05/08/2002 03:14 PM Senate JUD

         SB 235-EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MAJOR GENERAL  PHIL OATES,  Adjutant General  and Commissioner  of                                                              
the  Department  of  Military  and  Veterans  Affairs,  said  CSSB
(STA) pertains  to the Emergency Management  Assistance Compact                                                              
(EMAC). Other states  in our nation stand in line  to assist other                                                              
states on a duty  rostered basis. The states are  indemnified from                                                              
any liability  for that  support and  are actually reimbursed  for                                                              
it. He  said it  is important  to note  two things:  the New  York                                                              
State Legislature  met immediately after September  11 and adopted                                                              
EMAC; and  states have  been successful  at the  federal level  in                                                              
arguing for a soft match to receive  the federal supplemental this                                                              
year. The  primary determinant  of getting  the federal  resources                                                              
will be membership in EMAC. At the  end of this year, all but four                                                              
states are  anticipated to have signed  on to EMAC. He  noted this                                                              
piece of  legislation may be one  of the more important  pieces of                                                              
legislation passed this entire year.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TAYLOR announced  his intention  to move  the bill  from                                                              
committee today and took public testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. WAYNE RUSH stated support for CSSB 235(STA).                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. MIKE  MITCHELL, Assistant  Attorney General, informed  members                                                              
he  assisted  in drafting  SB  235  and  was available  to  answer                                                              
questions. He added the Department  of Law supports CSSB 235(STA).                                                              
                                                                                                                                
There  being no  further  testimony,  SENATOR COWDERY  moved  CSSB
(STA) from  committee with  individual recommendations  and its                                                              
zero fiscal note.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  objected so that  Senator Therriault could  ask a                                                              
question.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  asked for an  explanation of the  changes made                                                              
in the Community and Regional Affairs Committee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAROL  CARROLL, Department of  Military and Veterans  Affairs,                                                              
explained that a  technical change was made that  tightened up the                                                              
eligibility under  Workers' Compensation. It clarified  that to be                                                              
eligible,  a person  had  to be  called or  under  the purview  of                                                              
emergency services before covered by workers' compensation.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  announced that  without objection,  CSSB 235(STA)                                                              
moved from committee.