BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 1151 Hearing Date: 4/12/2016
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|Author: |Hall |
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|Version: |3/28/2016 Amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
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SUBJECT: Emergency services: feasibility study
DIGEST: This bill requires the California Office of Emergency
Services (OES) to conduct a study to determine the feasibility
of establishing a contract with the United States Postal Service
(USPS) to obtain the assistance of the USPS with emergency
response during a declared disaster, as specified.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes OES, within the office of the Governor, which is
responsible for the state's emergency and disaster response
services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and
emergencies.
2)Specifies that during a state of emergency the Governor shall,
to the extent he deems necessary, have complete authority over
all agencies of the state government and the right to exercise
within the area designated all police power vested in the
state by the Constitution and laws of the State of California.
This bill:
1)Requires OES to conduct a study to determine the feasibility
of establishing a contract with USPS to obtain the assistance
of the USPS with emergency response during a declared
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disaster.
2)Specifies that the study shall include, but is not limited to,
an examination of the use of USPS employees, resources, and
assets to provide the following:
a) An identification of residential or commercial
structures that have been damaged as a result of a declared
emergency.
b) An identification of persons who reside in an area
damaged by a declared emergency, and any emergency medical
or physical needs of those persons.
c) Assistance in assessing damage to neighborhoods or
schools as a result of a declared emergency.
d) Any other activity that OES deems necessary to assist in
responding to a declared disaster.
Background
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, "thousands of
California residents are affected by emergencies and natural
disasters every year. Whether it be mudslides, fires, floods,
earthquakes and even neighborhood wide gas leaks, our first
responders work together to use all available resources to aid
our state's citizens. While current protocol allows both
federal and state agencies to work together to provide needed
assistance in times of turmoil, there is still one agency that
could join in this effort, but has not been incorporated into
the system. That agency is the delivery personnel and network
of the USPS."
Utah Bill. A similar bill, SB 57 by State Senator Karen Mayne,
is currently being considered in the State of Utah. Similar to
this bill, SB 57 would require the Division of Emergency
Management to conduct a feasibility study regarding establishing
a contract with the USPS to help with emergency response
services during a declared disaster.
Cal OES. The California Office of Emergency Services is
responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency
preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security
activities within the state. In years past, Cal OES' primary
focus was exclusively on emergency management, but over the last
decade their mission has expanded to include responsibilities in
criminal justice, victim services, homeland security, and public
SB 1151 (Hall) Page 3 of ?
safety communications.
The Cal OES began as the State War Council in 1943. With an
increasing emphasis on emergency management, it officially
became Cal OES in 1970. In 2004, the California Legislature
merged Cal OES and the Governor's Office of Criminal Justice
Planning, which was responsible for providing state and federal
grant funds to local communities to prevent crime and help crime
victims.
In 2003, with the State increasing its focus on terrorism
prevention after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the
Governor's Office of Homeland Security (OHS) was established
through an Executive Order by Governor Gray Davis. In 2009, the
California Legislature merged the powers, purposes, and
responsibilities of the former Cal OES with those of the OHS
into the newly-created California Emergency Management Agency
(Cal EMA).
On July 1, 2014, Governor Brown's Reorganization Plan #2
eliminated the Cal EMA and restored it to the Governor's Office,
renaming it Cal OES. That same year, the Public Safety
Communications Office was merged into Cal OES.
Suggested Amendment. The bill does not specify when the bill
should be completed or whether OES should report the findings of
the completed study to any state agency. Therefore the author
may wish to amend the bill to specify that the study should be
completed and sent to the Legislature no later than January 1,
2018.
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 3087 (Governmental Organization Committee, 2004) would have
required OES, California Highway Patrol, the Governor's Office
of Home Security, and the California Department of Forestry to
conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of the State
Emergency Plan and the mutual aid system. (Vetoed by Governor
Schwarzenegger)
AB 2409 (Jackson, Chapter 855, Statutes of 2002) required the
Office of Emergency Services to study the ability of California
television and radio stations to notify the public of an
emergency 24 hours a day and report its findings and
recommendations to the Legislature by July 1, 2003.
SB 1151 (Hall) Page 4 of ?
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
California State Association of Letter Carriers (Sponsor)
California American Postal Workers Union
California Labor Federation
California Rural Letter Carriers' Association
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
National Association of Postal Supervisors
National Association of Postmasters of the United States
National League of Postmasters of the United States, California
Branch
National Postal Mail Handlers Union
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the National Association
of Postmasters of the United States, "this bill is consistent
with the policy that we have promoted before the United States
Senate and House of Representatives. In congressional hearings,
we have advocated for enhanced collaboration between post
offices and local governments, particularly during times of
crisis and natural disasters. The Postal Service provides a
stable and resilient communications platform. In addition,
postal employees are well-equipped to verify identities and
validate addresses in the wake of such events, and are a
familiar and trusted governmental agency."