BILL NUMBER: SB 1463 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 19, 2016 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 6, 2016 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Senator Moorlach ( Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Gatto ) ( Coauthor: Senator Hill ) FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to add Section 761.2 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to electrical lines. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1463, as amended, Moorlach. Electrical lines: mitigation of wildfire risks. The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission, authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature, and authorizes the Legislature, unlimited by the other provisions of the California Constitution, to confer additional authority and jurisdiction upon the commission that is cognate and germane to the regulation of public utilities. The Public Utilities Act provides the commission with broad authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law establishes standards that are applicable to any person, as defined, to run, place, erect, or maintain wires or cables used to conduct electricity and requires the commission to enforce theseprovisions.standards. Pursuant to its existing authority, the commission has adopted rules for the construction of electrical lines and the trimming of trees near electrical lines. Except as specified, existing law requires any person that owns, controls, operates, or maintains any electrical transmission or distribution line upon any mountainous, forest-covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered land to maintain a clearance in all directions between all vegetation and all conductors that are carrying electric current, as prescribed. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to prioritize areas in which communities are at high risk from the consequences of wildfires when determining areas in which it will require enhanced mitigation measures for wildfire hazards posed by overhead electrical lines and equipment. The bill would require the commission to develop a definition of "enhanced mitigation measures" for these purposes. The bill, as part of any findings supporting a decision to approve the boundaries for those areas, would require the commission to describe how the commission incorporated the concerns of local governments, fire departments, or both in determining those boundaries. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 761.2 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 761.2. (a) In determining areas in which to require enhanced mitigation measures for wildfire hazards posed by overhead electrical lines and equipment, the commission, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, shall prioritize areas in which communities are at high risk from the consequences of wildfires. The commission shall develop a definition of "enhanced mitigation measures" for purposes of this subdivision in Rulemaking 15-05-006 (Filed May 7, 2015), Order Instituting Rulemaking to Develop and Adopt Fire-Threat Maps and Fire-Safety Regulations, or in another appropriate proceeding. (b) Any findings supporting a decision to approve the boundaries for areas described in subdivision (a) shall describe how the commission incorporated the concerns of local governments, fire departments, or both in determining those boundaries.