans._x0001__x0001_     (13) Search and rescue includes, but is not limited to, duties involving searching for, rescuing, or recovering by means of ground, marine, or air activity any person who becomes lost, injured, or is killed while outdoors or as a result of a natural, human-caused, or technological disaster. These duties include instances involving searches for downed aircraft when ground personnel are used. This class includes urban search and rescue activities._x0001__x0001_     (14) Supply includes, but is not limited to, procurement, warehousing, staging, sorting, and release of supplies, equipment, and materials required during a mission, emergency, or disaster._x0001__x0001_     (15) Training includes, but is not limited to, all activities, public and private, relating to the education process and proficiency skill building for the enhancement of emergency preparedness under the concept of comprehensive emergency management, including but not limited to, specific courses, workshops, seminars, exercises, volunteer training activities, which includes the administration, reporting, and maintaining of appropriate records._x0001__x0001_     (16) Transportation includes, but is not limited to, the planning, organizing, maintaining, operating, and coordinating available means of transportation for the movement of supplies, evacuees, personnel, service animals, livestock, and equipment._x0001__x0001_     (17) Underwater diving includes, but is not limited to, the duties of underwater diving on any mission or training event. Workers serving in this capacity shall be certified in accordance with recognized national standards and shall provide proof of this certification to the local authorized official prior to conducting the task assigned._x0001__x0001_     (18) Utilities includes, but is not limited to, assisting utility personnel in the repair of water, gas, electric, telephone, telegraph, steam, sewer, and other utility facilities._x0001__x0001__x0001_WAC 118-04-180   Responsibilities of authorized officials registering and using emergency workers.  (1) Authorized officials registering emergency workers have the responsibility to ensure those emergency workers meet basic qualifications as stated in these rules. Authorized officials organizing and using emergency workers are responsible for assembling the proper combination of emergency workers with the skills and abilities to accomplish the mission being undertaken. It is acknowledged that authorized officials must use judgment and experience in assessing the scene and the requirements for the mission. Authorized officials shall ensure each team has, among its members, the skills and expertise necessary to safely accomplish the mission._x0001__x0001_     (2) Local requirements may include more extensive and detailed criteria than are specified in this rule to meet local needs. Authorized officials also may require emergency workers to demonstrate proficiency in the skills required to carry out their assignments._x0001__x0001_     (3) Authorized officials shall ensure that all emergency workers are aware of their duty to comply with the personal responsibilities contained in WAC 118-04-200. This shall be accomplished at the time of registration and should be reemphasized to the emergency worker at periodic intervals._x0001__x0001_     (4) The state recognizes that many situations to which emergency workers are asked to respond are inherently hazardous. It is incumbent upon authorized officials utilizing emergency workers to ensure that the workers are not needlessly endangered in mission activities or training events._x0001__x0001_     (a) Authorized officials utilizing emergency workers for actual missions or during training events or evidence search activities shall not place emergency workers nor shall they allow emergency workers to be placed in unnecessarily hazardous situations._x0001__x0001_     (b) All prudent and reasonable safety procedures, techniques, equipment, and expertise shall be used to ensure the safety of emergency workers at all times while going to, preparing for, performing, recovering from, and returning from, missions or training events._x0001__x0001_     (5) In accordance with RCW 38.52.030(3), 38.52.070(1), and 38.52.400 (1), the incident command system shall be used for all multiagency/multijurisdiction operations._x0001__x0001__x0001__x0001_[Statutory Authority: Chapter 38.52 RCW. 01-02-053, § 118-04-180, filed 12/28/00, effective 1/28/01; 93-23-005 (Order 93-08), § 118-04-180, filed 11/4/93, effective 12/5/93.]_x0001__x0001_WAC 118-04-200   Personal responsibilities of emergency workers.  (1) Emergency workers shall be responsible to certify to the authorized officials registering them and using their services that they are aware of and will comply with all applicable responsibilities and requirements set forth in these rules._x0001__x0001_     (a) Emergency workers have the responsibility to notify the on-scene authorized official if they have been using any medical prescription or other drug that has the potential to render them impaired, unfit, or unable to carry out their emergency assignment._x0001__x0001_     (b) Participation by emergency workers in any mission, training event, or other authorized activity while under the influence of or while using narcotics or any illegal controlled substance is prohibited._x0001__x0001_     (c) Participation by emergency workers in any mission, training event, or other authorized activity while under the influence of alcohol is prohibited._x0001__x0001_     (d) Emergency workers participating in any mission, training event, or other authorized activity shall possess a valid operator's license if they are assigned to operate vehicles, vessels, or aircraft during the mission unless specifically directed otherwise by an authorized official in accordance with RCW 38.52.180. All emergency workers driving vehicles to or from a mission must possess a valid driver's _x0001_
license and required insurance._x000b__x000b_     (e) Use of private vehicles, vessels, boats, or aircraft by emergency workers in any mission, training event, or other authorized activity without liability insurance required by chapter 46.29 RCW is prohibited unless specifically directed otherwise by an authorized official in accordance with RCW 38.52.180._x000b__x000b_     (f) Emergency workers shall adhere to all applicable traffic regulations during any mission, training event, or other authorized activity. This provision does not apply to individuals who have completed the emergency vehicle operator course or the emergency vehicle accident prevention course and who are duly authorized under state law to use special driving skills and equipment and who do so at the direction of an authorized official._x000b__x000b_     (2) Emergency workers have the responsibility to comply with all other requirements as determined by the authorized official using their services._x000b__x000b_     (3) When reporting to the scene, emergency workers have the responsibility to inform the on-scene authorized official whether they are mentally and physically fit for their assigned duties. Emergency workers reporting as not fit for currently assigned duties may request a less demanding assignment that is appropriate to their current capabilities._x000b__x000b_     (4) Emergency workers have the responsibility to check in with the appropriate on-scene official and to complete all required recordkeeping and reporting._x000b__x000b__x000b__x000b__x000b__x000b_

