SB145 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy PriceSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Emergency Management Agency, shelters, to adopt guidelines for identifying and designating safer place shelters throughout the state

Summary

This bill would require the state Emergency Management Agency to develop uniform guidelines that allow volunteers to designate properties as safer place facilities during severe weather.

What This Bill Does

By December 31, 2020, the Emergency Management Agency, with the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers and the Association of County Commissions, must create guidelines for identifying and offering safer place facilities. The guidelines must cover how communities are notified, an application process for owners to designate a portion of a structure as a safer place (including a good faith determination it meets criteria and a nondiscrimination pledge), and how long such designation would last. They also require nondiscrimination, clarify that facilities are not required to be open at all times or provide goods and services, establish a withdrawal process, and allow other necessary procedures. The bill bars government bodies from providing compensation for designation or operation, notes users assume risk, and states designation participants are volunteers under the Volunteer Service Act during the time the structure is designated. The act takes effect immediately after passage and governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Owners or managers of structures who may volunteer to designate their property as a safer place facility and must meet the guidelines (including nondiscrimination and an application process).
• Local and state emergency management agencies that will implement the guidelines, manage community notifications and the designation process, and oversee safety-related operations.

Key Provisions

• Develop uniform guidelines by December 31, 2020, in cooperation with the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.
• Guidelines must include methods for notifying the community about safer places, an application process through local EMA for owners to offer all or part of a structure as a safer place, and a requirement that applicants make a good faith determination the structure meets criteria and will not discriminate.
• Guidelines must describe the circumstances and conditions of use and length of availability, require nondiscrimination, and provide a withdrawal procedure.
• No state or local governmental entity may provide compensation or financial support for designation or operation of a safer place facility.
• Users of a designated safer place do so at their own risk, and are not treated as invitees or licensees.
• Volunteers who designate a structure as a safer place are considered volunteers under the Volunteer Service Act during the designation.
• The act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Emergency Management Agency