BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 494 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 19, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair SB 494 (Hill) - As Amended May 13, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|18 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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 Page 3 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