BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1346


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          Date of Hearing:     January 21, 2016


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          AB  
          1346 (Gray) - As Introduced February 27, 2015


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          |Policy       |Governmental Organization      |Vote:|20 - 0       |
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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to  
          update the State Emergency Plan on or before January 1, 2017,  
          and every 5 years thereafter.


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Absorbable costs.


          COMMENTS:








                                                                    AB 1346


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          1)Purpose.  According to the author, AB 1346 will ensure the  
            State Emergency Plan reflects recent advances in emergency  
            management capabilities, including developments in mitigation,  
            preparedness, response, and recovery activities.  Revisions to  
            the plan will also reflect changes in the structure and  
            function of federal and state government agencies.


          2)State Emergency Plan Update Practice.  OES currently follows  
            the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Comprehensive  
            Preparedness Guide 101 for the State Emergency Plan, which  
            requires revisions every 3 years.  (OES completed formal  
            updates to the plan in 2009 and 2012, and expects to complete  
            the next formal update this year.)


            OES considers the State Emergency Plan to be a dynamic  
            document, and often makes less formal updates more frequently.  
             The plan may also be updated at the request of the Governor  
            at any time.  Given current practice at OES is to formally  
            update the plan more often than is required by this bill, it  
            does not expect to incur any changes in practice or additional  
            compliance costs.  The Committee may wish to consider whether  
            formalizing updates in statute is warranted given current OES  
            approach and practice.


          3)  Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies.   Although  
            California is leading the way on GHG emission reductions,  
            climate impacts on our natural environment are still  
            occurring. Many impacts, including increased fires, floods,  
            severe storms and heat waves, will only become more frequent  
            and dangerous.   


            To prepare for and adapt to the catastrophic effects of  
          climate change, the California Natural Resources Agency (NRA)  








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          published the Safeguarding California Report to identify the  
          state's vulnerabilities. Specifically, the report outlines  
          primary risks to residents, property, communities and natural  
          systems.  





            The California Adaptation Planning Guide, also published by  
          the NRA, provides a step-by-                                step  
          process for local and regional governments interested in climate  
          vulnerability                                                  
          assessment and adaptation strategies.  Additionally, Cal-Adapt,  
          a web-based climate                                          
          adaptation planning tool, identifies potential climate change  
          risks in specific areas throughout                          the  
          state. Users can either query by location, or click on an  
          interactive map to explore what                              
          climate impacts are projected to occur in their area of  
          interest.





            In light of the anticipated catastrophic effects of climate  
          change, the author may wish to                                 
          amend the bill to require OES to develop future State Emergency  
          Plans consistent with the                                      
          Safeguarding California Report, the California Adaptation  
          Planning Guide, and Cal-Adapt.





          4)  Technical Amendment.  This bill, if enacted, would take  
          effect January 1, 2017.   This is the same day the bill requires  








                                                                    AB 1346


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          OES to update the plan.  





            The author may wish to adjust this requirement in the bill to  
          reflect a future date.


          





          Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse/ APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081