BILL NUMBER: SB 902	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 11, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Ashburn

                        JANUARY 26, 2010

   An act to amend Section 14831 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to fire protection.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 902, as amended, Ashburn. Fire protection: county regulation.
   Existing law authorizes the organization of fire companies by
filing a certificate with the county Fire and Rescue Operational Area
Coordinator, as specified. Existing law authorizes a county which
has a population of 1,000,000 or more to regulate the formation,
continued existence, and ongoing operations of fire companies, as
specified.
   This bill would  remove the requirement that a county have
a population of 1,000,000   reduce the population
requirement to 400,000  or more persons in order  for a
county  to regulate the formation, continued existence, and
ongoing operations of fire companies.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 14831 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   14831.  The board of supervisors of a county  that has a
population of 400,000 or more on or after January 1, 1985,  may,
by ordinance, regulate the formation and continued existence of fire
companies. The board of supervisors may authorize the formation of
any new fire company within the county where it determines that a
reasonable level of fire services does not already exist and where
the provision of supplemental or competing fire services by any other
entity would not result in the mismanagement of emergencies or in
confusion to those seeking aid.
   The board of supervisors may order that any fire companies formed
pursuant to this part may continue to exist upon making the
determination that the circumstances stated above exist. The board of
supervisors may, by ordinance, establish additional regulations and
criteria for the establishment and ongoing operation of fire
companies organized pursuant to this part.