A joint resolution granting the consent of Congress to the State and Province Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding.
PL 112-282 (S.J.Res.44), enacted 01/14/2013

126 STAT. 2486 
PUBLIC LAW 112–282—JAN. 14, 2013 
Public Law 112–282 
112th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Granting the consent of Congress to the State and Province Emergency Management 
Assistance Memorandum of Understanding. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT. 
Congress consents to the State and Province Emergency 
Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding entered 
into between States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin, 
and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and 
Saskatchewan. The compact is substantially as follows: 
‘‘ARTICLE I—PURPOSE AND AUTHORITIES 
‘‘The State and Province Emergency Management Assistance 
Memorandum of Understanding, hereinafter referred to as the ‘com-
pact’, is made and entered into by and among such of the jurisdic-
tions as shall enact or adopt this compact, hereinafter referred 
to as ‘participating jurisdictions’. For the purposes of this compact, 
the term ‘jurisdictions’ may include any or all of the States of 
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North 
Dakota, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin, and the Canadian 
Provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, and 
such other States and provinces as may hereafter become a party 
to this compact. The term ‘States’ means the several States, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and all 
territorial possessions of the United States. The term ‘Province’ 
means the 10 political units of government within Canada. 
‘‘The purpose of this compact is to provide for the possibility 
of mutual assistance among the participating jurisdictions in man-
aging any emergency or disaster when the affected jurisdiction 
or jurisdictions ask for assistance, whether arising from natural 
disaster, technological hazard, manmade disaster or civil emergency 
aspects of resources shortages. 
‘‘This compact also provides for the process of planning mecha-
nisms among the agencies responsible and for mutual cooperation, 
including civil emergency preparedness exercises, testing, or other 
training activities using equipment and personnel simulating 
performance of any aspect of the giving and receiving of aid by 
participating jurisdictions or subdivisions of participating jurisdic-
tions during emergencies, with such actions occurring outside emer-
gency periods. 
Definition. 
State listing. 
Canada. 
Disaster 
assistance. 
Jan. 14, 2013 
[S.J. Res. 44] 
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126 STAT. 2487 
PUBLIC LAW 112–282—JAN. 14, 2013 
‘‘ARTICLE II—GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION 
‘‘Each participating jurisdiction entering into this compact rec-
ognizes that many emergencies may exceed the capabilities of a 
participating jurisdiction and that intergovernmental cooperation 
is essential in such circumstances. Each participating jurisdiction 
further recognizes that there will be emergencies that may require 
immediate access and present procedures to apply outside resources 
to make a prompt and effective response to such an emergency 
because few, if any, individual jurisdictions have all the resources 
they need in all types of emergencies or the capability of delivering 
resources to areas where emergencies exist. 
‘‘On behalf of the participating jurisdictions in the compact, 
the legally designated official who is assigned responsibility for 
emergency management is responsible for formulation of the appro-
priate inter-jurisdictional mutual aid plans and procedures nec-
essary to implement this compact, and for recommendations to 
the participating jurisdiction concerned with respect to the amend-
ment of any statutes, regulations, or ordinances required for that 
purpose. 
‘‘ARTICLE III—PARTICIPATING JURISDICTION RESPONSIBILITIES 
‘‘(a) FORMULATE PLANS AND PROGRAMS.—It is the responsibility 
of each participating jurisdiction to formulate procedural plans and 
programs for inter-jurisdictional cooperation in the performance 
of the responsibilities listed in this section. In formulating and 
implementing such plans and programs the participating jurisdic-
tions, to the extent practical, may— 
‘‘(1) share and review individual jurisdiction hazards anal-
yses that are available and determine all those potential emer-
gencies the participating jurisdictions might jointly suffer, 
whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man- 
made disaster or emergency aspects of resource shortages; 
‘‘(2) share emergency operations plans, procedures, and 
protocols established by each of the participating jurisdictions 
before entering into this compact; 
‘‘(3) share policies and procedures for resource mobilization, 
tracking, demobilization, and reimbursement; 
‘‘(4) consider joint planning, training, and exercises; 
‘‘(5) assist with alerts, notifications, and warnings for 
communities adjacent to or crossing participating jurisdiction 
boundaries; 
‘‘(6) consider procedures to facilitate the movement of evac-
uees, refugees, civil emergency personnel, equipment, or other 
resources into or across boundaries, or to a designated staging 
area when it is agreed that such movement or staging will 
facilitate civil emergency operations by the affected or partici-
pating jurisdictions; and 
‘‘(7) provide, to the extent authorized by law, for temporary 
suspension of any statutes or ordinances that impeded the 
implementation of responsibilities described in this section. 
