BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 361
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE
Anthony Rendon, Chair
AB 361
(Achadjian) - As Amended March 26, 2015
SUBJECT: California Emergency Services Act: nuclear
powerplants
SUMMARY: This bill extends the sunset date of the Nuclear
Planning Assessment Special Account from July 1, 2019 to July 1,
2024, to continue funding emergency planning programs for the
Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Authorizes local government entities to create disaster
councils and develop disaster plans, and prescribes funding
methods for state and local costs for carrying out these
activities. (Government Code Section 8550)
2)Requires local governments to develop and maintain
radiological emergency preparedness and response plans to
safeguard the public in the emergency planning zone around a
nuclear power plant. (Health and Safety Code Section 114660)
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3)Generally makes the Office of Emergency Services responsible
for the coordination and integration of all emergency planning
programs and response plans. (Health and Safety Code Chapter
4)
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS:
1)Need for the bill : Pacific Gas & Electric pays into the
Nuclear Planning Assessment Special Account under the Office
of Emergency Planning. They are currently scheduled to stop
paying into the account on July 1, 2019, which is before their
current license expires in July, 2024. Therefore, the nuclear
power plant could still be in operation without having to
contribute to the costs of emergency planning should an
emergency occur. AB 316 addresses that disparity by extending
the sunset date of the Nuclear Planning Assessment Special
Account, and confirms that emergency programs are funded to
match the duration of the nuclear power plant's license.
2)Suggested Amendments: The author may wish to consider the
following clarifying amendments:
On page 3, in line 11, after "(c)" insert:
(1)
Amend subsection (c), insert:
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(2) Of the annual amount of two million forty-seven thousand
dollars ($2,047,000) for the 2009-10 fiscal year, the sum of
one million ninety-four thousand dollars ($1,094,000) shall be
for support of the office for activities pursuant to this
section and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 114650) of Part
9 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, and the sum
of nine hundred fifty-three thousand dollars ($953,000) shall
be for support of the State Department of Public Health for
activities pursuant to this section and Chapter 4 (commencing
with Section 114650) of Part 9 of Division 104 of the Health
and Safety Code.
Amend subsection (h) to read:
This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2024 2025 ,
and, as of January 1 , 2025 2026 , is repealed.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility of Los Angeles
Sierra Club
AB 361
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Allegra Roth / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083