BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2238
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 21, 2010

                   ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
                                   Joe Coto, Chair
                     AB 2238 (Coto) - As Amended:  March 25, 2010
           
          SUBJECT  :   California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council.

           SUMMARY  :   Codifies the duties and responsibilities of the  
          California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (CEPEC).  
          Specifically,  this bill  :  

          1)Establishes it as an advisory council within the California  
            Emergency Management Agency.

          2)Requires CEPEC, in conjunction with the State Geologist,  
            review earthquake and volcanic predictions and forecasts and  
            advises the Governor, accordingly.

          3)Reviews and considers the efficacy of the scientific or  
            engineering systems, technologies, and methodologies with  
            respect to earthquake prediction, earthquake early warning,  
            and risk reduction methodologies, and make recommendations to  
            the Governor based on that review.

          4)Clarifies that members of the advisory council shall not be  
            compensated for their service. 

          5)Recasts existing provisions regarding CEPEC and makes  
            technical changes.   

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)References the California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation  
            Council, as an advisory council, with specific roles and  
            immunities with regard to advising the Governor on the  
            prediction of earthquakes.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown.

           COMMENTS  :   Existing law references CEPEC pursuant to Government  
          Code 8590, however, this section references the Firefighting  
          Thermal Imaging Equipment Act of 2001.  This bill is intended to  
          update the duties, responsibilities, and immunities of CEPEC and  
          to formally recognize this advisory council which has served  








                                                                  AB 2238
                                                                  Page  2

          California and its governors for several decades.  

           Policy consideration  .  The committee and the author may wish to  
          consider amending this bill to clarify that CEPEC "shall review  
          and consider the efficacy of the scientific or engineering  
          systems, technologies, and methodologies with respect to  
          earthquake and volcanic prediction?" (Page 2, line 19).

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file

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