‘‘(b) REQUEST ASSISTANCE.—The authorized representative of 
a participating jurisdiction may request assistance of another 
participating jurisdiction by contacting the authorized representa-
tive of that jurisdiction. These provisions only apply to requests 
for assistance made by and to authorized representatives. Requests 
may be verbal or in writing. If verbal, the request must be confirmed 
Deadline. 
Applicability. 
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126 STAT. 2488 
PUBLIC LAW 112–282—JAN. 14, 2013 
in writing within 15 days of the verbal request. Requests must 
provide the following information: 
‘‘(1) A description of the emergency service function for 
which assistance is needed and of the mission or missions, 
including but not limited to fire services, emergency medical, 
transportation, communications, public works and engineering, 
building inspection, planning and information assistance, mass 
care, resource support, health and medical services, and search 
and rescue. 
‘‘(2) The amount and type of personnel, equipment, mate-
rials, and supplies needed and a reasonable estimate of the 
length of time they will be needed. 
‘‘(3) The specific place and time for staging of the assisting 
participating jurisdictions’s response and a point of contact 
at the location. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION AMONG PARTICIPATING JURISDICTION OFFI-
CIALS.—There shall be periodic consultation among the authorized 
representatives who have assigned emergency management respon-
sibilities. 
‘‘ARTICLE IV—LIMITATION 
‘‘It is recognized that any participating jurisdiction that agrees 
to render mutual aid or conduct exercises and training for mutual 
aid will respond as soon as possible. It is also recognized that 
the participating jurisdiction rendering aid may withhold or recall 
resources to provide reasonable protection for itself, at its discretion. 
To the extent authorized by law, each participating jurisdiction 
will afford to the personnel of the emergency contingent of any 
other participating jurisdiction while operating within its jurisdic-
tion limits under the terms and conditions of this agreement and 
under the operational control of an officer of the requesting partici-
pating jurisdiction the same treatment as is afforded similar or 
like human resources of the participating jurisdiction in which 
they are performing emergency services. Staff comprising the emer-
gency contingent continue under the command and control of their 
regular leaders but the organizational units come under the oper-
ational control of the emergency services authorities of the partici-
pating jurisdiction receiving assistance. These conditions may be 
activated, as needed, by the participating jurisdiction that is to 
receive assistance or upon commencement of exercises or training 
for mutual aid and continue as long as the exercises or training 
for mutual aid are in progress, the emergency or disaster remains 
in effect or loaned resources remain in the receiving participating 
jurisdictions, whichever is longer. The receiving participating juris-
diction is responsible for informing the assisting participating juris-
diction when services will no longer be required. 
‘‘ARTICLE V—LICENSES AND PERMITS 
‘‘Whenever a person holds a license, certificate, or other permit 
issued by any participating jurisdiction evidencing the meeting 
of qualifications for professional, mechanical, or other skills, and 
when such assistance is requested by the receiving participating 
jurisdiction, such person is deemed to be licensed, certified, or 
permitted by the jurisdiction requesting assistance to render aid 
involving such skill to meet an emergency or disaster, subject 
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126 STAT. 2489 
PUBLIC LAW 112–282—JAN. 14, 2013 
to such limitations and conditions as the requesting jurisdiction 
prescribes by Executive order or otherwise. 
‘‘ARTICLE VI—LIABILITY 
‘‘Any person or entity of a participating jurisdiction rendering 
aid in another jurisdiction pursuant to this compact is considered 
an agent of the requesting jurisdiction for tort liability and immu-
nity purposes. Any person or entity rendering aid in another juris-
diction pursuant to this compact is not liable on account of any 
act or omission in good faith on the part of such forces while 
so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equip-
ment or supplies in connection therewith. Good faith in this article 
does not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless-
ness. 
