California Emergency Management Agency

March 1, 2013

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Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program

(DSWVP)

California Statewide CERT Conference

• Nation at war

• Pacific situation

– Fear of mass attack on CA Coast

• Volunteer workforce

– Recruited and trained

– No expectation of compensation

• Legislative action

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History

Certified War Councils (renamed Disaster Councils) as “accredited” • Allowed registration of volunteers as DSWs

Required Loyalty Oath

Provided worker’s compensation to registered volunteers

Offered limited liability protection Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 ESA Government Code §8657 Good Samaritan Laws

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Legislation

California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA)

Approves disaster council accreditation, regulations, classifications

Delegates registration/oath authority to state

agencies Reviews claims, authorizes settlements, issues

checks

Manages DSW appropriation

Ensures compliance: Medicare Reporting federal

mandate 4

Program Administration

State Legislature Approves annual appropriation from General Fund

State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) Processes claims Calculates benefits Communicates with Cal EMA from start of claim to closure

Accredited Disaster Councils (or authorized

designees) Registers, supervises, trains volunteers Determines criteria for supervision Determines level of background checks, if any, for classification Complete SCIF documents (when injury occurs)

Program Administration (continued)

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• DSW Volunteer

• Disaster Service: Eligible & Excluded Activities

• DSW Registration

• Volunteer Classifications

• Oath Authority

• File Retention & Recordkeeping

• Worker’s Compensation

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Program Regulations (Revised/Approved December 17, 2012)

Registered with:• Accredited Disaster Council (ADC) or

Authorized Designee (i.e. ADC designates County Animal Control)

• Cal EMA or authorized state agency Receives no pay Activated by supervising agency Impressed into service (rare) Auxiliary Firefighter Volunteer

EXCLUDES: Volunteer firefighters

Convergent volunteers7

A DSW Volunteer Is An Individual:

Adults physically and mentally capable of performing disaster related activities

Employed, unemployed, or retired persons

Volunteers under 18 with parental or legal guardian consent

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Who Can Be A DSW Volunteer?

Activities authorized/defined in: California Emergency Services Act (ESA)

► Disaster activities resulting from:

- State of War emergency- State & Local proclaimed emergencies- Search and rescue missions- Official out-of-state deployments- Activities performed to mitigate imminent threat of extreme peril

to life, property

► DSW classifications & scope of duties

► Travel to and from the incident site

REF: GC Sections 8558 & 8585.5

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Eligible Disaster Service

► Training may be required by: - ADC, authorized designee, supervising agency

► Training may include: √ Basic/Advanced/Refresher courses√ Exercises (Person in ‘victim’ role must be registered as DSW volunteer)√ Out-of-state: only under very specific criteria

► Training must be:1. Approved in advance by the ADC or authorized agency2. Documented to verify participation3. Supervised

► Offsite, onsite►Paid staff, volunteers

4.Commensurate with classification

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Eligible Disaster Service (continued)

Day-to-day operations ◦ Activities typically associated with emergency response

agencies

(i.e., assisting with single structure fires, traffic collisions; crowd control for concerts & sporting events)

Preparedness/Planned Activities◦Educational fairs, first aid booths ◦Parades, festivals, fundraisers, smoke detector

installations

Other Non-Disaster Activities◦Website/newsletter development, event planning

Self ActivationTravel to and from the training site

Excluded Activities

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Accredited Disaster Councils (ADC)• All 58 counties in CA• Most cities in CA

Authorized Designees of ADC• Government/public agencies

Cal EMA

County OES

Authorized state agencies

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Where Can I Register as a DSW Volunteer?

Authorized Persons (GC §3104)

Elected officials

Designated public officials▸ local ordinance may identify persons/positions

County and city clerks

Notary public (without charging a fee)

Cal EMA Secretary

NOTE: Volunteers CANNOT administer the Loyalty Oath

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Who Has Authority to Administer the Oath?

Required:

1. Name & address of registrant

2. Classification More than one may be identified depending

on scope of duties

3. Date enrolled (date Loyalty Oath signed)

4. Loyalty Oath √ Taken & signed by applicant before authorized official√ Signed by authorized official√ Signed prior to date of injury

5. Name of registering govt agency w/signature & title of authorized person.

Optional: Specialty, ID #, Emergency Contact, License #, Phone

#

Registration

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Animal Rescue, Care & Shelter (Updated) Communications Community Emergency Response Team

Member Emergency Operations Center/Incident Command Human Services Fire Laborer Law Enforcement Logistics Medical & Environmental Health Safety Assessment Inspector (Updated) Search & Rescue (Updated) Utilities

Deleted: Finance & Admin Staff15

Volunteer Classifications

• Loyalty Oath – Registration Form

State: file w/in 30 days; follow Dept of Personnel Administration rules

County: file with Clerk

City: file with Clerk

Public Agency: file with designated Officer/Employee of the agency

• Inspections by SCIF/Cal EMA

• Registrations to be kept current

• Destruction of records: 5 years after DSW’s service ends

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File Retention & Recordkeeping

Claim Package must include:

1. Completed SCIF #3301 by: - DSW volunteer & employer/supervisor

2. Completed SCIF #3267 by:- Employer/supervisor ONLY (Not volunteer) OR - Call 24 hr Claims Reporting Center (888) 222-3211

3. Copy : DSW Registration & Oath

4. Copy : Incident narrative

If injury due to training:

5. Copy :Training document verifying participation

6. Copy: Pre-authorization of training activity

Step-by-step claim information located at:

www.calema.ca.gov/PlanningandPreparedness/Pages/Disaster-Service-

Worker-Volunteer-Program.aspx17

Workers’ Compensation Claims

DSW Injuries By Activity & Classification

Open Claims As Of: 1/31/2013

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Claim Package Submission

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State Compensation Insurance Fund Specialized Claims Operations

PO Box 65005Pinedale, CA 93650

(951) 413-5954

California Emergency Management AgencyDSW Volunteer Program - Preparedness3650 Schriever AvenueMather, CA 95655

(916) 845-8763

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Mail Claim Package to:

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Thank you!

Anita Chant Kathryn Chin Program Lead Staff Services Analyst (916) 845-8763 (916) 845-8787 anita.chant@calema.ca.gov kathryn.chin@calema.ca.gov

DSWVP Regulations, Guidance & Related Documents:http://www.calema.ca.gov/PlanningandPreparedness/Pages/Disaster-Service-Worker-Volunteer-Program.aspx