BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    







           ----------------------------------------------------------- 
          |SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES        |       2009-2010 Regular |
          |                                 |Session                  |
           ----------------------------------------------------------- 
          SENATOR Darrell Steinberg , CHAIRMAN
          _____________________staff analysis
                                                     Fiscal:  No
          Hearing: 08/04/10
                                                     Urgency: No


          BILL NO:   AB 1679
          AUTHOR:    Torres
          AMENDED: 08/02/10


           SUBJECT  :  Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

           DIGEST  :  This bill would designate the second full week of  
          April of each year as California Public Safety  
          Telecommunicators Week for the purpose of heightening  
          citizen awareness of the great importance of 911 service  
          and its role in keeping the public safe.  The bill would  
          require the Governor and the Legislature to annually issue  
          proclamations and resolutions, as specified that draw  
          public attention to the week in order to encourage the  
          private sector and state and local agencies to initiate  
          activities recognizing public safety telecommunicators.

           EXISTING LAW  :  AB 515 (Chapter 1005, Statutes of 1972)  
          added Government Code Section 53100~ which required the  
          establishment of specified uniform emergency telephone  
          services by December 31, 1982.  
          It was considered to be a matter of statewide concern and  
          interest to all inhabitants and citizens of this state, to  
          develop a simplified means of procuring emergency services.  
           
          
          The purpose of the act was to establish the number "911" as  
          the primary emergency telephone number for use in this  
          state and to encourage units of local government and  
          combinations of such units to develop and improve emergency  
          communication procedures and facilities in such a manner as  
                                                              
          Continued




                                                               AB 1679
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          to be able to quickly respond to any person calling the  
          telephone number "911" seeking police, fire, medical,  
          rescue, and other emergency services.

           This bill  designates the second full week in April of each  
          year, commencing in 2011, as California Public Safety  
          Telecommunicators Week, to heighten citizen awareness of  
          the great importance of the 911 service and its role in  
          keeping the public safe.   This bill  requires the Governor  
          and the Legislature to annually issue proclamations and  
          resolutions that draw public attention to the week in order  
          to encourage the private sector and state and local  
          agencies to initiate activities recognizing public safety  
          telecommunicators.

           Background  :  Since 1994, the National Public Safety  
          Telecommunicator Week has dedicated the second full week of  
          April to the men and women who serve as public safety  
          telecommunicators. 

          ACR 37, Resolution Chapter 35, Statutes of 2009,  
          established the week beginning April 12, 2009, as  
          California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

           COMMENTS  :  Public safety telecommunicators are frequently  
          the first point of contact in California's public safety  
          system.  According to the author, "The women and men who  
          work in the nation's 911 system perform jobs that are  
          crucial to the safety of the public.  These are high  
          stress, high responsibility positions that require real  
          courage and grace under pressure.  These women and men are  
          fully deserving of our state's recognition and respect."

           SUPPORT  :  (Verified on August 3, 2010)

          Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
          Los Angeles Police Protective League
          Sandra Hutchens, Sheriff-Coroner, Orange County
          Riverside Sheriffs' Association

           OPPOSE  :  (Verified on August 3, 2010)

          None received.
                                                                       






                                                               AB 1679
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          SENATE RULES COMMITTEE:  Sandy Wood/651-4153
          
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