(a) An engineer who voluntarily, without compensation or expectation of compensation, provides structural inspection services at the scene of a declared national, state, or local emergency at the request of a public official, public safety officer, or city or county building inspector acting in an official capacity shall not be liable in negligence for any personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage caused by the engineer’s good faith but negligent inspection of a structure used for human habitation or owned by a public entity for structural integrity or nonstructural elements affecting life and safety.

The immunity provided by this section shall apply only for an inspection that occurs within 30 days of the declared emergency.

Nothing in this section shall provide immunity for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(b) As used in this section:

(1) “Engineer” means a person registered under this chapter as a professional engineer, including any of the branches thereof.

(2) “Public safety officer” has the meaning given in § 3301 of the Government Code.

(3) “Public official” means a state or local elected officer.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1013, Sec. 52.5. Effective January 1, 2003.)