BILL NUMBER: AB 706	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Torres

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act relating to public safety.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 706, as introduced, Torres. California Public Safety
Telecommunicators Week.
   The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act requires every local
public agency to establish and operate, or to be a part of, an
emergency telephone system using the digits "911," and creates the
State 911 Advisory Board to assist in facilitating the purpose of the
act to establish the number 911 as the primary emergency telephone
number statewide.
   This bill would designate the second full week of April of each
year, commencing in 2012, as California Public Safety
Telecommunicators Week for the purpose of heightening citizen
awareness of the great importance of 911 service and its role in
keeping the public safe. The bill would require the Governor and the
Legislature to annually issue proclamations and resolutions, as
specified, that draw public attention to the week in order to
encourage the private sector and state and local agencies to initiate
activities recognizing public safety telecommunicators.
   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.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Over one-half million dedicated men and women are engaged in
the operation of emergency response systems for federal, state, and
local governmental entities throughout the United States, including
an estimated 55,000 dedicated men and women in California.
   (b) These individuals are responsible for responding to the
telephone calls of the general public for police, fire, and emergency
medical assistance, and for dispatching this critical assistance
necessary to help save the lives and property of our citizens.
   (c) Public safety telecommunicators are the first point of contact
for most interactions between members of the public and the public
safety systems that keep Californians safe, and the public expects
and receives extraordinarily dedicated service from these
individuals.
   (d) America's public safety telecommunicators serve the public in
countless ways each day, often without recognition by the
beneficiaries of their services.
   (e) Congress has designated the second full week of April of each
year as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and it is
appropriate for California to conform to this practice.
  SEC. 2.  The second full week in April of each year, commencing in
2012, is hereby designated as California Public Safety
Telecommunicators Week. The purpose of California Public Safety
Telecommunicators Week shall be to heighten citizen awareness of the
great importance of 911 service and its role in keeping the public
safe. The Governor and the Legislature shall annually issue
proclamations and resolutions, respectively, as deemed appropriate,
that draw public attention to the week in order to encourage the
private sector and state and local agencies to initiate activities
recognizing public safety telecommunicators.