59-12-103 - Members employees of department of labor and workforce development Compensation Use of volunteers.
59-12-103. Members employees of department of labor and workforce development Compensation Use of volunteers.
All regular corps members and substitute corps members are employees of the department of labor and workforce development while engaged in any rescue operation pursuant to orders of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, or while engaged in any official drill required by this chapter. All members and substitute members of the corps shall be compensated at the average hourly wage for highly skilled miners in the state of Tennessee while engaged in official drill and at a wage which is thirty-five percent (35%) higher than such average hourly wage when engaged in rescue work. Subject to the availability of funds, such members further may be reimbursed for mileage expenses incurred for attendance at official drills, in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter. In time of a mining disaster, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee is authorized to accept the assistance of any competent persons who offer their services for rescue work. Those accepted for rescue work shall be considered regular corps members while so assisting and shall be paid at the same rate as such members until they are discharged from their services.
[Acts 1979, ch. 368, § 3; T.C.A., § 58-1703; Acts 1985, ch. 288, §§ 41, 42; 1999, ch. 520, § 43.]