AB 1073, as amended, 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,begin delete in collaboration with the Public Utilities Commissionend deletebegin insert
on or before January 1, 2015end insert, 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 8585.6 is added to the Government Code,
2to read:
(a) The office shall develop,begin delete in collaboration with the begin insert on or before January 1, 2015end insert, a
4Public Utilities Commissionend delete
5universal insignia that may be displayed on badges worn by a
6properly qualified and certified utility worker or technician that
7shall enable the person to gain access to a location subject to a
8disaster or other emergency to provide vital utility services,
9including, but not limited to, shutting off water mains, gas mains,
10or electric power connections, and the suspension or restoration
11of utility services.
12(b) begin deleteEach private or public utility corporation end deletebegin insertThe office end insertshall be
13responsible for determining the qualification and certification
14process that would allow a utility worker or technician to display
15the insignia provided for in subdivision (a).
O
98