Disaster Service Worker Policy
Policy that establishes County of Los Angeles employees as Disaster Service Workers originates from the California Government Code. This code mandates that all county employees, except for persons legally employed but who are not a citizen or national of the United States, be designated as Disaster Service Workers. Disaster Service Workers are required to take the oath of allegiance prior to the start of employment.
In accordance with Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines, as part of an employee’s Disaster Service Worker role, an oath of allegiance card must be completed and signed by both the employee taking the oath and the officer administering the oath. Civil Services Rules state that any person that refuses to execute the oath may have their job application refused or name removed from an eligible list.
Los Angeles County Code establishes that, during an emergency, the Office of Emergency Management, under the Chief Executive Office, shall have the power to require emergency services of county employees as deemed necessary.
To read more details about each policy that guides and informs the Disaster Service Worker Program, please click on the above tabs.
California Government Code
CA Government Code 3100 – 3103
3100 – All Public employees are hereby declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
3101 – “Disaster service worker” includes all public employees and all volunteers in any disaster council or emergency organization accredited by the Office of Emergency Services. The term “public employees” includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, city and county, state agency or public district, except for persons legally employed but are not a citizen or national of the United States.
3102 – All disaster service workers shall, before they enter upon the duties of their employment, take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation required by this chapter.
3103 – The oath of affirmation required by this chapter is the oath or affirmation set forth in Section 3 of Article XX of the Constitution of California.
Los Angeles County Code
Chapter 2.68 Emergency Services – Part 5
2.68.200 – Chief Executive Officer.
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for coordinating the County’s activities and operations relating to emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
2.68.210 – Powers and duties.
The Chief Executive Officer shall have the following duties:
- To maintain, manage, activate, and operate the County Emergency Operations Center at all times, including during an emergency;.
2.68.260 – Office of Emergency Management.
- The County Office of Emergency Management is created within the County Chief Executive Office.
- The Chief Executive Officer shall appoint the Director of the Office of Emergency Management.
2.68.270 – Powers and duties.
The Director of the County Office of Emergency Management shall have the following duties:
- To require emergency services of any County officer or employee, and to command the aid of as many citizens of the County as the Director of the Office of Emergency Management deems necessary; and in such event, said persons shall be entitled to all privileges, benefits, and immunities as are provided by State law, including, as applicable, those that apply to registered disaster service workers;
Policies, Procedures, & Guidelines
PPG 230 – Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and Deputization
All department heads must ensure adherence to established procedures by which the oath or affirmation of allegiance is administered to County officers and employees.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure compliance with State Law as set forth in Section 3 of Article XX of the Constitution of California, California Government Code, Charter of the County of Los Angeles, and Civil Service Rule 6.04.
The oath or affirmation may be taken before any officer authorized to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance.
California Constitution
Article XX Section 3
Members of the Legislature, and all public officers and employees, executive, legislative, and judicial, except such inferior officers and employees as may be by law exempted, shall, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation:
“I, ___________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; 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, nor am I a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that now advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocated the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means except as follows:
_____ (If no affiliations, write in the words “No Exceptions”) _____
and that during such time as I hold the office of _____ (name of office) _____
I will not advocate nor become a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means.”
And no other oath, declaration, or test, shall be required as a qualification for any public office or employment.
“Public officer and employee” includes every officer and employee of the State, including the University of California, every county, city, city and county, district, and authority, including any department, division, bureau, board, commission, agency, or instrumentality of any of the foregoing.
Civil Service Rules
Rule 6.04 – Nonacceptance of applicant
The director of personnel, subject to the right of any person aggrieved to appeal to the commission as provided in Rule 4, may refuse to accept an application or to examine an applicant, or may withhold the name of a person from the eligible list or an eligible from certification, or after notice may remove the name of an eligible from the eligible list:
- Who refuses to execute the oath as prescribed by law.
