Civil Protection Act (BSG) - Scope (BSG)

1. The law governs the rights and obligations of the canton, municipalities, and private individuals in civil protection, particularly the deployment of partner organizations, timely and situation-appropriate leadership, and joint training.

1. The Government Council is responsible for handling disasters and emergencies, insofar as the municipalities are not responsible. It supports the municipalities and coordinates the measures.

2. It determines the situations in which the canton takes the lead, for example in cases of terrorist acts and large flows of refugees. In these cases, it ensures comprehensive information for the public.

3. It exercises supervision and leadership, monitors the implementation of the ordered measures and the provision of resources, and provides them itself if necessary.

1. The municipality is generally responsible for managing disasters and emergencies within its territory.

2. It plans, takes necessary measures, and provides its resources for supra-local assistance.

3. Unless otherwise regulated in its legislative enactments, the municipal council is the authority within the municipality responsible for managing disasters and emergencies.

1. The Executive Council stipulates in the regulation the management system, the competencies of the leadership staff, and their training.

2. The leadership staff prepares the decision-making foundations for the attention of the respective competent authority, executes their decisions, plans and coordinates the measures, and independently orders measures for the protection of the population, provided these must be taken immediately.

3. The competent authority can summon the necessary leadership staff as required.

4. The canton and the municipalities bear the costs for the training of their leadership bodies.

1. The government council appoints a cantonal emergency management staff, which is available to assist in handling disasters and emergencies. The emergency management staff consists of one or more government members and a support staff. If necessary, partner organizations and specialists are represented in the staff.

2. The government council appoints a chief of staff to lead, who is responsible for preparation and coordination.

3. The canton covers the costs for its emergency management staff.

1. The municipality designates a leadership team. This team is formed specifically to manage a concrete event and consists of one or more representatives of the municipality and a staff. If necessary, partner organizations and experts are represented on the team.

2. The municipality appoints one individual responsible for civil protection. This person is in charge of preparation and coordination.

3. The municipality bears the costs of its leadership team.

4. Municipalities may join together to form regional leadership teams. The regulations applicable to the municipal leadership teams shall apply mutatis mutandis to the regional leadership teams.

1. ...

2. The partner organizations in civil protection coordinate the organization, training and its performance objectives, readiness, as well as the procurement of materials with each other. They may, in particular, conclude cooperation agreements on joint training.

3. The partner organizations support each other, particularly in operations and training.

1. The police are particularly responsible for warning, alerting, and disseminating behavior instructions, maintaining security and order, and regulating traffic.

2. The fire department is particularly responsible for rescue operations and general disaster response.

3. The healthcare system, including emergency medical services, is particularly responsible for the medical and psychological care of the population and emergency personnel.

4. Technical enterprises are particularly responsible for ensuring the availability of essential goods and services for the population.

5. Civil protection is particularly responsible for the protection and rescue of the population, caring for individuals seeking protection, providing leadership support, supporting other partner organizations, and protecting cultural property.

1. The Department of Health and Social Affairs ensures an adequate coordinated medical service in the event of disasters and emergencies.

2. It establishes a medical plan, reviews the preparations of healthcare organizations for disasters and emergencies, coordinates their deployment, designates the emergency hospitals, and orders the necessary measures.

1. Orders and measures of cantonal and municipal authorities in disasters and emergency situations, in particular requisition, evacuation, and other interventions in personal freedom and possession and property, are binding for every person.

2. The government council and the municipalities may require individuals, who are not assigned to the partner organizations of civil protection, to render assistance.

1. The partner organizations are obligated to make their resources available to other cantons and the Confederation.

2. The government council can enter into agreements with other cantons and the Confederation concerning cooperation.

3. It decides on the allocation of resources and the apportionment of costs.

1. The competent cantonal authority shall establish an inventory of critical infrastructures of cantonal significance and update it periodically.

2. It shall collaborate with the operators of critical infrastructures and advise them on planning and protection measures.

3. The operators of critical infrastructures shall provide the competent cantonal authority with the information necessary for the creation of the inventory.

4. The government council shall regulate the details.

1. The Government Council regulates in the ordinance the cantonal competencies for the joint communication systems of the Confederation, cantons, and third parties.

1. The government council regulates in the ordinance the warning and alerting of the population as well as the behavioral instructions for the population.

1. The canton and municipalities may seek recourse against the responsible parties for the costs incurred in connection with disasters and emergencies.

1. The competent authority shall decide in the first instance on claims for damages and recourse demands for damages that occurred during cantonal or communal services, and on claims of a financial nature by the canton and municipalities respectively against the canton or the municipalities, based on federal legislation on civil protection.

1. Appeals against orders and measures in the context of disasters or emergencies do not have a suspensive effect.

1. Anyone who intentionally or negligently violates Section 11, paragraph 1 of this Act or the regulations, orders, or measures based on this Act, shall be punished with a fine of up to 20,000 Swiss francs.

2. The partner organizations report violations of the civil protection legislation to the competent authority.

1. The law comes into force on January 1, 2008. It is subject to an optional referendum.