Vermont § 50 - Urban Search and Rescue Team

§ 50. Urban Search and Rescue Team

• (a) The Department of Public Safety is authorized to create the Urban Search and Rescue
  (USAR) Team to provide for the rapid response of trained professionals to emergencies
  and other hazards occurring in the State. The Commissioner shall appoint a USAR Team
  program manager to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the USAR Team. (b) The USAR Team program manager shall perform all the following duties: (1) organize the State USAR Team to assist local first responders in response to emergencies
  and other hazards; (2) hire persons for the USAR Team from fire, police, and emergency medical services and
  persons with specialty backgrounds in emergency response or search and rescue; (3) coordinate the acquisition and maintenance of adequate vehicles and equipment for
  the USAR Team; (4) ensure that USAR Team personnel are organized, trained, and exercised in accordance
  with the appropriate search and rescue standards or certifications; (5) negotiate and enter into agreements with municipalities, municipal agencies that maintain
  swiftwater rescue teams, State-recognized swiftwater rescue teams, or other technical
  rescue teams to provide expert assistance and services to the USAR Team when necessary;
  and (6) coordinate USAR Team participation in search and rescue operations under chapter 112
  of this title. (c) The Department of Public Safety may employ as many USAR Team responders as the Commissioner
  deems necessary as temporary State employees, who shall be compensated as such when
  authorized to respond to an emergency or hazard incident or to attend USAR Team training.
  State USAR Team responders, whenever acting as State agents in accordance with this
  section, shall be afforded all of the protections and immunities of State employees. (Added 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. July 1, 2024.)