14-15-309. Mass fatality resource inventory and mutual aid agreement.

14-15-309. Mass fatality resource inventory and mutual aid agreement. (a) As used in this section: (1) “Fixed assets” means items that are permanently located but can be made available for use, including without limitation: (A) Office space; (B) Body refrigeration units; (C) Personnel rehabilitation areas; and (D) Equipment storage facilities; (2) “Mobile assets” means items that can be transported to an affected area, including without limitation: (A) Personal protective equipment such as masks, tyvek suits, gloves, boots, environmental protection, and hazards protection; (B) Investigative equipment such as cameras, measuring devices, collection bags, and labeling devices; (C) Body recovery equipment such as sheets, body bags, ropes, boards, and stretchers; (D) Administrative equipment for the purposes of data recording, financial management, and records preservation; and (E) Vehicular equipment such as cars, trucks, vans, trailers, and boats; and (3) “Personnel assets” means: (A) Coroners, deputy coroners, and medicolegal death investigators; and (B) Other individuals or entities that possess specialized skills necessary for the comprehensive investigation of deaths in a mass fatality incident. (b)(1) The Department of Health may enter into a mass fatality resource inventory and mutual aid agreement among coroners in this state. (2) A mass fatality resource inventory and mutual aid agreement under this section is effective when signed by the county judge in a county in which a coroner enters into an agreement under subdivision (b)(1) of this section. (3) A mass fatality resource inventory and mutual aid agreement under this section may provide for the sharing of fixed assets, mobile assets, and personnel assets. (c) The signatures of the county judge and the coroner are necessary for a county to pledge its deputies, equipment, and resources to the mass fatality mutual aid agreement. (d) Only a coroner, deputy coroner, or medicolegal death investigator who receives documentation reflecting satisfactory participation and completion from the commission and is in good standing under this section may be allocated for assignment and duty in the mass fatality resource inventory and mutual aid agreement. (e) The Department of Health shall maintain records of coroners, deputy coroners, and medicolegal death investigators who have received training and certificates of course completion under this section from the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.