BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Tom Torlakson, Chairman

                                           828 (Padilla)
          
          Hearing Date:  5/14/07          Amended: 5/1/07
          Consultant:  Bob Franzoia       Policy Vote: GO 8-0
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: SB 828 would require the State Fire Marshall (SFM)  
          to develop standards and procedures for arson dogs that are  
          based on specified standards issued by the California State  
          Firefighters Association.  The SFM, in cooperation with other  
          recognized statewide fire investigation entities, may amend and  
          update the standards and procedures as needed.
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2007-08      2008-09       2009-10     Fund
           Arson dog standards    Up to $100 one time              General
          and procedures                                          
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: 

          In the past, the SFM maintained its own arson dogs and developed  
          regulations for the training of what are now referred to as  
          accelerate detection dogs (ADDs).  It appears that when funding  
          to maintain the dogs was eliminated, the regulatory program  
          lapsed.  Since that time, it appears there have been instances  
          where, due to an absence of current regulations, the training of  
          ADDs has been challenged in court, resulting in arson cases  
          being lost.  While it is important the SFM maintain current and  
          valid regulations for ADDS, the SFM should not be required to  
          base those regulations on work by non state entities.  Instead,  
          the SFM regulations should be based on revising and updating  
          existing SFM regulations in consultation with all interested  
          parties.  To that end, staff recommends the bill be amended, in  
          general, to read:

              13159.85  The State Fire Marshall, in consultation with  
          recognized statewide fire investigation entities, including the  
          California State Firefighters Association, shall revise and  
          update regulations for accelerate detection dogs.  The  










          regulations, which shall be adopted no later than January 1,  
          2009 shall include, but not be limited to, department and  
          handler selection and evaluation, canine selection, fire scene  
          search practices, blind odor recognition testing, field and  
          people searches, and statutes and regulations relating to the  
          utilization of accelerant detection dogs.