Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 41.970 - Civil air patrol, use in support of National Guard missions - definitions - procedure for activation1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean: (1)"Civil air patrol", the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force established by the United States Congress in 36 U.S.C. Section 40301, et seq. and 10 U.S.C. Section 9441, et seq. Civil air patrol missions include search and rescue, disaster relief, and aerial reconnaissance;(2)"Office of air search and rescue", as established by section 41.960, within military division of the executive department, office of adjutant general, the wing commander of Missouri wing, civil air patrol; Missouri wing emergency service personnel; and others as necessary for duties assigned to the office.2. The civil air patrol may be used to support National Guard missions in support of civil authorities or in support of noncombatant National Guard missions, and to support state agencies under memorandums of understanding (MOU) or agreements established between the agencies and the civil air patrol.3. Requests for activation or support of the civil air patrol shall be made to the commander of the Missouri wing of the civil air patrol. Missions shall be in accordance with laws and regulations applicable to the United States Air Force and the civil air patrol. Prior to activation of the civil air patrol, the adjutant general or the Missouri civil air patrol wing commander shall apply to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, the Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Agency, or the civil air patrol national operations center for federal mission status and funding.4. If an operation or mission of the civil air patrol is granted funded federal mission status and assigned an accompanying federal mission number, the following shall apply: (1) The operation or mission shall be funded by the federal government;(2) When training or operating under a federal mission number, the members of the civil air patrol shall be considered federal employees for the purposes of tort claims and workers' compensation arising from the performance of the mission or any actions incident to the performance of the mission.5. If an operation or mission of the civil air patrol is not granted federal mission status and is not assigned an accompanying federal mission number, the following shall apply: (1) Except for missions and operations supporting the department of public safety or the office of adjutant general, all requests for activation and authorization for any mission or operation of the civil air patrol on behalf of state agencies shall first be approved by the department director of the requesting agency, the adjutant general and the commissioner of administration;(2) Operations and administration of the civil air patrol relating to missions within the state and for state agencies not qualifying for funded federal mission status shall be funded by the state from moneys appropriated to the requesting state agency for that purpose;(3) When performing a mission within the state and for state agencies that do not qualify for funded federal mission status, members of the civil air patrol shall be considered state employees for purposes of the state legal expense fund as provided under section 105.711 and for purposes of workers' compensation coverage, as provided under section 105.810;(4) The procedures in this section apply to any civil air patrol personnel and aircraft from any state that are flying or otherwise supporting missions for Missouri state agencies;(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, emergency operations or missions as determined by the commander of the Missouri wing of the civil air patrol and approved by the adjutant general may be conducted pending funding authorization for federal, state, or other sources.