Title 12, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs

(a) Each state office of emergency management and local office of emergency management and the officers of each state office of emergency management and local office of emergency management shall execute and enforce such orders and rules as may be made by the Governor under autho…

(a) (1) A disaster emergency shall be declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor if he or she finds a disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or the threat of disaster is imminent.(2) When time is critical because of rapidly occurring disaster emergency even…

(a) (1) A local disaster emergency may be declared only by the chief executive or his or her designee of a political subdivision.(2) If time is critical because of a rapidly occurring disaster emergency event, the chief executive verbally may declare a local disaster emergency fo…

(a) The Division of Emergency Management is established as a public safety agency of the State of Arkansas. (b) (1) The division shall have a Director of the Division of Emergency Management who is appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shal…

(a) The Division of Emergency Management shall coordinate and maintain a state emergency operations plan and keep it current, which plan may include:(1) Prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by disaster;(2) Measures for prompt and effective response to disasters…

(a) The Division of Emergency Management shall, with the assistance and cooperation of other state and local government agencies:(1) Determine requirements of the state and its political subdivisions for food, clothing, and other necessities in event of an emergency;(2) Procure a…

(a) The Division of Emergency Management shall operate and maintain information systems which will make available both voice and data links with federal agencies, other states, and state agencies as are assigned an emergency management role in the state emergency operations plan …

(a) Due to the time-critical nature of response to the scene of a disaster or major emergency occurrence, the Director of the Division of Emergency Management may designate appropriate vehicles as requested in the staffing patterns of the state offices of emergency management and…

(a) The Governor is responsible for meeting and mitigating, to the maximum extent possible, dangers to the people and property of the state presented or threatened by disasters. (b) (1) Under this chapter, the Governor may issue executive orders, proclamations, and rules and amen…

(a) (1) In addition to disaster prevention measures as included in the state, local, and interjurisdictional emergency operations plans, the Governor shall consider on a continuing basis steps that could be taken to prevent or reduce the harmful consequences of disasters.(2) At t…

(a) (1) It is the policy of this chapter that each department, commission, agency, or institution of state and local government actively and aggressively support the state offices of emergency management and local offices of emergency management to the end of providing the best p…

(a) (1) (A) By executive order, the Governor may combine two (2) or more established local offices of emergency management as an interjurisdictional office of emergency management.(B) (i) Before a combination under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section, the jurisdictions involved…

(a) (1) Each political subdivision within this state shall be within the jurisdiction of and served by the Division of Emergency Management and by a local office of emergency management or interjurisdictional office of emergency management.(2) A local office of emergency manageme…

(a) (1) All emergency jurisdictions shall participate in the statewide mutual aid system, except as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section.(2) (A) An emergency jurisdiction may elect not to participate in the statewide mutual aid system.(B) In order to make the election, …

(a) In carrying out the provisions of this chapter, the Governor and the chief executives or designees of the political subdivisions of the state are directed to utilize the services, equipment, supplies, and facilities of existing departments, offices, and agencies of the state …

(1) An emergency management organization established under the authority of this chapter shall not:(1) Participate in any form of political activity; or(2) Be employed directly or indirectly for political purposes. (1) Participate in any form of political activity; or (2) Be empl…

(a) Each political subdivision may make appropriations in the manner provided by law for making appropriations for the ordinary expenses of such political subdivision for the payment of expenses of its local office of emergency management. (b) (1) If the federal government or any…

(a) (1) Each person within this state shall conduct himself or herself and keep and manage his or her affairs and property in ways that will reasonably assist and will not unreasonably detract from the ability of the state and the public to successfully meet disaster emergencies.…

(a) Any person owning or controlling real estate or other premises who voluntarily and with or 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 premises for the purpose of shel…

(a) No person shall be employed or associated in any capacity in any emergency management organization established under this chapter who:(1) Advocates or has advocated a change by force or violence in the constitutional form of the United States Government or of this state or th…

(a) All functions under this chapter and all other activities relating to emergency management are declared to be governmental functions. (b) No emergency responder, except in cases of willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith, when complying with or reasonably attemptin…

(a) (1) A person appointed and regularly enrolled in an accredited emergency management organization and covered by this chapter is limited to the Workers' Compensation Law, § 11-9-101 et seq., for benefits payable for an injury to or death of the person, if:(A) The person is reg…

(a) In emergency situations the Governor, county sheriff, or municipal police chief may authorize and request retired law enforcement officers, including game wardens, to perform law enforcement functions. (b) In such instances, the retirement benefits of such retired law enforce…

(a) (1) The Division of Emergency Management is authorized to provide special compensation to certain employees for each full pay period of eighty (80) hours worked in a job which requires the provision of on-site emergency disaster relief services in cases of wartime, human-made…

(a) There is created an advisory body to the Division of Emergency Management, to be known as the “Arkansas Homeland Security Advisory Group”. (b) The advisory group shall consist of representatives of federal, state, and local agencies and professional associations as determined…

(1) Upon approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management may transfer positions between appropriations as may be required:(1) If a disaster occurs that results in a presidential disaster proclamation; or(2) When an employee occup…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Discriminatory action” means an action taken by the Governor to:(A) Alter the tax treatment of, or cause any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, delay, revoke, or otherwise make unavailable an exemption from taxation;(B) Disa…

(a) (1) The General Assembly finds that determining the maximum amount of an appropriation, the purpose for the expenditure of appropriations, and funding for a state agency, state department, or state institution each fiscal year is the prerogative of the General Assembly.(2) De…

(a) (1) During a disaster emergency under this chapter in which a requirement exists that citizens wear a face covering over nose and mouth, a person, who in the course of employment, rendering of professional services, or volunteering under subsection (b) of this section encount…

(a) A public safety agency shall develop curricula for mental health awareness training for the personnel of the public safety agency, including without limitation:(1) Understanding signs and symptoms of cumulative stress, depression, anxiety, exposure to acute and chronic trauma…

(1) If a state of disaster emergency under this chapter or a federal disaster is declared, the Division of County Operations may:(1) Contract labor for periods that exceed the limitations imposed by rules adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration; and(2) Waive the l…