Title 31 — Title 31

This article may be cited as the “Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955.” History: (Acts 1955, No. 47, p. 267, §1.)

Political Subdivisions. (a) Each political subdivision of this state shall establish a local organization for emergency management in accordance with the state emergency management plan and program and may confer or authorize the conferring upon members of the auxiliary police th…

Bond. (a) Title 24 shall not apply to prefabricated storm shelters not equipped with electrical, plumbing, heating, or utility service lines, and which meet all of the following: (1) Is a temporary safe place during storms as stated in Federal Emergency Management Agency Publicat…

Random Inspections. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency shall have oversight authority on all storm shelters, both community and residential. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency may adopt administrative rules to carry out the intent of this article and to ensure that all …

Rendering Outside Aid. Whenever the employees of any political subdivision are rendering outside aid pursuant to a mutual aid agreement authorized by Section 31-9-9 or by the authority contained in Section 31-9-10, the employees shall have the same powers, duties, rights, privile…

Other States; Operation of Alabama Mobile Support Units in Other States. (a) Whenever a mobile support unit of another state shall render aid in this state pursuant to the orders of the governor of its home state and upon the request of the Governor of this state, this state shal…

Emergency Management Agencies. (a) The Alabama Emergency Management Agency may offer directly to any local emergency management agency of this state any used or obsolete equipment, supplies, or material through sale, gift, grant, or loan to be utilized for purposes of emergency m…

All orders, rules, and regulations promulgated by the Governor as authorized by this article shall have the full force and effect of law when a copy thereof is filed in the office of the Secretary of State. All existing laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations or parts thereof in…

The law-enforcing authorities of the state and of the political subdivisions thereof shall enforce the orders, rules, and regulations issued pursuant to this article. History: (Acts 1955, No. 47, p. 267, §14.)

(a) Before December 31, 2021, the state Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, shall develop uniform guidelines for use in identifying and volunteering safer place facili…

Without Warrant. A peace officer, when in full and distinctive uniform or displaying a badge or other insignia of authority, may arrest without a warrant any person violating or attempting to violate in such officer’s presence any order, rule, or regulation made pursuant to this …

Emergency Management Activities; Exemptions of Emergency Management Workers from License Requirements; Powers, Duties, Etc., of Emergency Management Workers. (a) All functions under this article and all other activities relating to emergency management are hereby declared to be g…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act. History: (Act 2026-368, §1.)

For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) AGENCY. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency. (2) CABIN. Any structure in which campers sleep, including, but not limited to, a cabin, dormitory, or bunkhouse, regardless of camper capacity. (3)…

(a) On and after January 1, 2027, a camp operator shall apply for and obtain an emergency preparedness license in accordance with the requirements of this article as a condition for conducting camp operations. (b) An emergency preparedness license shall be valid for a period of f…

(a) No individual may be retained by a camp operator as a staff member who has been convicted of a crime that involves a sexual or violent act, including those acts that are unlawful under Chapter 6 of Title 13A, as disclosed by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or a contr…

(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, no camp operator shall construct or expand a cabin located in a floodplain. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the agency shall approve the continued operation of an existing cabin located in a floodplain if the camp operator demonstrates to the ag…

As a condition for receiving an emergency preparedness license, a camp shall operate with all of the following equipment or capabilities: (1) A NOAA Weather Radio that transmits “all-hazards” notifications. (2) A protocol to alert essential staff members of an emergency, includin…

Each camp shall have as many designated sheltering spaces as are necessary to afford capacity for the maximum number of campers and staff members who are overnight residents. History: (Act 2026-368, §7.)

(a) The agency shall not approve an emergency preparedness license for a camp unless the camp maintains an emergency plan that provides for the protection and safety of campers and complies with the requirements of this section. (b) An emergency plan shall contain procedures for …

(a)(1) A camp operator shall submit the emergency plan required in Section 31-9- 167 to the agency for approval with the initial application for an emergency preparedness license. (2) The plan shall be updated or amended if a supplemental application to maintain an emergency prep…

(a)(1) Upon request by a parent or legal guardian of a registered camper, a camp operator shall provide: (i) a copy of the camp’s current emergency preparedness license; and (ii) a short, written summary of the camp’s emergency procedures. (2) Upon request by a parent or legal gu…

for Use of Real Estate, Etc., for Shelters. Any person owning or controlling real estate or other premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants a license or privilege, or otherwise permits the designation or use of the whole or any part or parts of such real estate or …

(a) An agency disapproval of an initial or supplemental application for an emergency preparedness license, including disapproval of an emergency plan, shall specify in writing the condition or requirement in this article or in an agency rule which the applicant failed to meet or …

(a) The agency may inspect a camp to verify compliance. Except in an emergency, or when responding to a specific, credible complaint alleging noncompliance or unsafe conditions, the agency shall conduct the inspection at a time agreed upon with the camp operator. (b) An inspectio…

(a) A Youth Camp Safety Advisory Council (advisory council) is established as an independent council to advise the agency on the implementation of the requirements of this article: (i) during the period between April 8, 2026, and January 1, 2027; and (ii) on an ongoing basis afte…

Nothing in this article shall be interpreted to change any element of civil liability with respect to any possible claim against a camp nor create a cause of action solely for a violation of this article. History: (Act 2026-368, §14.)

