BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 902
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 2, 2008

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mark Leno, Chair

                   SB 902 (Padilla) - As Amended:  January 28, 2008

          Policy Committee:                              Governmental  
          Organization Vote:                            13 - 0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the State Fire Marshal (SFM), in conjunction  
          with the California State Firefighters' Association (CSFA), and  
          other appropriate organizations, to update their standards and  
          procedures for accelerant detecting canines and their handlers  
          by January 1, 2011.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          One time special fund costs of less than $125,000 for SFM to  
          coordinate with interested parties and update the regulations.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  .  According to the author, the goal of AB 902 is to  
            ensure that the Accelerant Detection Canine Program remains  
            credible in California. Accelerant detection dogs have become  
            an important companion to fire investigators when probing the  
            causes of a fire. By using their trained senses, these dogs  
            can detect evidence of ignitable liquids or accelerants, such  
            as petrol, kerosene, and diesel fuel. Their work could  
            determine whether or not the fire was an accident or  
            deliberate. 

           2)Related Legislation  . A substantially similar bill, SB 828  
            (Padilla), was vetoed by the governor in 2007.  In his veto  
            message the governor noted that the bill is unnecessary  
            because the SFM and CalFIRE have the authority to update their  
            standards and certification requirements as they deem  
            appropriate. In addition, he noted that these standards were  
            updated five years ago. 








                                                                  SB 902
                                                                  Page  2



           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081