What does the Governmental Tort Claims Act provide regarding the mutual aid agreement?

The Governmental Tort Claims Act ensures that when parties enter into a mutual aid agreement, they retain all legal rights and defenses available to them. This means that by participating in the agreement, neither party gives up their ability to claim defenses that they might have regarding liability or negligence when dealing with third-party claims. It is an important aspect of mutual aid agreements as it protects the entities involved from potentially assuming liability for each other's actions during the provision of assistance.

This provision is crucial as it gives both fire departments or governmental entities the reassurance that their legal interests are still protected while they work together during emergencies. Understanding this aspect prevents confusion or potential legal vulnerabilities that could arise if parties misunderstood the implications of the agreement.