Division 3. Civil Defense Organization Members

Each person serving as a member of the Emergency Management Council, or as an officer, employee or volunteer in any capacity in the Emergency Management Organization shall, prior to assuming his duties, take an oath which shall be substantially as follows:

I, ________________________ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of this State by force or violence; and that during such time as I am a member of the Emergency Management Organization I will not advocate nor become a member or an affiliate of any organization, group or combination of persons or of any political party that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of this State by force or violence.

The members of the Emergency Management Organization and the Director may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties with the approval and consent of the County Council, excepting that in cases of emergency, the County Executive may direct reimbursement of members of the Emergency Management Organization from emergency management funds made available by the County Council.

County employees assigned to duty as part of the emergency management forces pursuant to the provisions of this Subtitle shall retain all of the rights, privileges and immunities of County employees, and shall receive compensation incident to their employment.

The County assumes no liability for injury or death of emergency management volunteers in the performance of their duty as such volunteers, except that which is imposed by State law or by this Code or other ordinance or resolution of the County Council; provided, however, that emergency management volunteers assigned to duty during a period of natural disaster in the County shall be eligible for the benefits of the State Workmen's Compensation law at a rate of compensation commensurate with that of persons performing similar work under conditions of regular employment.