Provides that an operational safety plan developed by the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall require that any employee check in with the incident commander or safety officer for incident specific procedures prior to taking any action at the incident location; provides that when deployment occurs in coordination with one or more other entities, and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation is not the lead response agency, the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that employees are provided with the incident specific operational safety plan developed by the lead agency and/or incident commander.
Notes
Overall, A09517 is positioned as a necessary step towards improving safety standards within the state's parks and recreation framework. It reflects a growing recognition of the importance of preparedness and risk management in the face of potentially hazardous situations.
Impact
The bill aims to clarify the responsibilities of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, fine-tuning the operational protocols necessary before employees embark on any deployment that might expose them to danger. The new regulations will ensure that operational safety plans encompass comprehensive risk assessments, clear chains of command, and communications protocols—all essential for safe and effective incident management. Should it be enacted, this bill has the potential to fundamentally change the procedures followed during parks and recreation-related emergency responses, aligning them more closely with recognized safety standards.
Summary
Bill A09517 proposes modifications to the parks, recreation, and historic preservation law by mandating that employees check in with an incident commander or safety officer prior to taking action during incident situations. The focus of this bill is to enhance the operational safety plans that are required for deployments involving hazardous conditions. Such enhancements stem from the need to ensure that all employees are equipped with tailored operational safety plans specific to the incidents they are responding to, particularly when they are not the lead agency during such events. This bill attempts to create a structured approach to managing security in potentially hazardous operational scenarios.
Contention
While the bill seeks to enhance safety procedures, there may be contention regarding the implementation of these operational enhancements. Stakeholders may debate the specifics of the safety plans and how much flexibility should be afforded to local agencies compared to state-level mandates. Critics may argue that additional regulations could slow down emergency response times or place unnecessary burdens on employees. Discussions may also emerge concerning the adequacy of funding and resources to implement these safety protocols effectively.
Same As
Provides that an operational safety plan developed by the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall require that any employee check in with the incident commander or safety officer for incident specific procedures prior to taking any action at the incident location; provides that when deployment occurs in coordination with one or more other entities, and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation is not the lead response agency, the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that employees are provided with the incident specific operational safety plan developed by the lead agency and/or incident commander.