53-2-107 - Search and Rescue Financial Assistance Program -- Uses -- Rulemaking -- Distribution. - Utah Statutes

53-2-107. Search and Rescue Financial Assistance Program -- Uses -- Rulemaking-- Distribution.
(1) (a) "Reimbursable expenses," as used in this section, means those reasonable costsincidental to search and rescue activities.
(b) "Reimbursable expenses" include:
(i) rental for fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, snowmobiles, boats, and generators;
(ii) replacement and upgrade of search and rescue equipment;
(iii) training of search and rescue volunteers; and
(iv) any other equipment or expenses necessary or appropriate for conducting search andrescue activities.
(c) "Reimbursable expenses" do not include any salary or overtime paid to any person ona regular or permanent payroll, including permanent part-time employees of any agency orpolitical subdivision of the state.
(2) There is created the Search and Rescue Financial Assistance Program within thedivision.
(3) (a) The program shall be funded from the following revenue sources:
(i) any voluntary contributions to the state received for search and rescue operations;
(ii) money received by the state under Section 23-19-42, Section 41-22-34, and Section73-18-24; and
(iii) appropriations made to the program by the Legislature.
(b) All funding for the program shall be nonlapsing.
(4) The director shall use the money to reimburse counties for all or a portion of eachcounty's reimbursable expenses for search and rescue operations, subject to:
(a) the approval of the Search and Rescue Advisory Board as provided in Section53-2-109;
(b) money available in the program; and
(c) rules made under Subsection (7).
(5) Program money may not be used to reimburse for any paid personnel costs or paidman hours spent in emergency response and search and rescue related activities.
(6) The Legislature finds that these funds are for a general and statewide public purpose.
(7) The division, with the approval of the Search and Rescue Advisory Board, shall makerules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, andconsistent with this act:
(a) specifying the costs that qualify as reimbursable expenses;
(b) defining the procedures of agencies to submit expenses and be reimbursed; and
(c) providing a formula to govern the distribution of available money among the countiesfor uncompensated search and rescue expenses based on:
(i) the total qualifying expenses submitted;
(ii) the number of search and rescue incidents per county population;
(iii) the number of victims that reside outside the county; and
(iv) the number of volunteer hours spent in each county in emergency response andsearch and rescue related activities per county population.

Amended by Chapter 208, 2010 General Session