BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1346
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Date of Hearing: April 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Adam Gray, Chair
AB 1346
(Gray) - As Introduced February 27, 2015
SUBJECT: State Emergency Plan
SUMMARY: Would require the Office of Emergency Services (Cal
OES) to update the State Emergency Plan (SEP) on or before
January 1, 2017, and every 5 years thereafter.
EXISTING LAW:
1) Establishes the Cal OES by the Governor's Reorganization
Plan No. 2, operative July 1, 2013.
2) Requires Cal OES to perform a variety of duties with respect
to specified emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response
activities in the state, including emergency medical services.
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3) Specifies that the SEP shall be in effect in each political
subdivision of the state, and the governing body of each
political subdivision shall take such action as may be necessary
to carry out the provisions thereof.
4) Requires the Governor to coordinate SEP and those programs
necessary to mitigate the effects of an emergency.
5) Requires the Governor to coordinate the preparation of plans
and programs for the mitigation of the effects of an emergency
by the political subdivisions of the State of California, such
plans and programs to be integrated into and coordinated with
SEP and the plans and programs of the federal government and of
other states to the fullest possible extent.
6) Specifies that the Governor may, in accordance with SEP,
authorize programs for the mitigation of the effects of an
emergency, as specified.
7) Requires Cal OES to update SEP, on or before January 1,
2015, to include proposed best practices for local governments
and nongovernmental entities to use to mobilize and evacuate
people with disabilities and others with access and functional
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needs, during an emergency or natural disaster.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS:
Purpose of the bill : According to the author's office, this
bill will help to ensure that SEP reflects recent advances in
emergency management capabilities and changes in the Emergency
Services Act (Act). The overall plan has not been updated since
2009; specific provisions of SEP were scheduled to be updated in
2014. An updated SEP can take into consideration developments
in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.
In addition, revision of this plan will reflect changes in the
structure and function of California governmental agencies. This
includes changes in roles, responsibilities, and the addition of
new departments. Revisions to SEP would also reflect federal
government agency roles, which have changed and/or been
modified.
The author's office states, California has long been a leader in
preparing for emergencies and disasters, both natural and
human-caused. An updated SEP will further provide a framework
for the best possible management of emergencies and assistance
to all Californians when disaster strikes.
Background:
Disaster Acts in California : The California Disaster Act was
enacted by the State Legislature in 1945. The Act combined
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responsibility for planning and preparing for emergencies,
whether natural, technological and human-caused into a single
state agency. The California Emergency Services Act was enacted
in 1970 to supersede the California Disaster Act. The new Act
established the Governor's Office Emergency Services with a
Director reporting to the Governor. The office was given
responsibility to coordinate statewide emergency preparedness,
post emergency recovery and mitigation efforts, and the
development, review, approval, and integration of emergency
plans.
State Emergency Plan : On June 23, 2009, Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger promulgated the 2009 edition of the State of
California Emergency Plan. The plan, in accordance with the
California Emergency Services Act addresses the state's response
to extraordinary emergency situations associated with natural
disasters or human-caused emergencies. SEP is a management
document intended to be read and understood before an emergency
occurs. In accordance with the Act, the plan describes the
methods for carrying out emergency operations, the process for
rendering mutual aid, the emergency services of governmental
agencies, how resources are mobilized, how the public will be
informed and the process to ensure continuity of government
during an emergency or disaster.
It is designed to outline the activities of all California
jurisdictions within a statewide emergency management system and
it embraces the capabilities and resources in the broader
emergency management community that includes individuals,
businesses, non-governmental organizations, tribal governments,
other states, federal government and international assistance.
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Prior legislation : AB 918 (Cooley), Chapter 187, Statutes of
2013. Required Cal OES, on or before July 31, 2015, to update
SEP to include proposed best practices for local governments and
nongovernmental entities to use to mobilize and evacuate people
with disabilities and others with access and functional needs
during an emergency or natural disaster.
AB 2327 (Caballero), Chapter 361, Statutes of 2008. Required
disaster-related services and assistance agencies to strive to
ensure that all victims receive the assistance they need and for
which they are eligible. It requires public employees to assist
evacuees and others in securing disaster-related assistance and
services without eliciting any information or document that is
not strictly necessary to determine eligibility under state and
federal laws.
AB 1421 (Levine), 2007-2008 Session. Required OES to develop a
requirement for specified local agencies to develop a registry
for each California County of elderly and non-elderly disabled
so that those people could be notified and assisted in
evacuations. (Held in Assembly Appropriations)
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SB 1451 (Kehoe), Chapter 600, Statutes of 2006. Required the
Director of OES to appoint representatives of the disabled
community to serve on State Emergency Management System
committees, ensure committee recommendations include the needs
of people with disabilities, produce a report containing
recommendations for evacuating the disabled, and work on
producing informational materials.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California State Firefighters' Association
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531
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