BILL NUMBER: SB 1065	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alquist

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2012

   An act to add and repeal Section 8870.56 of the Government Code,
relating to emergency preparedness.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1065, as introduced, Alquist. Emergency preparedness:
earthquakes and fires: water supplies.
   Existing law creates within state government the Alfred E. Alquist
Seismic Safety Commission as an independent entity within the State
and Consumer Services Agency. Existing law requires the commission to
initiate a comprehensive program to prepare the state for responding
to major earthquakes and earthquake hazard mitigation.
   This bill would require the commission to formulate a task force
on postearthquake firefighting with regard to water supplies, as
specified. The bill would require the task force to recommend
statewide guidelines and an implementation plan on postearthquake
firefighting and water supplies, and report those findings to the
Governor and the Legislature by July 1, 2013.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
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) Fires following earthquakes are a significant problem in
California.
   (b) California, its people, and businesses are all highly exposed.
About nine and one-half million residential and one million
commercial property insurance policies were in effect in 2009, with a
total value of insured property of $4.7 trillion dollars.
   (c) Historically, every significant earthquake in California has
resulted in multiple simultaneous fires that have strained, and, at
least in 1906, overwhelmed, the fire service.
   (d) Studies show that a major earthquake in a metropolitan area of
California, such as the Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco Bay
area regions, will result in numerous ignitions and numerous water
distribution breaks.
   (e) Without water, firefighters may be able to save some lives,
but will be severely challenged in carrying out rescue, response, and
recovery missions.
   (f) Increased coordination between California's fire service and
water purveyor community is necessary to foster a level of
preparedness for fire following major earthquakes.
  SEC. 2.  Section 8870.56 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   8870.56.  (a) The commission shall initiate, with the assistance
and participation of other federal, state, and local government
agencies, a joint fire-water agency task force composed of key senior
urban California fire chiefs and managers of water purveyor
departments to develop postearthquake firefighting water target
goals. On or before July 1, 2013, the task force shall recommend
statewide guidelines and an implementation plan for postearthquake
firefighting water supplies, and shall report those findings to the
Governor and the Legislature pursuant to Section 9795.
   (b) In implementing this section, the commission shall consult
with the following agencies:
   (1) California Emergency Management Agency.
   (2) Public Utilities Commission.
   (3) Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
   (4) Department of Water Resources.
   (c) The commission may, at its discretion, invite stakeholders to
participate in the development of the statewide guidelines and
implementation plan described in subdivision (a), including
stakeholders in any of the following areas:
   (1) Emergency management and disaster response.
   (2) Utility service, infrastructure, and management.
   (3) Fire prevention, engineering, enforcement, and response.
   (4) Water storage, management, safety, reliability, and
ecosystems.
   (d) The commission shall operate within its current budget as it
initiates the task force and implements subdivision (a).
   (e) Any department or agency that participates in the task force
shall operate within its current budget.
   (f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends
that date.