BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 472
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 30, 2009

                   ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
                              Curren D. Price, Chairman
                AB 472 (Blumenfield) - As Amended:  February 24, 2009
           
          SUBJECT  :   Disaster Preparedness

           SUMMARY  :   This bill would require any state agency, department,  
          or commission that publishes an Internet Web site to prominently  
          display a link on the homepage on their Internet Web site the  
          phrase "Preparing for Disasters" that connects a user to the  
          Internet Web page created and maintained by the California  
          Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), in consultation with the  
          Seismic Safety Commission (Commission).   Specifically,  this  
          bill  :  

          1)Requires any state entity that publishes an Internet Web site  
            to prominently display on their homepage the phrase "Preparing  
            for Disasters" that links a user to the Internet Web page  
            [Government Code Section 8596.5 (a)].

          2)Cal EMA, in consultation with the Commission, shall create and  
            maintain an Internet Web page that a state entity can link to,  
            which contains:
             a)   Information regarding earthquake preparedness for the  
               home and workplace.
             b)   Guides and other publications regarding earthquake  
               preparedness for the home and workplace. 
             c)   Other Internet resources for earthquake preparedness for  
               the home and workplace [Government Code Section 8596.5  
               (b)].

          3)This section becomes effective on July 1, 2010 [Government  
            Code Section 8596.5 (c)].

          4)Makes legislative findings and declarations.

           EXISTING LAW  

             1)   Requires the Cal EMA to be responsible for the state's  
               emergency and disaster response services, and requires  
               state entities to cooperate with Cal EMA in carrying out  
               its duties [Government Code Section 8550].









                                                                  AB 472
                                                                  Page  2

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   The link for the proposed "Preparing for Disasters"  
          icon for the various web sites of related state agencies,  
          departments and commissions could serve as a useful tool for the  
          public on how to be ready for major natural disasters. 

          According to the author, this bill will help increase access and  
          exposure to information on earthquake preparedness and educate  
          the public on how to be ready in the event that a catastrophic  
          emergency occurs.  

           


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
          California Board of Accountancy
          Thousand Oaks Disaster Assistance Response Team
          (4 letters from the general public)

           Opposition 
           
          None on file
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Rod Brewer / G. O. / (916) 319-2531