1. The division of state parks within the department of natural resources is authorized to develop, recruit, train and accept the services of volunteers, which services shall supplement the programs administered by the department or division.

2. Volunteers recruited, trained or accepted by the division shall comply with applicable rules and policies of the department and the division.

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3. The division shall:

(1) Provide necessary staff for the management and development of volunteer programs;

(2) Develop opportunities for citizen involvement in division-administered programs;

(3) Develop and provide to all volunteers written rules governing the job descriptions, recruitment, screening, training, responsibility, use and supervision of volunteers;

(4) Educate volunteers regarding their duties and responsibilities;

(5) Provide a receptive environment for citizen involvement; and

(6) Provide for the recognition of volunteers who have offered exceptional service to the division.

4. Volunteers shall be deemed unpaid employees and shall be accorded the protection of legal expense fund and liability provisions.

5. Reimbursement for transportation and other necessary expenses may be furnished to those volunteers whose presence on special assignment is determined to be necessary by the division. Such expenses shall be reimbursed from the regular appropriations of the division. Volunteers may use state vehicles in the performance of division-related duties, subject to those rules and regulations governing use of state vehicles by paid staff.

6. As used in this section, “volunteer” shall mean any person who, of his own free will, performs any assigned duties for the division with no monetary or material compensation.

7. Any person serving as a volunteer may be terminated from service in that capacity by the director of the division.