Volunteer Protection Act

Public Law 105-19, the Volunteer Protection Act, was signed by President Clinton on June 18, 1997 The act offers a degree of protection for volunteers that will allow them a feeling of security against personal loss resulting from their volunteer service. Many volunteers worry about a lawsuit due to a mistake they make in the course of their volunteer activity

The act provides protection unless one of the following occurs; (1) The volunteer does something OUTSIDE the job description, (2) The volunteer does not have the required license or certificate for the job being performed

(3) The volunteer’s act that caused the injury was while they were operating a motor vehicle, and (4) the volunteer caused the injury with willful, criminal, or reckless misconduct or gross negligence