Wis. Stat. § 323.72 — WI Code / Chapter 323 / Section 323.72
Urban search and rescue emergency response.
Status: in_force

(1) An urban search and rescue task force designated by the division shall assist at the direction of the division in an emergency response involving search, rescue, and recovery in the technical rescue disciplines, including structural collapse, rope rescue, vehicle extrication, machinery extrication, confined space, trench, excavation, and water operations in an urban search and rescue environment. Whenever an urban search and rescue task force assists in an emergency response under this subsection, the division shall determine whether an emergency requiring the urban search and rescue task force’s response existed. If the division determines that such an emergency existed, it shall make a good faith effort to identify the person who is required to reimburse the division under sub. (3) . The division shall contract with local agencies, as defined in s. 323.70 (1) (b) , to establish an urban search and rescue task force. A member of an urban search and rescue task force shall meet the most current training, competency, and job performance requirement standards for a search and rescue task force issued by the National Fire Protection Association and the most current version of the urban search and rescue standard issued by the Emergency Management Accreditation program.

(2) From the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (h) or (hm) , the division shall reimburse a local agency under sub. (1) for costs incurred by the local agency in responding to an emergency requiring an urban search and rescue task force response if the division determines that such a response was necessary. Reimbursement under this subsection shall be issued to the local agency within 60 days after receiving a complete application for reimbursement on a form prescribed by the division if the agency applies for reimbursement within 45 days after the conclusion of the deployment of the urban search and rescue task force.

(2m) From the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (hm) , the division shall reimburse a local agency under sub. (1) for costs incurred by the local agency for any increase in contributions for duty disability premiums under s. 40.05 (2) (aw) for employees who receive duty disability benefits under s. 40.65 because of an injury incurred while performing duties as a member of an urban search and rescue task force under sub. (1) .

(3) A person shall reimburse the division for costs incurred by an urban search and rescue task force in responding to an emergency if the division determines that an emergency requiring the urban search and rescue task force’s response existed and that the person caused the emergency.

(4) A member of an urban search and rescue task force who is acting under a contract under sub. (1) is considered an employee of the state for purposes of worker’s compensation benefits.

(6) The department of military affairs may submit to the joint committee on finance a request to supplement the appropriation account under s. 20.465 (3) (hm) for the purposes for which the appropriation is made. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department within 14 working days after receiving the request that the cochairpersons have scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the request, the appropriation account under s. 20.465 (3) (hm) shall be supplemented from the appropriation account under s. 20.865 (4) (a) , as provided in the request. If, within 14 working days after receiving the request, the cochairpersons notify the department that the cochairpersons have scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the request, the appropriation account may be supplemented from the appropriation account under s. 20.865 (4) (a) only as approved by the committee. Notwithstanding s. 13.101 (3) , the committee is not required to find that an emergency exists prior to supplementing the appropriation account under s. 20.465 (3) (hm) .

(7) In this section, “urban search and rescue task force” means an all hazards rescue team that is a core component of a Search and Rescue Essential Support Function 9 (ESF 9) mission, including a type I urban search and rescue task force, type III urban search and rescue task force, or any component thereof, as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Incident Management System Search and Rescue resource typing system.

History: 2009 a. 43 s. 1 ; Stats. 2009 s. 323.72; 2011 a. 258 s. 67 ; 2021 a. 104 ; 2025 a. 129 .