Rhode Island § 30-15-8 - Emergency Management

§ 30-15-8. Mobile support units.

(a) The governor, or the governor’s duly designated representative, is authorized to create and establish any number of mobile support units that may be necessary to reinforce disaster organizations in stricken areas with due consideration of the plans of the federal government and of other states. Mobile support units shall be called to duty upon orders of the governor and shall perform their functions in any part of the state or, upon the conditions specified in this section, in other states.

(b)(1) Personnel of mobile support units while on duty, whether within or without the state, shall:

(i) If they are employees of the state, have the powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities and receive the compensation incidental to their employment;

(ii) If they are employees of a political subdivision of the state, and whether serving within or without the political subdivision, have the powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities and receive the compensation incidental to their employment; and

(iii) If they are not employees of the state or a political subdivision thereof, be entitled to compensation by the state at a rate equivalent to the rate of compensation paid to jurors in state courts, and to the same rights and immunities as are provided by law for the employees of this state.

(2) All personnel of mobile support units shall, while on duty, be subject to the operational control of the authority in charge of disaster activities in the area in which they are serving, and shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses as if they were temporary state employees.

(c) The state shall reimburse a political subdivision for the compensation paid and actual and necessary travel, subsistence, and maintenance expenses of the employees of a political subdivision while serving as members of a mobile support unit; and for all payments for death, disability, or injury of those employees incurred in the course of such duty; and for all losses of, or damage to, supplies and equipment of such political subdivision resulting from the operation of that mobile support unit.