BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 918
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 918 (Cooley)
As Amended May 1, 2013
Majority vote
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 16-1 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Hall, Nestande, Bigelow, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Chesbro, Cooley, Gray, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Hagman, | |Calderon, Campos, Eggman, |
| |Roger Hernández, | |Gomez, Hall, Ammiano, |
| |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| |Medina, Perea, | |Wagner, Weber |
| |V. Manuel Pérez, Salas, | | |
| |Torres, Waldron | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Jones | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES), on or
before July 31, 2015, to update the State Emergency Plan to
include proposed best practices for local governments and
nongovernmental entities to use to mobilize and evacuate people
with disabilities and others with access and functional needs
during an emergency or natural disaster.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the OES by the Governor's Reorganization Plan No.
2, operative July 1, 2013.
2)Requires OES to perform a variety of duties with respect to
specified emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response
activities in the state, including emergency medical services.
3)Specifies that the State Emergency Plan shall be in effect in
each political subdivision of the state, and the governing
body of each political subdivision shall take such action as
may be necessary to carry out the provisions thereof.
4)Requires the Governor to coordinate the State Emergency Plan
and those programs necessary to mitigate the effects of an
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emergency.
5)Requires the Governor to coordinate the preparation of plans
and programs for the mitigation of the effects of an emergency
by the political subdivisions of the State of California, such
plans and programs to be integrated into and coordinated with
the State Emergency Plan and the plans and programs of the
federal government and of other states to the fullest possible
extent.
6)Specifies that the Governor may, in accordance with the State
Emergency Plan and programs for the mitigation of the effects
of an emergency in this state, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, the costs associated with this bill should be minor
and absorbable within existing resources.
COMMENTS :
Purpose of the bill : According to the author many disabled
persons and seniors live alone or in circumstances that require
special planning because many are physically unable to help
themselves in the event of an emergency.
The California State Emergency Plan is coordinated through the
California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA). The Cal EMA
will become the OES, effective July 1, 2013. The plan was last
updated in 2009; it is scheduled to be updated in 2014.
Currently, little of the plan is dedicated to senior citizens
and functional needs persons.
This bill increases local preparedness in the event of an
emergency or natural disaster by directing the OES to include in
the State Emergency Plan best practice procedures regarding
emergency and evacuation procedures for senior citizens and
functional needs persons. These best practices may be used by
local governmental and nongovernmental entities in order to
prepare for an emergency or in the event of an emergency.
State Emergency Plan : The State of California Emergency Plan
addresses the state's response to extraordinary emergency
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situations associated with natural disasters or human-caused
emergencies. In accordance with the California Emergency
Services Act, the plan describes the methods for carrying out
emergency operations, the process for rendering mutual aid, the
emergency services of governmental agencies, how resources are
mobilized, how the public will be informed and the process to
ensure continuity of government during an emergency or disaster.
The plan is a management document intended to be read and
understood before an emergency occurs. It is designed to
outline the activities of all California jurisdictions within a
statewide emergency management system and it embraces the
capabilities and resources in the broader emergency management
community that includes individuals, businesses,
non-governmental organizations, tribal governments, other
states, federal government and international assistance.
Arguments in support : According to the sponsor, the California
Senior Legislature, this bill would direct OES to include, in
their updated State Emergency Plan, language related to best
practice procedures regarding emergency and evacuation
procedures for possible use by local governmental and
non-governmental entities specific to senior citizens and
functional needs persons. Supporters also claim this bill will
help to protect vulnerable groups during an emergency or
disaster.
Analysis Prepared by : Felipe Lopez / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0000531