Relating to persons authorized to request assistance pursuant to the statewide mutual aid compact

This bill relates to persons authorized to request assistance in an emergency situation pursuant to the statewide mutual aid compact. Under current law, emergency management commissions, counties, cities, townships, and other political subdivisions are considered participating governments for purposes of the statewide mutual aid compact unless the governing body of the emergency management commission, county, city, township, or other political subdivision has acted to withdraw through an ordinance or resolution. Current law allows an authorized representative of a participating government to request assistance of another participating government by contacting the authorized representative of that participating government. An “authorized representative of a participating government” is defined as a mayor or the mayor’s designee, a member of the county board of supervisors or a representative of the board, or an emergency management coordinator or the coordinator’s designee. The bill amends the definition of “authorized representative of a participating government” to include the elected chief executive officer of the participating government or the elected chief executive officer’s designee authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of the participating government. By operation of law, the bill allows the elected chief executive officer of the participating government or the elected chief executive officer’s designee to request assistance of another participating government.