BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 902|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 902
Author: Ashburn (R)
Amended: 3/11/10
Vote: 21
SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/7/10
AYES: Cox, Aanestad, Kehoe, DeSaulnier, Price
SUBJECT : Fire protection: county regulation
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill reduces, from 1 million to 400,000,
the population threshold that a county must meet to be able
to regulate the formation, continued existence, and ongoing
operations of fire companies.
ANALYSIS : Existing law authorizes boards of supervisors
in counties with populations above 1 million, by ordinance,
regulate the formation, continued existence, and ongoing
operation of fire companies in unincorporated areas.
Currently, the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange,
Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda,
Sacramento, and Contra Costa have populations of more than
1,000,000. Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Bernardino
counties have adopted these ordinances.
Background
In the beginning there were fire companies. Before the
CONTINUED
SB 902
Page
2
arrival of fire protection districts, which are public
agencies, residents of cities and unincorporated towns
organized unpaid fire companies. Volunteer fire companies
in unincorporated areas organize by annually filing a
certificate, containing specified information, with the
county's Fire and Rescue Operational Area Coordinator, or
with another county agency as designated by ordinance. A
county board of supervisors may require an updated or
second filing each year.
A court recently held Kern County liable for a workers'
compensation claim by a member of a volunteer fire company
which had registered with the County. Kern County
officials say that if they're liable for claims, then they
want to regulate volunteer fire companies' risk management
practices and their role in the County's emergency plans.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
by authorizing counties with populations of at least
400,000 to regulate volunteer fire companies, this bill
gives this regulatory power to 12 additional counties:
Fresno, Ventura, San Francisco, Kern, San Mateo, San
Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sonoma, Tulare, Santa Barbara,
Monterey, and Solano. It is only fair that if counties are
liable for volunteer fire companies' actions, they should
have a say in their operations.
AGB:mw 4/8/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
**** END ****