SB 343: Regards workers' compensation coverage-urban search and rescue

The bill aims to provide workers' compensation coverage for members of urban search and rescue units in Ohio who are injured or become ill while assisting in the state at the request of the state's emergency management agency executive director. Members of designated urban search and rescue teams will be considered employees of the emergency management agency for the purposes of workers' compensation if they sustain an injury or occupational disease while rendering assistance in the state, as long as they were acting in their capacity as team members and at the request of the executive director. The bill also provides immunity from civil liability for responding political subdivisions and personnel rendering assistance or aid under the intrastate mutual aid program, as well as for personnel rendering interstate or intrastate mutual assistance or aid. Additionally, the bill ensures that…