BILL NUMBER: AB 1073	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Torres

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Section 8585.6 to the Government Code, relating to
emergency services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1073, as introduced, Torres. Emergency services: utility
access.
   Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services, as
established by the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2, operative
July 1, 2013, to establish by rule and regulation various classes of
disaster service workers and the scope of the duties of each class.
Existing law requires the office to also adopt rules and regulations
prescribing the manner in which disaster service workers of each
class are to be registered. Existing law authorizes the office to
establish a statewide registry of private businesses and nonprofit
organizations that are interested in donating services, goods, labor,
equipment, resources, or dispensaries or other facilities for
disaster preparedness.
   This bill would require the office to develop, in collaboration
with the Public Utilities Commission, a universal insignia that may
be displayed on badges worn by a properly qualified and certified
utility worker or technician that would enable the person to gain
access to a location subject to a disaster or other emergency to
provide vital utility services, as specified.
   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.  Section 8585.6 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   8585.6.  (a) The office shall develop, in collaboration with the
Public Utilities Commission, a universal insignia that may be
displayed on badges worn by a properly qualified and certified
utility worker or technician that shall enable the person to gain
access to a location subject to a disaster or other emergency to
provide vital utility services, including, but not limited to,
shutting off water mains, gas mains, or electric power connections,
and the suspension or restoration of utility services.
   (b) Each private or public utility corporation shall be
responsible for determining the qualification and certification
process that would allow a utility worker or technician to display
the insignia provided for in subdivision (a).