RCW 4.24.311
Immunity from liability for certain care or assistance at scene of emergency or disaster.
(1) Any person who, without compensation or the expectation of compensation, renders nonmedical care or assistance at the scene of an emergency or disaster shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of such care or assistance other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Any person rendering such care or assistance during the course of regular employment and receiving compensation or expecting to receive compensation for rendering such care or assistance is excluded from the protection of this section.
(2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Compensation" has its ordinary meaning but does not include: Nominal payments, reimbursement for expenses, or pension benefits; payments made to volunteer part-time and volunteer on-call personnel of fire departments, fire districts, ambulance districts, police departments, or any emergency response organization; or any payment to a person employed as a transit operator who is paid for his or her regular work, which work does not routinely include providing emergency transportation.
(b) "Emergency or disaster" means an event or set of circumstances that:
(i) Demands immediate action to preserve public health, protect life, protect public property, or to provide relief to any stricken community overtaken by such occurrence; or
(ii) Reaches such a dimension or degree of destructiveness as to warrant the governor declaring a state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010.
(c) "Nonmedical care or assistance" includes response and rescue operations as well as the provision of such necessities and amenities as food, supplies, shelter, transportation, and child care.
(3)(a) This section does not apply to emergency workers registered in accordance with chapter 38.52 RCW or to the related volunteer organizations to which they may belong.
(b) The immunity granted by this section is in addition to any common law or statutory immunity enjoyed by such person, and nothing in this section abrogates or modifies in any way such common law or statutory immunity.
[ 2021 c 66 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 4.24 - Special Rights of Action and Special Immunities.
4.24.005 - Tort actions—Attorneys' fees—Determination of reasonableness.
4.24.010 - Action for injury or death of child.
4.24.020 - Action by parent for seduction of child.
4.24.040 - Action for negligently permitting fire to spread.
4.24.050 - Kindling of fires by persons driving lumber.
4.24.060 - Application of common law.
4.24.070 - Recovery of money lost at gambling.
4.24.080 - Action to recover leased premises used for gambling.
4.24.090 - Validity of evidence of gambling debt.
4.24.130 - Action for change of name—Fees.
4.24.140 - Action by another state to enforce tax liability.
4.24.141 - Action by another state to enforce tax liability—"Taxes" defined.
4.24.150 - Action for fines or forfeitures.
4.24.160 - Action for penalty—Amount of recovery.
4.24.170 - Judgment for penalty or forfeiture—Effect of collusion.
4.24.180 - Disposition of fines, fees, penalties and forfeitures—Venue.
4.24.235 - Physicians—Immunity from liability regarding safety belts.
4.24.250 - Health care provider filing charges or presenting evidence—Immunity—Information sharing.
4.24.260 - Health professionals making reports, filing charges, or presenting evidence—Immunity.
4.24.264 - Boards of directors or officers of nonprofit corporations—Liability—Limitations.
4.24.300 - Immunity from liability for certain types of medical care.
4.24.310 - Persons rendering emergency care or transportation—Definitions.
4.24.311 - Immunity from liability for certain care or assistance at scene of emergency or disaster.
4.24.330 - Action for damages caused by criminal street gang tagging and graffiti.
4.24.345 - Unlawfully summoning a law enforcement officer—Civil action.
4.24.410 - Dog handler using dog in line of duty—Immunity.
4.24.450 - Liability of operators for nuclear incidents—Definitions.
4.24.470 - Liability of officials and members of governing body of public agency—Definitions.
4.24.490 - Indemnification of state employees.
4.24.500 - Good faith communication to government agency—Legislative findings—Purpose.
4.24.530 - Limitations on liability for equine activities—Definitions.
4.24.540 - Limitations on liability for equine activities—Exceptions.
4.24.545 - Electronic monitoring or 24/7 sobriety program participation—Limitation on liability.
4.24.550 - Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders—Release of information to public—Website.
4.24.5501 - Sex offenders—Model policy—Work group.
4.24.551 - Law enforcement response to secure community transition facility—Limitation on liability.
4.24.555 - Release of information not restricted by pending appeal, petition, or writ.
4.24.560 - Defense to action for injury caused by indoor air pollutants.
4.24.570 - Acts against animals in research or educational facilities.
4.24.575 - Acts against animals kept for agricultural or veterinary purposes.
4.24.580 - Acts against animal facilities—Injunction.
4.24.590 - Liability of foster parents.
4.24.601 - Hazards to the public—Information—Legislative findings, policy, intent.
4.24.630 - Liability for damage to land and property—Damages—Costs—Attorneys' fees—Exceptions.
4.24.640 - Firearm safety program liability.
4.24.660 - Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs.
4.24.670 - Liability of volunteers of nonprofit or governmental entities.
4.24.680 - Unlawful release of court and law enforcement employee information—Exception.
4.24.710 - Outdoor music festival, campground—Detention.
4.24.720 - Liability immunity—Amber alerts.
4.24.730 - Liability immunity—Disclosure of employee information to prospective employer.
4.24.740 - Liability immunity—Bovine handling activities.
4.24.790 - Electronic impersonation—Action for invasion of privacy.
4.24.800 - Liability immunity—Charitable donation of eyeglasses or hearing instruments.
4.24.820 - Nonrecognition of foreign order—Incompatibility with public policy.
4.24.830 - Agritourism—Definitions.
4.24.832 - Agritourism—Immunity.
4.24.835 - Agritourism—Warning notice.
4.24.850 - Action by victim of false reporting—Liability to a public agency.
4.24.900 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.