BILL NUMBER: SB 296	CHAPTERED  09/10/07

	CHAPTER  197
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 7, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 4, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Dutton

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2007

   An act to amend Section 8588.1 of the Government Code, relating to
disaster preparedness.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 296, Dutton. Office of Emergency Services: disaster
preparedness.
   The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Office of
Emergency Services to include private businesses and nonprofit
organizations within its responsibilities to prepare the state for
disasters. The act creates the Disaster Resistant Communities Account
in the General Fund and authorizes the Director of the Office of
Emergency Services, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to expend
the money in the account for this purpose. The act requires that any
new activity undertaken by the office under these provisions be
contingent upon the receipt of donations to the account.
   This bill would rename the account the Disaster Resistant
Communities Fund in the State Treasury and would delete the
requirement that any new activity be contingent upon the receipt of
donations to the account. It would instead require that these
provisions be implemented only to the extent that in-kind
contributions or donations are received from the private sector, or
grant funds are received from the federal government, for these
purposes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 8588.1 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   8588.1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that this state
can only truly be prepared for the next disaster if the public and
private sector collaborate.
   (b) The Office of Emergency Services may, as appropriate, include
private businesses and nonprofit organizations within its
responsibilities to prepare the state for disasters under this
chapter. All participation by businesses and nonprofit associations
in this program shall be voluntary.
   (c) The office may do any of the following:
   (1) Provide guidance to business and nonprofit organizations
representing business interests on how to integrate private sector
emergency preparedness measures into governmental disaster planning
programs.
   (2) Conduct outreach programs to encourage business to work with
governments and community associations to better prepare the
community and their employees to survive and recover from disasters.
   (3) Develop systems so that government, businesses, and employees
can exchange information during disasters to protect themselves and
their families.
   (4) Develop programs so that businesses and government can work
cooperatively to advance technology that will protect the public
during disasters.
   (d) The office may share facilities and systems for the purposes
of subdivision (b) with the private sector to the extent the cost for
their use are reimbursed by the private sector.
   (e) Proprietary information or information protected by state or
federal privacy laws shall not be disclosed under this program.
   (f) Notwithstanding Section 11005, donations and private grants
may be accepted by the office and shall not be subject to Section
11005.
   (g) The Disaster Resistant Communities Fund is hereby created in
the State Treasury. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the
Director of the Office of Emergency Services may expend the money in
the account for the costs associated within this section.
   (h) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that
in-kind contributions or donations are received from the private
sector, or grant funds are received from the federal government, for
these purposes.