BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
1346 (Gray)
As Amended January 26, 2016
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Governmental |20-0 |Gray, Linder, | |
|Organization | |Achadjian, Alejo, | |
| | |Bigelow, Cooley, | |
| | |Cooper, Daly, | |
| | |Cristina Garcia, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gipson, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Roger Hernández, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |
| | |Mayes, Perea, Salas, | |
| | |Steinorth, Waldron, | |
| | |Wilk | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
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|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bloom, Bonilla, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Quirk, Wagner, | |
| | |Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to
update the State Emergency Plan (SEP) on or before January 1,
2018, and every five years thereafter. Specifically, this bill:
1)Provides OES shall update the State Emergency Plan on or
before January 1, 2018, and every five years thereafter.
2)Specifies to the extent applicable, OES shall ensure SEP is
consistent with the following state climate adaptation
strategies:
a) The Safeguarding California Report published by the
Natural Resources Agency;
b) The California Adaptation Planning Guide published by
the Natural Resources Agency;
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c) Cal-Adapt, the website published by the California
Energy Commission.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes OES by the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2,
operative July 1, 2013.
2)Requires OES to perform a variety of duties with respect to
specified emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response
activities in the state, including emergency medical services.
3)Specifies that 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,
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authorize programs for the mitigation of the effects of an
emergency, as specified.
7)Requires 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
needs, during an emergency or natural disaster.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, absorbable state costs.
COMMENTS:
Purpose of the bill: According to the author's office, this
bill will help to ensure the SEP reflects recent advances in
emergency management capabilities and changes in the Emergency
Services Act (Act). OES currently follows the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 for the
State Emergency Plan, which requires revisions every three
years. (OES completed formal updates to the plan in 2009 and
2012, and expects to complete the next formal update this year.)
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
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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
(Disaster Act) was enacted by the State Legislature in 1945.
The Disaster Act combined responsibility for planning and
preparing for emergencies, whether natural, technological and
human-caused into a single state agency. The Act was enacted in
1970 to supersede the Disaster Act. The new Act established the
Governor's OES with a Director reporting to the Governor. OES
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 SEP. The
plan, in accordance with the 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 SEP 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
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emergency management community that includes individuals,
businesses, non-governmental organizations, tribal governments,
other states, federal government and international assistance.
Prior legislation: AB 918 (Cooley), Chapter 187, Statutes of
2013. Required 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. Required 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), of the 2007-08 Regular 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 the Assembly Appropriations Committee)
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.
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Analysis Prepared by:
Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN:
0002587