## Program Issues

- Training
- Local Minimums
- State Minimums
- Registration/credentialing
- Emergency Worker Registration
- Licenses, Credentials and Identification
- Integration into existing programs and resources
- Flexibility in the program to meet the needs of the Community

**Notes:**
There are two levels of training, one which is the State minimums and the other are local community specific trainings.  

Multiagency/multijuridictional responses in Washington State requires the use of the Incident Command/NIMS system for event management, therefore volunteers must have a basic understanding of ICS.  This therefore, should be a state minimum, along with 
First Aid, CPR and possibly biohazards awareness.

Locals may decide to implement additional training including Hazardous Materials Awareness, Shelter Management, Mass Causality Care or other training to support their emergency programs and response.

Through on-line and integrated training we are trying to establish a Homeland Security On-line Institute to support the training requirements at the State and Local levels.

Travel and mutual aid require a recognizable identification card, through the Committee on Homeland Security Washington State is looking to integrating a statewide registration/badging program for emergency responders and volunteers.

The RCW and WAC has specific requirements for the registration of an emergency work and this will be integrated into a statewide system.

Because of competing funding sources and decreased federal monies for programs, we have been working to integrate Citizen Corps programs and initiatives into already existing programs and agencies.  For example; we have Citizen Corps Volunteer Programs working through the Local Emergency Planning Committee, Public Health, Emergency Management Councils, Medical Associations, Volunteer Centers or the County’s Volunteer Agencies Against Disaster Committee.

Emergency Workers are local resources and must fit into their Comprehensive Emergency Management and Terrorism planning, training, exercising and response plans.  We do not have a one size fits all solution, but are working with individuals groups to expand Citizen corps and Volunteer opportunities through out the various communities.

## Credentialing

- Statewide credentialing program
- Local jurisdictional control of credential levels
- Local tracking of credentials, training and activation of the emergency worker

**Notes:**
Pilot programs and various other Agencies are developing Credentialing systems. For example, the CDC and US Fire Administration are looking at programs to manage employees and volunteers on various responses.

Through the Emergency Worker program Local Official have the ability to establish an individuals levels of qualification and classification.  

Individual communities have developed partnerships with various local law enforcement agencies to do back ground checks on volunteers.   

Public Health and MRCs have developed relationships with the hospitals to do license verification of medical professionals.

Washington State Department of Health has developed an on line physician look up which includes the status of their licenses and specialty to support the local Medical Reserve Corps in registering medical professionals.

Emergency Workers are local resources and are the assets of Emergency Management and the local emergency responder community.  The local official decides which trainings a volunteer can take and how or when volunteers will be utilized..  

## Contact Information

**Karin Frinell-Hanrahan**
- WCNCS Citizen Corps/CERT Coordinator
- PO Box 43113 Olympia WA 98504-3113
- Phone: 360.725.5290
- Fax: 360.586.3964
- E-Mail: Karin.Frinell-Hanrahan@ofm.wa.gov

**Notes:**
At last, one parting thought,  even though you may be covered under the good Samaritan act or other provision in state law,  you may be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy.  I would recommend that you call your insurance  agent and see what provision you may already have in place.