BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2021
                                                                  Page  1


          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          AB 2021 (Fletcher)
          As Amended  March 24, 2010
          Majority vote 

           GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION    20-0                       HIGHER  
          EDUCATION                9-0                        
           
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          |Ayes:|Coto, Blakeslee, Chesbro,  |Ayes:|Block, Norby, Adams ,     |
          |     |Cook,                      |     |Chesbro, Fong, Fuller,    |
          |     |De Leon, Evans, Galgiani,  |     |Galgiani, Portantino,     |
          |     |Hernandez, Hill,           |     |Ruskin                    |
          |     |Jeffries, Lieu, Ma,        |     |                          |
          |     |Mendoza, Nestande, V.      |     |                          |
          |     |Manuel Perez, Portantino,  |     |                          |
          |     |Silva, Torres, Torrico,    |     |                          |
          |     |Tran                       |     |                          |
          |     |                           |     |                          |
          |-----+---------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |     |                           |     |                          |
           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
           APPROPRIATIONS      17-0                                        
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |     |                          |
          |     |Bradford, Charles         |     |                          |
          |     |Calderon, Coto, Davis, De |     |                          |
          |     |Leon, Hall, Harkey,       |     |                          |
          |     |Miller, Nielsen, Norby,   |     |                          |
          |     |Skinner, Solorio,         |     |                          |
          |     |Torlakson, Torrico        |     |                          |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |     |                          |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY  :  Allows the State Fire Marshal (SFM) to designate a  
          Campus Fire Marshal for the inspecting and enforcing fire and  
          life safety standards on University of California (UC) Campuses.  
           Specifically,  this bill  :  

          1)Authorizes the SFM to enforce the building standards and other  
            regulations of the SFM on all UC campuses and properties  
            administered or occupied by the UC.









                                                                  AB 2021
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          2)Authorizes the SFM to delegate that authority to the person of  
            his or her choice for each university campus or property who  
            would be known as the Designated Campus Fire Marshal.

          3)Requires any Designated Campus Fire Marshal to enforce those  
            regulations and building standards relating to fire and panic  
            safety.

          4)Replaces obsolete references to the California Building  
            Standards Code that contain references to the "public safety"  
            and "public works" titles of the California Code of  
            Regulations.

          5)Extends the authority to make written requests and perform  
            inspections to a Designated Campus Fire Marshal.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Requires the SFM, the chief fire official of any city, county,  
            or fire protection district and their authorized  
            representatives to enforce regulations and building standards  
            relating to fire and panic safety published in the California  
            Building Standards Code in all state-owned buildings,  
            state-occupied buildings, and state institutions throughout  
            the state.

          2)Establishes the California Building Standards Code under Title  
            24 of the California Code of Regulations.

          3)Establishes the building design and construction standards for  
            the SFM under Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations.

          4)Authorizes the SFM to authorize the chief fire official of any  
            city, county, or fire protection district and his or her  
            authorized representatives, in their geographical area of  
            responsibility, to make fire prevention inspections of  
            state-owned or state-occupied buildings upon written request  
            of that chief fire official. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, there are no net costs associated with this  
          legislation.  Shifting responsibility from the SFM to a  
          designated campus fire marshal would result in an annual loss of  
          Fire and Life Safety reimbursement revenue for the SFM of  








                                                                  AB 2021
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          approximately $500,000.  Those fees, however would be paid by  
          the UC system; therefore this legislation would result in a  
          $500,000 savings for UC. 

           COMMENTS  :   The purpose of this bill puts into statute a 16-year  
          MOU between the UC system and the Office of the State Fire  
          Marshal (OSFM).  Codification of this MOU would give the OSFM  
          the authorization to inspect and enforce fire and life safety  
          standards at UC facilities.  According to the bill's sponsor,  
          the UC currently is satisfied with their partnership with the  
          OSFM and this bill would make their agreement permanent and  
          statutory.  


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Rod Brewer / G. O. / (916) 319-2531 


                                                                FN: 0004262