EMC247 DSW RULES CHANGES 2/2
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

EMC247 DSW Rules Changes  2/2    Release 7/24/00

DSW rules and regulations in California are undergoing changes,
some of which was covered in bulletin 246 and in this continuation.

Section 2573.1 Registration and Training, now reads:

   (1) Disaster councils may require each person registered as a
   DSW to satisfactorily complete a course of training or
   instruction, including periodic refresher training. If warranted
   by the classification, disaster councils may require documented
   proof of professional certification or licensing.

   (2) The disaster council (or designated agency or authority)
   shall ensure disaster training is approved, documented and
   supervised, and shall ensure disaster training is commensurate
   with the duties of the disaster service worker.

   (3) Exclusions: Unless the volunteer is directly providing
   disaster service, activities that are not covered include
   parades, public exhibitions, physical fitness training or
   training activities not related to disaster service.

In discussions with local government item three above has drawn
the most questions. For instance, what about DSW coverage for the
popular event known as the Baker to Vegas Run. The answer is in
the exclusions (item 3) when considering the overall language.
Coverage exists when the unit volunteer is "DIRECTLY PROVIDING
DISASTER SERVICE ACTIVITIES". Otherwise, just participating
will NOT fall within the regulations. Hence, purpose and planning
of activation or involvement - along with retained records of
the authority - is critical to DSW protection. A Baker to Vegas
Run _can_ be a training event IF it is structured and managed
within the confines of the regulations.

To assure protection, the local government official responsible
for involving (activating) the ACS or RACES unit would:
    (1) Have and retain a written record of the purpose of the
        event (say, training in deployment of comm van delta one)
    (2) Write and retain the mission of the involvement (provide
        disaster communications to expedite emergency services
        for injured.....)
    (3) Provide written authorization to the unit lead officer
    (4) Assure that BOTH the local official AND the lead officer
        retain records 1 & 2 (above) with dates of involvement.
        This should be a permanent record (a 3-ring binder or
        on a computer with a separate backup outside the unit.)
    (5) Verify that every participant in his/her jurisdiction
       is a registered DSW with current status; assume nothing.

The last thing that anyone wants to occur is to have an injury
or death not covered by the DSW regulations when it was intended
that the coverage be there should it be needed. Local government
officials in California with questions regarding any aspect of
this topic should contact Ben Green, State OES ACS coordinator
at 916-262-1603 or Ben_Green@oes.ca.gov

Aspects of DSW coverage in mutual aid are in bulletins 251-253

 Cary Mangum, W6WWW        E-mail: cary.mangum@macnexus.org
                           ---
Bulletins are on the ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov  -and a
Landline BBS: 916-262-0856 (graphical & standard interface)
EOM