SB 343 — Regards workers' compensation coverage-urban search and rescue

As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee 136th General Assembly Regular Session Am.

343 2025-2026 Senator Manning Cosponsor:Cosponsors:

SenatorSenators ListonListon, Blackshear, Cirino, Craig, DeMora, Hicks-Hudson, Huffman, Ingram, Johnson, O'Brien, Schaffer, Timken To amend sections 5502.29 and 5502.41 and to enact 1 section 5502.301 of the Revised Code regarding 2 workers' compensation coverage for a member of 3 an urban search and rescue unit rendering 4 assistance in Ohio at the request of the state's 5 Emergency Management Agency Executive Director.

343 Page 2 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee disaster, exercise, training activity, planned event, or 20 emergency, any of which requires additional resources, each 21 political subdivision may render assistance in accordance with 22 such mutual assistance or aid agreements.

343 Page 3 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee but shall be under the operational control of the appropriate 50 officials within the incident management system of the political 51 subdivision receiving the assistance or aid.

343 Page 4 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee employees or agents of their respective political subdivisions, 80 including for purposes of tort liability and immunity from tort 81 liability, and nothing in this section or any mutual assistance 82 or aid agreement entered into pursuant to this section creates 83 an employment relationship between the political subdivision 84 requesting aid and the employees or agents of the political 85 subdivision rendering aid.

343 Page 5 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee urban search and rescue team designated by the administrator of 110 the federal emergency management agency under 42 U.S.C.

343 Page 6 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee participating political subdivision or, if the political 138 subdivision does not have an elected chief executive, a member 139 of the political subdivision's governing body or an employee of 140 the political subdivision appointed by the governing body's 141 members to be its representative for purposes of the intrastate 142 mutual aid program created pursuant to this section.

343 Page 7 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee parade.

343 Page 8 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (2) Establish a method by which a participating political 197 subdivision may seek assistance or aid that resolves many of the 198 common issues facing political subdivisions before, during, and 199 after an incident, disaster, exercise, training activity, 200 planned event, or emergency, any of which requires additional 201 resources, and that ensures, to the extent possible, eligibility 202 for available state and federal disaster assistance or other 203 funding.

343 Page 9 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (2) During and after the formulation of the procedures or 226 plans to resolve resource shortfalls, there shall be ongoing 227 consultation and coordination among the executive director of 228 the state emergency management agency;

343 Page 10 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (a) A description of the incident, disaster, exercise, 256 training activity, planned event, or emergency;

343 Page 11 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (b) Prohibit a private company from participating in the 283 provision of mutual assistance or aid pursuant to the compact 284 created pursuant to this section if the participating political 285 subdivision approves the participation and the contract with the 286 private company allows for the participation;

343 Page 12 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee enforcement services between universities and colleges and 313 political subdivisions under section 3345.041 or 3345.21 of the 314 Revised Code, and mutual aid agreements among emergency planning 315 districts for hazardous substances or chemicals response under 316 sections 3750.02 and 3750.03 of the Revised Code.

343 Page 13 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee assistance or aid and the personnel of that political 343 subdivision, while requesting or receiving assistance or aid 344 under this section from any other participating political 345 subdivision, shall be deemed to be exercising governmental 346 functions as defined in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code, 347 shall have the defenses to and immunities from civil liability 348 provided in sections 2744.02 and 2744.03 of the Revised Code, 349 and shall be entitled to all applicable limitations on 350 recoverable damages under section 2744.05 of the Revised Code.

343 Page 14 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee avoid duplication of payments, insurance proceeds available to 374 cover any loss or damage to equipment of a participating 375 political subdivision rendering assistance or aid shall be 376 considered in the reimbursement by the participating political 377 subdivision receiving the assistance or aid.

343 Page 15 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee the Revised Code are hereby repealed.