{"Disaster response worker":"Any individual who performs disaster response activities in Rhode Island under the control of a state government or political subdivision."}
Emergency Law Inventory | Full Law Text

Law Number

R.I. Gen. Laws 30-15-15(a)

Summary Title

Liability: Disaster Response Worker

Summary

A disaster response worker, who attempts to comply with an official emergency order, will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm.

Full Title

Immunity from liability -- Compensation for death or injury of disaster response workers

Full Text

(a) All functions under this chapter and all other activities relating to disaster response are hereby declared to be governmental functions. Neither the state nor any political subdivision thereof nor other agencies of the state or political subdivision thereof, nor, except in cases in willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith, any disaster response worker complying with or reasonably attempting to comply with this chapter, or any order, rule, or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or pursuant to any ordinance relating to precautionary measures enacted by any political subdivision of the state, shall be liable for the death of or injury to persons, or for damage to property, as a result of disaster response activity. The provisions of this section shall not affect the right of any person to receive benefits to which he or she would otherwise be entitled under this chapter, or under the Worker's Compensation Act, chapters 29 -- 38 of title 28, or under any pension law, nor the right of any person to receive any benefits or compensation under any act of congress.

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