BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 135
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Date of Hearing: August 21, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 135 (Padilla) - As Amended: August 14, 2013
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 15 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES), in
collaboration with various entities, to develop a comprehensive
statewide earthquake early warning system in California. In
addition, the provisions of this bill will be repealed by
January 1, 2016, unless OES can identify funding for the system.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)The development of an early warning system could cost up to
$100 million over approximately five years.
2)On-going workload costs to maintain and oversee the system are
unknown but could exceed $250,000 per year.
3)This bill requires OES to identify funding for the system, but
does not prohibit the use of GF or any other fund source.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, while earthquakes cannot be
predicted or prevented, using advanced science and technology
can provide an advanced warning and perhaps save lives and
mitigate damage.
The objective of earthquake early warning is to rapidly detect
the initiation of an earthquake, estimate the level of ground
shaking to be expected, and issue a warning before significant
ground shaking begins. The warnings allow people to take
cover, pull to the side of the road or exit a building.
SB 135
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2)Earthquake Early Warning Systems . Early warning system can be
used in a variety of ways. For example, with sufficient
warning, trains can be slowed or stopped, airplanes can avoid
taking off or landing, bridges can be closed, and businesses
and industries can stop production lines and move employees to
safe areas. Depending on the epicenter of the earthquake,
warnings would likely be about 30 to 45 seconds.
The California Geological Survey (CGS), within the Department
of Conservation, currently operates more than 5,000 seismic
instruments that monitor ground movement around the state
through the Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP).
This is the largest portion of the broader California
Integrated Seismic Network (CISN), which is comprised of 1,900
monitoring sites operated in partnership with the U.S.
Geological Survey, Caltech, and the UC Berkeley Seismological
Lab. Information from these instruments is used for research
and planning purposes, and to produce "Shakemaps," which
inform emergency responders where the worst shaking occurred
within minutes of an earthquake.
The U.S. Geological Survey is currently operating a small
warning system pilot program based on this instrumentation
network; a report on the program is due within the next year.
Additional federal grants have recently been awarded to
support the development of a local earthquake early warning
system for the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas.
3)Related Legislation . In 2009, AB 928 (Blakeslee) required the
High-Speed Rail Authority to develop an earthquake early
warning system and coordinate development of that system with
the Cal-EMA, the Department of Education, and the Public
Utilities Commission. The bill required the earthquake early
warning system to be designed to protect the lives of
high-speed train passengers and schoolchildren, and critical
infrastructure by providing advanced earthquake warning and by
enabling preventive measures seconds before an earthquake.
AB 928 died without a hearing in the Assembly Governmental
Organization Committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
SB 135
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