The agency may adopt rules necessary to implement, administer, and enforce the requirements of this article, and may not adopt any rules that expand the scope of this article or that impose additional duties not expressly provided for in this article. History: (Act 2026-368, §15.…

Private Persons, Etc. (a) Whenever the federal government or any agency or officer thereof shall offer to the state, or through the state to any political subdivision thereof, services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, or loan for purposes of emerge…

No organization for emergency management established under the authority of this article shall participate in any form of political activity, nor shall it be employed directly or indirectly for political purposes. History: (Acts 1955, No. 47, p. 267, §19.)

Policy. (a) Because of the existing and increasing possibility of the occurrence of disasters or emergencies of unprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action, or from fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural causes, and in …

Organizations; Loyalty Oath. No person shall be employed or associated in any capacity in any emergency management organization established under this article who advocates a change by force or violence in the constitutional form of the government of the United States or of this …

Trainees. The Director of Emergency Management, upon recommendation of the Emergency Management Advisory Council, with the approval of the Governor, is authorized and empowered and may enter into a contract by bond or policy with an insurance company authorized to do business in …

Any person violating any provision of this article or any rule, order, or regulation made pursuant to this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500, and may also be imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more tha…

This article shall be construed liberally in order to effectuate its purpose. History: (Acts 1955, No. 47, p. 267, §24.)

Subdivisions. (a) The funds appropriated by the Legislature in the general appropriation act for the support and maintenance of this article shall be expended solely for the purposes designated in the appropriation act and shall be limited to the amounts provided therein and shal…

of Emergency; Alabama State House to Remain Open to Public While Legislature in Session. (a) During the existence of a state of emergency declared pursuant to Section 31-9- 8, a business entity or a church, mosque, synagogue, or other bona fide religious institution may continue …

As used in this article, these terms shall have the following meanings: (1) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent, m…

Management. (Amended by Act 2026-297) [Effective until October 1, 2026.] THIS ACT WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2026-297, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR AMENDED LANGUAGE. (a) There is hereby created within the executive branch of the state government a department of emergency manage…

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is enacted into law and entered with all jurisdictions mutually adopting the compact in the form substantially as follows: THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT Article I - Purpose and Authorities. This compact is made and entered…

Management. In performing his or her duties under this article, the Governor is authorized and empowered: (1) To make, amend, and rescind the necessary orders, rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this article within the limits of the authority conferred upon him …

(a) There is established a Local Emergency Management Agency Assistance Fund to provide supplemental funding for local emergency management organizations created and operating under Section 31-9-10, for the purposes and under the conditions set out in this article. The local emer…

(a)(1) The following requirements are established for the position of certified local emergency management director created herein: a. Satisfactory completion of two years of college level education. b. At least three years of work experience in the area of emergency response, em…

(a) For the purposes of this section, a certified local emergency management director is a local emergency management director who completes the requirements to be a certified local emergency management director and is so designated by the Director of the Alabama Emergency Manage…

Repealed by Act 2015-70 effective April 21, 2015. History: (Acts 1955, No. 47, p. 267, §7.)

(a) The provisions of this section shall be operative only during the existence of a state of emergency, referred to hereinafter as one of the states of emergency defined in Section 31-9-3. The existence of a state of emergency may be proclaimed by the Governor as provided in thi…

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) COMMITTEE. The Alabama Disaster Recovery Program Committee. (2) RECOVERY FUND. The Alabama Disaster Recovery Fund. (3) RECOVERY PROGRAM. The Alabama Disaster Recovery Program. (4) SYSTEM. The Stat…

Disaster Recovery Fund. (a) There is created the Alabama Disaster Recovery Program for the purposes of providing financial assistance to eligible counties and municipalities for meeting local needs before, during, and immediately following a disaster that affects a county or muni…

(a) There is hereby established the Alabama Disaster Recovery Program Committee, which shall be convened solely for purposes provided under this article. The committee shall consist of the following members: (1) The Director of the Department of Transportation, or his or her desi…

(a) Disbursements from the recovery fund for purposes set out in this section shall only be available as provided herein upon a proclamation from the Governor or Legislature made pursuant to Section 31-9-8, and a proclamation made by the local governing body in the county or muni…