BILL ANALYSIS
Bill No: AB
472
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 472 Author: Blumenfield
As Introduced: February 24, 2009
Hearing Date: July 8, 2009
Consultant: Chris Lindstrom
SUBJECT
Disaster preparedness.
DESCRIPTION
AB 472 requires every state agency, beginning July 1, 2010,
to maintain on its homepage a link that will direct a user
to earthquake preparedness information for the home and
workplace. Specifically, the bill:
1)Requires any state entity that publishes an Internet Web
site to prominently display on its homepage the phrase
"Preparing for Disasters" that links a user to an
Internet Web site that provides all of the following:
a) Information regarding earthquake preparedness for
the home and workplace.
b) Guides and other publications regarding earthquake
preparedness for the home and workplace.
c) Links to other Internet resources for earthquake
preparedness for the home and workplace.
2)Requires the California Emergency Management Agency
(CalEMA), in consultation with the Seismic Safety
Commission (SSC), to create and maintain an Internet Web
site that a state entity can link to in order to access
the earthquake preparedness information described above.
3)Becomes operative on July 1, 2010.
AB 472 (Blumenfield) continued
Page 2
4)Makes various findings and declarations.
EXISTING LAW
Existing law provides that CalEMA is responsible for the
state's emergency and disaster response services for
natural, technological, or manmade disasters and
emergencies, including responsibility for activities
necessary to prevent, respond to, recover from, and
mitigate the effects of emergencies and disasters to people
and property.
Existing law provides that the Secretary of CalEMA shall
coordinate all state disaster response, emergency planning,
emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, disaster
mitigation, and homeland security activities.
Existing law provides that the Governor may assign to a
state agency any activity concerned with the mitigation of
the effects of an emergency of a nature related to the
existing powers and duties of such agency, and, it shall
thereupon become the duty of such agency to undertake and
carry out such activity on behalf of the state.
Existing law provides that each department, division,
bureau, board, commission, officer, and employee of this
state shall render all possible assistance to the Governor
and to the Secretary of CalEMA in carrying out the
requirements contained in the California Emergency Services
Act.
Existing law directs all state agencies, in rendering
disaster assistance, to cooperate to the fullest possible
extent with each other and with political subdivisions,
relief agencies, and the American National Red Cross.
Existing law states that many different agencies at various
levels of government have substantial responsibilities in
AB 472 (Blumenfield) continued
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the fields of earthquake preparedness and seismic safety.
Existing law states that there is a pressing need to
provide a consistent policy framework and a means for
coordinating on a continuing basis the earthquake-related
programs of agencies at all governmental levels and their
relationships with elements of the private sector involved
in practices important to seismic safety.
Existing law provides, through concerted efforts of broad
scope, coordinated by a seismic safety commission,
long-term progress should be made toward higher levels of
seismic safety.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of the bill. According to the author's office,
"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."
Background. California is vulnerable to a broad array of
natural and manmade disasters. The geography, population
and development patterns of California make it prone to
flooding, fires and earthquakes, among other emergencies.
State and local officials uniformly agree that more must be
done to engage the public on their roles and
responsibilities for emergency preparedness. Experts
recommend that public agencies educate the public on
strategies to improve their personal, household and
business preparedness. Prior disasters have demonstrated
that emergency responders may not be available to rescue
individuals and families for days or even weeks.
Additionally, all disasters are local. The first persons
to respond to the scene during disasters are the local
residents. Improved personal preparedness can reduce
demands on professional responders and save lives.
The California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA).
CalEMA is responsible for assuring the state's readiness to
AB 472 (Blumenfield) continued
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respond to and recover from the effects of natural and
manmade emergencies that threaten lives, property, and the
environment. CalEMA assists local governments and state
agencies in developing emergency preparedness, response,
recovery and mitigation plans, for terrorism, earthquakes,
floods, fires, hazardous materials incidents, and dam
breaks in accordance with the State Emergency Plan.
CalEMA's Earthquake Program. With offices in Northern and
Southern California, CalEMA's Earthquake Program provides
planning and technical assistance on various earth-related
areas of concern. Program staff members work with local
and regional governments, businesses, hospitals, schools,
human service agencies, neighborhood and community
organizations, and individuals to address, among other
things, preparedness planning, hazard mitigation, emergency
response, business resumption planning, post-earthquake
shelter and housing, and the complexities of disaster
recovery. Formed in 1993 by combining the Bay Area
Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project and the Southern
Earthquake Preparedness Project, the Earthquake Program
concentrates its efforts in the most seismically active
areas of California, but it is involved in earthquake
preparedness and damage reduction efforts across the state.
The Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission (SSC). The
SSC was created in 1975 upon enactment of legislation
authored by Senator Alfred E. Alquist following the
devastating Sylmar Earthquake of 1971. SSC was established
as an independent agency specifically charged to advise the
Governor, Legislature, state and local governments, and the
private and public sectors on ways to reduce and manage
earthquake risks.
Staff comments. (1) Title of the link / scope of the
information provided. AB 472 requires each state agency to
place a "Preparing for Disasters" link on its homepage that
directs the user to earthquake disaster information. As
such, the name is a bit of a misnomer. Perhaps, the author
may wish to consider modifying the title of the link to
make it earthquake specific or the scope of the information
provided through the link to encompass preparedness
information for all disasters and require CalEMA to work
with the appropriate agencies in developing the breadth of
information that will be included on the Web site.
AB 472 (Blumenfield) continued
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(2) Technical amendment. On page 2, line 19, replace
"quake" with "earthquake".
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
SB 1278 (Alquist), Chapter 532, Statutes of 2006 . Renames
the Seismic Safety Commission the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic
Safety Commission. Houses SSC within the State and
Consumer Services Agency. Makes various substantive and
technical changes relative to the composition, operations
and responsibilities of SSC.
AB 38 (Nava), Chapter 372, Statutes of 2008 . Consolidates
the Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the Office of
Homeland Security (OHS) into a new cabinet level California
Emergency Management Agency responsible for overseeing and
coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery,
and homeland security activities.
SUPPORT : As of July 8, 2009:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
Bob Beecher, Board of Directors, Business & Industry
Council on Emergency Planning
and Preparedness
California Board of Accountancy
Derek Ross, Vice Chair, Thousand Oaks Disaster Assistance
Response Team
Zoe-Anne Fitzhugh, RN
OPPOSE : None on file as of July 6, 2009
FISCAL COMMITTEE : Senate Appropriations Committee
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