CHAPTER 624

An Act to amend and reenact § 44-142.1, as amended, of the Code of Vir.
ginia, relating to civil defense. CH 528]

Approved March 31, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 44-142.1, as amended, of the Code of Virgina be amended
and reenacted as follows: .

. § 44-142.1. (a) The Governor or his duly designated representative
is authorized to create and establish such number of mobile reserve bat-
talions as may be necessary to reinforce civil defense organizations in
stricken areas and with due consideration of the plans of the federal
government and of other states. The local defense authorities shall appoint
a commander for each such battalion who shall have primary responsi-
bility for the organization, administration and operation of such battalion.
Mobile reserve battalions shall be called to duty upon orders of the Gov-
ernor and shall perform thelr functions in any part of the State, or,
upon the conditions specified in this section, in other states.

(b) The term “mobile reserve battalion” as used in this chapter
shall be construed to mean any organization of teams of firefighters,
medical and first aid workers, construction and repair workers, disaster
relief workers, police and other reserve and emergency workers which
has been approved by the Director of Civil Defense.

(c) Personnel of mobile reserve battalions while on actual duty
whether within or without the State, shall: (1) if they are employees of
the State , have the powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities and
receive from the State the compensation incidental to their employment;
(2) if they are employees of a political subdivision of the State, and whether
serving within or without such political subdivision, have the powers,
duties, rights, privileges and immunities and receive from the political
subdivision the compensation incidental to their employment; and (3) if
they are not employees of the State or a political subdivision thereof, but
are registered members on duty of the United States Civil Defense Corps
of this State they may be allowed compensation by the State at a rate not
exceeding three dollars and fifty cents per day. All personnel of mobile
reserve battalions shall, while on duty, be subject to the operational con-
trol of the authority in charge of civil defense activities in the area in
which they are serving, and shall be reimbursed for all actual and neces-
sary travel and subsistence expenses.

(d) The State shall reimburse a political subdivision for the com-
pensation paid and actual and necessary travel, subsistence and mainten-
ance expenses of employees of such political subdivision or registered
members on duty, of the United States Civil Defense Corps of this State
while serving as members of a mobile reserve battalion, and for all pay-
ment for death, disability or injury of such employees or registered mem-
bers on duty, of the United States Civil Defense Corps of this State in-
curred in the course of such duty, and for all losses of or damage to
supplies and equipment of such political subdivision resulting from the
operation of such mobile reserve battalion.

(e) Whenever a mobile reserve battalion of another state shall ren-
der aid in this State pursuant to the orders of the governor of its home
state and upon the request of the Governor of this State, this State shall
reimburse such other state for the compensation paid and actual and
necessary travel, subsistence and maintenance expenses of the personnel
of such mobile reserve battalion while rendering such aid, and for all
payments for death, disability or injury of such personnel incurred in the
course of rendering such aid, and for all losses of or damage to supplies
and equipment of such other state or a political subdivision thereof
resulting from the rendering of such aid.

(f) No personnel of mobile reserve battalions of this State shall be
ordered by the Governor to operate in any other state unless the laws of
such other state contain provisions substantially similar to this section.