Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 323 - Emergency management.
323.02 - Definitions.

323.02 Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) “Adjutant general" means the adjutant general of the department of military affairs.
(2) “Administrator" means the administrator of the division.
(3) “Biological agent" means any of the following:
(a) A select agent that is a virus, bacterium, rickettsia, fungus, or toxin that is specified under 42 CFR 72, Appendix A.
(b) A genetically modified microorganism or genetic element from an organism under par. (a) that is shown to produce or encode for a factor associated with a disease.
(c) A genetically modified microorganism or genetic element that contains nucleic acid sequences coding for a toxin under par. (a) or its toxic subunit.
(d) An agent specified by the department of health services by rule.
(4) “Bioterrorism" means the intentional use of any biological, chemical, or radiological agent to cause death, disease or biological malfunction in a human, animal, plant, or other living organism in order to influence the policy of a governmental unit or to intimidate or coerce the civilian population.
(5) “Chemical agent" means a substance that has chemical properties that produce lethal or serious effects in humans, plants, animals, or other living organisms.
(6) “Disaster" means a severe or prolonged, natural or human-caused, occurrence that threatens or negatively impacts life, health, property, infrastructure, the environment, the security of this state or a portion of this state, or critical systems, including computer, telecommunications, or agricultural systems.
(7) “Division" means the division of emergency management.
(8) “Emergency management" means all measures undertaken by or on behalf of the state and its subdivisions to do any of the following:
(a) Prepare for and minimize the effect of a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster.
(b) Make repairs to or restore infrastructure or critical systems that are destroyed or damaged by a disaster.
(9) “Incident command system" means a functional management system established to control, direct, and manage the roles, responsibilities, and operations of all of the agencies involved in a multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency emergency response.
(10) “Law enforcement officer" has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).
(11) “Level A release" means a release of a hazardous substance that necessitates the highest level of protective equipment for the skin and respiratory systems of emergency response personnel because of any of the following conditions:
(a) Substances with a high degree of hazard to the skin are known or suspected to be present and skin contact is possible.
(b) There are present, or there is a potential for, high atmospheric levels of substances that are harmful to the skin or capable of being absorbed through intact skin.
(c) Operations at the site of the release involve a high potential for exposure to liquids or particulates that are harmful to the skin or capable of being absorbed through intact skin.
(d) Response operations must be conducted in confined, poorly ventilated areas and the absence of conditions under pars. (a) to (c) has not been established.
(12) “Level B release" means a release of a hazardous substance that necessitates the highest level of protective equipment for the respiratory systems of emergency response personnel, but less skin protection than a level A release, because operations at the site of the release do not involve a high potential for exposure to liquids or particulates that are harmful to the skin or capable of being absorbed through intact skin and any of the following conditions exists:
(a) The type and concentration of substances in the atmosphere have been identified and are dangerous to respiration but are not harmful to skin or capable of being absorbed through intact skin.
(b) The atmosphere contains less than 19.5 percent oxygen but does not contain substances that are harmful to skin or capable of being absorbed through intact skin.
(c) Vapors or gases are present that have not been completely identified but it is known that those vapors or gases are not harmful to skin or capable of being absorbed through intact skin.
(13) “Local emergency response team" means a team that the local emergency planning committee identifies under s. 323.61 (2m) (e).
(14) “Local health department" has the meaning given in s. 250.01 (4).
(15) “Local unit of government" means a county, city, village, or town.
(16) “Public health emergency" means the occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition that meets all of the following criteria:
(a) Is believed to be caused by bioterrorism or a novel or previously controlled or eradicated biological agent.
(b) Poses a high probability of any of the following:
1. A large number of deaths or serious or long-term disabilities among humans.
2. A high probability of widespread exposure to a biological, chemical, or radiological agent that creates a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of people.
(17) “Public works" means the physical structures and facilities developed or acquired by a local unit of government or a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state to provide services and functions for the benefit and use of the public, including water, sewerage, waste disposal, utilities, and transportation.
(18) “Radiological agent" means radiation or radioactive material at a level that is dangerous to humans, animals, plants, or other living organisms.
(19) “State agency" means any office, commission, board, department, or bureau of state government.
History: 1979 c. 361 ss. 54, 73; 1989 a. 31; 1995 a. 247; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 186; 2005 a. 269; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 42 ss. 51 to 65, 164 to 166, 280 to 284; Stats. 2009 s. 323.02.

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