Document Citation: Cal Gov Code § 26614

Header:

CALIFORNIA CODES ANNOTATED
GOVERNMENT CODE
Title 3. Government of Counties
Division 2. Officers
Part 3. Other Officers
Chapter 2. Sheriff
Article 1. Duties

Date:
08/31/2009

Document:

§ 26614. Authorization to search for and rescue persons; Charge for expenses

The board of supervisors of a county may authorize the sheriff to search for and rescue persons who are lost or are in danger of their lives within or in the immediate vicinity of the county. The expense incurred by the sheriff in the performance of those duties shall be a proper county charge. Authorization for search and rescue activities shall be consistent with guidelines and operating plans contained in the Search and Rescue Model Operating Plan, as developed and adopted by the California Emergency Management Agency in consultation with fire protection and law enforcement service providers. The California Emergency Management Agency shall make the plan available to counties and fire protection and law enforcement agencies for use and adoption by the board of supervisors and the governing boards of all search and rescue providers. If the board assigns responsibility for search and rescue activities in a manner that is inconsistent with these model operating guidelines, the board shall adopt a resolution to clarify why the local model provides better protections than the Search and Rescue Model Operating Plan, as developed by the California Emergency Management Agency, to residents in need of county search and rescue services. Counties are encouraged to adopt their countywide search and rescue plans and to review them on a regular basis. A review of a countywide search and rescue plan shall include, but is not limited to, changes made to the Search and Rescue Model Operating Plan by the California Emergency Management Agency . This section shall not be construed to vest any additional powers for search and rescue upon sheriffs or any other public safety agency that provides search and rescue.