BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Bill No: AB
918
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 918 Author: Cooley
As Amended: May 1, 2013
Hearing Date: June 25, 2013
Consultant: Paul Donahue
SUBJECT
State Emergency Plan
DESCRIPTION
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 necessary actions to carry out the provisions of the
Plan.
4)Requires the Governor to coordinate the State Emergency
Plan and those programs necessary to mitigate the effects
AB 918 (Cooley) continued
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of an 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.
BACKGROUND
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 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.
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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.
Statements 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.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 2327 (Caballero), Chapter 361, Statutes of 2008.
Requires disaster-related services and assistance agencies
to strive to ensure that all victims receive the assistance
they need and for which they are eligible. It requires
public employees to assist evacuees and others in securing
disaster-related assistance and services without eliciting
any information or document that is not strictly necessary
to determine eligibility under state and federal laws.
AB 1421 (Levine), 2007-2008 Session. Required OES to
develop a requirement for specified local agencies to
develop a registry for each California county of elderly
and non-elderly disabled so that those people could be
notified and assisted in evacuations. (Held in Assembly
Appropriations)
SB 1451 (Kehoe), Chapter 600, Statutes of 2006. Requires
the Director of OES to appoint representatives of the
disabled community to serve on State Emergency Management
System committees, ensure committee recommendations include
the needs of people with disabilities, produce a report
containing recommendations for evacuating the disabled, and
work on producing informational materials.
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SUPPORT:
California Senior Legislature
OPPOSE:
None on file
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
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