BILL NUMBER: SB 573	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 4, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lieu

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act  to amend Section 2416 of the Vehicle Code, 
relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 573, as amended, Lieu. Vehicles: emergency vehicles.
   Existing law authorizes the Commissioner of the California Highway
Patrol to issue authorized emergency vehicle permits for specified
vehicles, and then only upon a finding in each case that the vehicle
is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or law enforcement
or for the immediate preservation of life or property or for the
apprehension of law violators.
   This bill would  state the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation relating to emergency vehicle responses across
multiple jurisdictions   authorize the issuance of an
emergency vehicle permit to a vehicle owned and operated by a
hospital designated by the Los Angeles County Department of Health
Services as a  disaster resource center hospital, that is
used exclusively to transport mass-casualty decontamination apparatus
medical supplies, lifesaving equipment, or personnel to the scene of
an emergency, as specified  . 
   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to
the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 2416 of the   Vehicle
Code   is amended to read: 
   2416.  (a) The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol may
issue authorized emergency vehicle permits only for the following
vehicles, and then only upon a finding in each case that the vehicle
is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or law enforcement
or for the immediate preservation of life or property or for the
apprehension of law violators:
   (1) Any vehicle maintained in whole or in part by the state, a
county or a city and privately owned and operated by a marshal,
deputy marshal, or person who is a member of, and who receives salary
from, and is regularly employed by, a police department or sheriff's
department,  provided   if  the state,
county or city does not furnish to that person a publicly owned
authorized emergency vehicle.
   (2) Any vehicle owned and operated by a public utility, used
primarily to accomplish emergency repairs to utility facilities or
used primarily by railroad police officers, who are commissioned by
the Governor, in the performance of their duties.
   (3) Firefighting or rescue equipment designed and operated
exclusively as such.
   (4) Any vehicle operated by the chief, assistant chief, or one
other uniformed person designated by the chief of a fire department
organized as provided in the Health and Safety Code or the Government
Code or pursuant to special act of the Legislature.
   (5) Any vehicle of an air pollution control district used to
enforce provisions of law relating to air pollution from motor
vehicles.
   (6) Any vehicle operated by the chief of any fire department
established on any base of the armed forces of the United States.
   (7) Any vehicle owned and operated by any fire company organized
pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 14825) of the Health and
Safety Code.
   (8) Privately owned ambulances licensed pursuant to Chapter 2.5
(commencing with Section 2500).
   (9) Vehicles other than privately owned ambulances used by
privately owned ambulance operators exclusively to transport medical
supplies, lifesaving equipment, or personnel to the scene of an
emergency when a request for medical supplies, lifesaving equipment,
or personnel has been made by any person or public agency responsible
for providing emergency medical transportation. These vehicles shall
display a sign or lettering not less than two and one-half inches in
height, in a color providing a sharp contrast to its background, on
each side showing the name of the ambulance operator.
   (10) Any vehicle owned and operated by an office or department of
a city, county, or district  which   that 
is designated by an ordinance adopted by the governing body of that
local agency as a hazardous materials response team vehicle for
response to hazardous materials emergencies. 
   (11) Any vehicle owned and operated by a hospital designated by
the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services as a disaster
resource center hospital, that is used exclusively to transport
mass-casualty decontamination apparatus medical supplies, lifesaving
equipment, or personnel to the scene of an emergency, at the request
of a fire department or law enforcement agency, a hospital incident
management team, the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Service
Agency, or any other public agency responsible for providing local
emergency services. The hospital responsible for operating the
vehicle pursuant to this paragraph shall maintain insurance coverage
for the vehicle in accordance with the financial responsibility
provisions of Division 7 (commencing with Section 16000). 
   (b) The commissioner may adopt and enforce regulations to
implement this section.
   (c) Violation of any regulation adopted by the commissioner
pursuant to this section is a misdemeanor.
   SEC. 2.    The Legislature finds and declares that a
special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made
applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the
California Constitution because of the unique circumstances in the
County of Los Angeles relative to its disaster resource center
program, which is coordinated by the Los Angeles County Emergency
Medical Services Agency and funded through federal grants. 

  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation relating to emergency vehicle responses across
multiple jurisdictions.