Revises provisions relating to the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System. (BDR 36-263)

Existing law establishes the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid System within the Division of Emergency Management of the Office of the Military to coordinate requests for intrastate mutual aid among various public agencies and certain Indian tribes and nations in response to an emergency or disaster in this State. Under existing law, the Chief of the Division of Emergency Management is required to administer the System and adopt regulations relating to the administration of the System. (NRS 414A.100) Section 4 of this bill transfers to the State Forester Firewarden of the Division of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources the authority to: (1) coordinate the provision of mutual aid during the response to and recovery from wildfire suppression; (2) administer the System as it relates to wildfire suppression; and (3) adopt regulations relating to the administration of the System as it relates to wildfire suppression. Under existing law, the Chief of the Division of Emergency Management serves as the Chair of the Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee and appoints the committee members, who advise the Chief on issues related to emergency management and intrastate mutual aid. (NRS 414A.110) Under section 5 of this bill, the State Forester Firewarden serves as Co-Chair of the Committee with the Chief of the Division of Emergency Management and committee members must be jointly appointed by the Chief of the Division of Emergency Management and the State Forester Firewarden. Under existing law, a public agency that participates in the System may elect to withdraw from participation in the System, and any federally recognized Indian tribe or nation within the boundaries of the State may become a participant in the System, by adopting a resolution declaring the same and providing a copy of the resolution to the Division of Emergency Management and the Governor. (NRS 414A.120) Section 6 of this bill requires that a copy of such a resolution also be provided to the Division of Forestry. Under existing law, a participant may request intrastate mutual aid through the Division of Emergency Management, or directly to a participant if an urgent response is needed, and each request must be documented and forwarded to the Division of Emergency Management within 24 hours. (NRS 414A.130) Section 7 of this bill provides that a participant may request intrastate mutual aid through the Division of Forestry for aid relating to wildfire suppression and through the Division of Emergency Management for aid relating to all other emergencies or disasters. Section 7 further requires that requests for aid be documented and reported to the Division of Forestry or Division of Emergency Management, as appropriate. Under existing law, the Division of Emergency Management: (1) may facilitate certain System participants in obtaining reimbursement for intrastate mutual aid; and (2) is not liable for any claim relating to reimbursement. (NRS 414A.150) Section 8 of this bill authorizes the Division of Forestry to also facilitate reimbursement of System participants and provides immunity from liability to the Division of Forestry for any claim relating to reimbursement. Sections 1 and 3 of this bill define “Division of Forestry” and “Division of Emergency Management,” respectively. Section 2 of this bill applies these definitions to the provisions of existing law relating to the System.