New Jersey § 59:3-15

§ 59:3-15.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and except as provided

in P.L.2014, c. 53 ( C.59:3-15 et seq. ), an architect licensed pursuant to R.S.45:3-1 et seq. or a professional engineer licensed pursuant to P.L.1938, c. 342 ( C.45:8-27 et seq. ) shall not be personally liable for any personal injury, wrongful death, property

damage, or other loss caused by an act, error, or omission while practicing architecture

or engineering, respectively, if the practice of architecture or engineering was performed: a. voluntarily and without compensation; b. at the request of a public safety official, acting in an official capacity; and c. at the scene of a declared national, State, or local emergency caused by a major

earthquake, hurricane, tornado, fire, explosion, collapse, or similar disaster or

catastrophic event, during or within 90 days following the emergency, or for any extended

period as determined by executive order issued by the Governor under the Governor's

emergency executive powers. For purposes of the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq. , an architect or engineer entitled to immunity under this section shall be considered

an employee of the public entity on whose behalf the public safety official requested

that the architect or engineer perform the practice of architecture or engineering. Nothing in P.L.2014, c. 53 ( C.59:3-15 et seq. ) shall be construed to provide such architect or engineer with any right or entitlement

to workers' compensation from such public entity. As used in this section: “ Public safety official ” means any appointed or elected federal, State, or local official with executive

responsibility to coordinate public safety or law enforcement in the jurisdiction

in which the emergency has occurred. “ Employee ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in N.J.S.59:1-3 .