‘‘ARTICLE VII—SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS 
‘‘Because it is probable that the pattern and detail of the 
compact for mutual aid among 2 or more participating jurisdictions 
may differ from that among the participating jurisdictions that 
are party to this compact, this compact contains elements of a 
broad base common to all participating jurisdictions, and nothing 
in this compact precludes any participating jurisdiction from 
entering into supplementary agreements with another jurisdiction 
or affects any other agreements already in force among participating 
jurisdictions. 
‘‘Supplementary agreements may include, but are not limited 
to, provisions for evacuation and reception of injured and other 
persons and the exchange of medical, fire, public utility, reconnais-
sance, welfare, transportation and communications personnel, 
equipment, and supplies. 
‘‘ARTICLE VIII—WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND DEATH BENEFITS 
‘‘Each participating jurisdiction shall provide, in accordance 
with its own laws, for the payment of workers’ compensation and 
death benefits to injured members of the emergency contingent 
of that participating jurisdiction and to representatives of deceased 
members of those forces if the members sustain injuries or are 
killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same 
manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were 
sustained within their own jurisdiction. 
‘‘ARTICLE IX—REIMBURSEMENT 
‘‘Any participating jurisdiction rendering aid in another jurisdic-
tion pursuant to this compact shall, if requested, be reimbursed 
by the participating jurisdiction receiving such aid for any loss 
or damage to, or expense incurred in, the operation of any equip-
ment and the provision of any service in answering a request 
for aid and for the costs incurred in connection with those requests. 
An aiding participating jurisdiction may assume in whole or in 
part any such loss, damage, expense, or other cost or may loan 
such equipment or donate such services to the receiving partici-
pating jurisdiction without charge or cost. Any 2 or more partici-
pating jurisdictions may enter into supplementary agreements 
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126 STAT. 2490 
PUBLIC LAW 112–282—JAN. 14, 2013 
establishing a different allocation of costs among those jurisdictions. 
Expenses under article VIII are not reimbursable under this section. 
‘‘ARTICLE X—IMPLEMENTATION 
‘‘(a) This compact is effective upon its execution or adoption 
by any 1 State and 1 province, and is effective as to any other 
jurisdiction upon its execution or adoption thereby: subject to 
approval or authorization by the United States Congress, if 
required, and subject to enactment of provincial or State legislation 
that may be required for the effectiveness of the Memorandum 
of Understanding. 
‘‘(b) Additional jurisdictions may participate in this compact 
upon execution or adoption thereof. 
‘‘(c) Any participating jurisdiction may withdraw from this com-
pact, but the withdrawal does not take effect until 30 days after 
the governor or premier of the withdrawing jurisdiction has given 
notice in writing of such withdrawal to the governors or premiers 
of all other participating jurisdictions. The action does not relieve 
the withdrawing jurisdiction from obligations assumed under this 
compact prior to the effective date of withdrawal. 
‘‘(d) Duly authenticated copies of this compact in the French 
and English languages and of such supplementary agreements as 
may be entered into shall, at the time of their approval, be deposited 
with each of the participating jurisdictions. 
‘‘ARTICLE XI—SEVERABILITY 
‘‘This compact is construed to effectuate the purposes stated 
in Article I. If any provision of this compact is declared unconstitu-
tional or the applicability of the compact to any person or cir-
cumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this 
compact and the applicability of the compact to other persons and 
circumstances are not affected. 
‘‘ARTICLE XII—CONSISTENCY OF LANGUAGE 
‘‘The validity of the arrangements and agreements consented 
to in this compact shall not be affected by any insubstantial dif-
ference in form or language as may be adopted by the various 
states and provinces.’’. 
SEC. 2. INCONSISTENCY OF LANGUAGE. 
The validity of the arrangements consented to by this Act 
shall not be affected by any insubstantial difference in their form 
or language as adopted by the States and provinces. 
Effective date. 
Notification. 
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126 STAT. 2491 
PUBLIC LAW 112–282—JAN. 14, 2013 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 44: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 158 (2012): Sept. 13, considered and passed Senate. 
Dec. 30, considered in House. 
Vol. 158 (2013): Jan. 1, considered and passed House. 
SEC. 3. RIGHT TO ALTER, AMEND, OR REPEAL. 
The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly 
reserved. 
Approved January 14, 2013. 
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