Water and wastewater operator-emergency response.

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on the actions or training required for these operators to be effective emergency responders.

Water and Wastewater Operators as Emergency Responders

This law includes certified water and wastewater operators as emergency responders, requiring local homeland security plans to coordinate with them.

What This Bill Does

• Amends the definition of 'emergency responders' in Wyoming's laws to include certified water and wastewater operators.
• Requires local homeland security plans to coordinate with these operators for providing emergency and public safety services.

Who It Names or Affects

• Certified water and wastewater operators
• Local political subdivisions responsible for homeland security plans

Terms To Know

Emergency responders

Public, state or federal fire services, law enforcement, emergency medical services, public health, public works including certified water and wastewater operators, homeland security and other public response services.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact nature of coordination required between local political subdivisions and certified water and wastewater operators.
• It is unclear what specific actions or training are mandated for these operators to be effective emergency responders.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 25LSO-0005

Bill No.:

HB0022

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

25LSO-0005

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0005

Chapter No.:

32

Prime Sponsor:

Campbell, E

Catch Title:

Water and wastewater operator-emergency response.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Emergency response for certified water and wastewater operators.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act amends the definition of emergency responders within the Wyoming Emergency Response Act to include certified water and wastewater operators. This addition requires certified water and wastewater operators to be included in the procedures under the Wyoming Emergency Response Act, which allows certified water and wastewater operators to respond to hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction, and other hazardous incidences within a local community.

Each political subdivision within the state is required to prepare a local homeland security plan that helps political subdivisions prepare for, respond to, and recover from local emergencies and disasters. This act requires that each local homeland security plan coordinates with each certified water and wastewater operator necessary to provide emergency and public safety services for homeland security.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

25LSO-0005

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0022

ENROLLED ACT NO. 5,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session

AN ACT relating to homeland security; amending a definition to include certified water and wastewater operators for purposes of emergency response; requiring local homeland security plans to coordinate with certified water and wastewater operators as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 19
‑
13
‑
108 and 35
‑
9
‑
152(a)(i) are amended to read:

19
‑
13
‑
108.

Local programs; authorized; local homeland security plan; coordinators; appointment and removal.

Each political subdivision of this state shall establish a local homeland security program in accordance with the state homeland security plan and program. Each political subdivision through the homeland security program will cause to be prepared a local homeland security plan which will include actions essential to the recovery and restoration of the economy by supply and resupply of resources to meet urgent survival and military needs and to provide for the ongoing management of resources available to meet continuing survival and recovery needs.
Each local homeland security plan shall require coordination with each certified water and wastewater operator necessary to provide emergency and public safety services for homeland security.
Each local homeland security program shall have a coordinator appointed by the governor upon the recommendation of the local jurisdiction. The coordinator has direct responsibility for the organization, administration and operation of the local homeland security program subject to the direction and control of the local jurisdiction under the general direction of the governor. The governor may remove any coordinator as provided in W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
202.

35
‑
9
‑
152.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(i)

"Emergency responders" means public, state or federal fire services, law enforcement, emergency medical services, public health, public works
including certified water and wastewater operators
, homeland security and other public response services or agencies that would be involved in direct actions to contain or control a hazardous material release, weapons of mass destruction incident or clandestine laboratory investigation.

The term "emergency responders" does not include private on
‑
site facilities with immediate emergency response capabilities unless formally requested to assist off the private facility site by the state or a political subdivision of the state;

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1