VOLUNTEERS MAY BE GETTING CLOSER
FOR LIABILITY COVERAGE

A proviso to the State Budget is being considered that would direct the State Budget and Control Board to research the feasibility and potential expense to the state to cover design professionals for professional liability and workers’ compensation while volunteering before and during natural or man made disasters.
                                                                                                                           
Pat Jenkins, PE, has been working with his Volunteer Engineer Corps in Greenville for a number of years. He anticipates taking the program statewide at some point, but professional liability and workers’ compensation coverage has been a sticking point in his progress. Currently, his volunteer corps is covered for professional liability by the county, but the workers’ compensation issue has not been solved locally.

If this proviso is introduced and if it remains in the budget, volunteers will be closer to getting this coverage. Once this study is complete, then engineers and architects can seek legislation for the state to cover volunteers for professional liability and workers’ compensation.