BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 494
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Date of Hearing: August 19, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 494
(Hill) - As Amended May 13, 2015
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|Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|18 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill creates the California Earthquake Safety Fund to be
used for seismic safety and earthquake-related programs,
including the statewide earthquake early warning system. Funds
for the earthquake early warning system may include federal,
revenue bond, local, and private funds, and the new earthquake
fund will be authorized to accept funds only from those sources.
FISCAL EFFECT:
SB 494
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Negligible fiscal impact to the Office of Emergency Services
(OES), which oversees earthquake preparedness programs; minor
and absorbable costs to the State Treasurer to establish the new
fund. Any cost pressure to implement the earthquake early
warning system will not result in General Fund costs as current
law prohibits OES from using General Fund resources for the
program.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, existing law requires OES
to develop a comprehensive statewide earthquake early warning
system, but does not establish a fund for accepting grants or
contributions to implement the program. The author asserts
the California Earthquake Safety Fund will help OES implement
safety and earthquake-related programs.
2)Seconds Before The Big One. Technology exists that can detect
moderate and large earthquakes in time to send a warning
signal prior to the arrival of destructive seismic waves.
Depending on a particular location's distance from the
epicenter, the advanced warning could range from a few seconds
to a minute, allowing certain critical systems such as power
stations, transport, and hospitals to cease or modify
activities to minimize damage. It could also allow OES to
notify affected people directly via mobile text, TV, radio,
and the internet.
The best-known earthquake early warning system operates in
Japan, which has over 1,000 sensors and a centralized
processing center that analyzes sensor data and distributes
warning information. During the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and
tsunami, the system provided approximately 80 seconds of
advanced warning to residents of Tokyo and is credited with
significantly reducing damage and loss of life.
SB 494
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3)Modest Ambitions. SB 135 (Padilla, Statutes of 2013) required
OES to develop an earthquake early warning system in
California, though it required OES to fund the program from
sources other than the General Fund. As the state
increasingly looks to reprioritize long-term capital projects,
the Legislature may wish to consider whether earthquake early
warning ought to receive greater focus and resources.
Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916)
319-2081