BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 38
Author: Bonnie Lowenthal (D)
Amended: 5/31/11
Vote: 21
SENATE G. O. COMMITTEE : 11-0, 5/10/11
AYES: Wright, Anderson, Berryhill, Cannella, Corbett, De
Le�n, Evans, Hernandez, Padilla, Strickland, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Calderon, Yee
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 3/25/11
SUBJECT : The Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency
Management
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill continues in existence the 14-member
Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management (Joint
Committee) shall be in continuous existence until abolished
by the Legislature.
Senate Floor Amendments of 5/31/11 (1) continues the
existence of the Joint Committee until it is abolished by
the Legislature, (2) requires the Joint Committee to report
during each biennial session of the Legislature on their
progress and recommendations to address public safety and
essential emergency management services, and (3) make
various technical changes.
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ANALYSIS : Specifically, this resolution:
1.Provides that the Joint Committee be in continuous
existence until abolished by the Legislature.
2.Stipulates that the Joint Committee shall consist of 14
members, as specified, under the direction of a Chair and
Vice-Chair that shall alternate between the Senate and
Assembly from session to session.
3.Authorizes the Joint Committee to provide a forum for
discussion of the state's emergency management issues and
permits the Joint Committee to form technical advisory
committees to help evaluate federal/state/local
strategies, provide technical assistance, and play an
active role in supporting necessary legislation.
4.The Joint Legislative Committee shall, during each
biennial session of the Legislature, report to the
Governor and the Legislature on the Joint Committee's
progress and includes any recommendations relating to the
status of the services and policies that are necessary to
have in place to adequately address public safety and
essential emergency management services and policies.
5.Provides that the Joint Committee and its members shall
have and exercise all of the rights, duties, and powers
conferred upon investigating committees and their members
by the Joint Rules of the Assembly and Senate.
Prior/Related Legislation
SCR 21 (Kehoe), Resolution Chapter 36 of 2009, renamed the
Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and
Homeland Security to the Joint Legislative Committee on
Emergency Management and extended the sunset date on it
until November 30, 2010.
SCR 107 (Kehoe), Session of 2005-06, would have expanded
the membership of the Joint Legislative Committee on
Emergency Services and Homeland Security from 14 to 18
members. (Held at Assembly Desk)
ACR 161 (Nava), Resolution Chapter 152, Statutes of 2006,
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extended the sunset date of the Joint Legislative Committee
on Emergency Services and Homeland Security until November
30, 2008.
SCR 29 (Kehoe), Resolution Chapter 106, Statutes of
2005-06, extended the sunset date of the Joint Legislative
Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security until
November 30, 2006.
ACR 240 (Kehoe), Resolution Chapter 144, Statutes of
2003-04, created the Joint Legislative Committee on
Emergency Services and Homeland Security, with specified
membership of each House of the Legislature until November
30, 2004.
Background
In November 2003, Governor Gray Davis and Governor-elect
Arnold Schwarzenegger established a Blue Ribbon Fire
Commission (Commission) representing federal, state, and
local agencies, the firefighting community, and affected
communities for the purpose of conducting a review of the
efforts to fight the October 2003 fires and provide
recommendations on necessary improvements to prevent and
better respond to future fires.
The Commission, in its report to the Governor, made
numerous recommendations and prioritized their importance,
including the establishment of a permanent Joint
Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland
Security. The Joint Committee was first established by
resolution in August of 2004 (ACR 240 - Kehoe, Resolution
Chapter 144 of 2004). ACR 38 would continue the Joint
Committee until November 30, 2012.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/1/11)
California Professional Firefighters
Los Angeles County Sheriff, Leroy Baca
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
the Joint Committee has conducted numerous hearings of
great significance on the subject of emergency preparedness
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and homeland security. Additionally, the author's office
notes that the Joint Committee has been the legislative
point of contact for CalEMA (formerly the Governor's Office
of Emergency Services and Homeland Security), CalFIRE, the
Department of Public Health and others and has taken the
lead on keeping legislators up to date on emergency
preparedness and response issues.
The author's office contends that this resolution is
necessary and of immediate need because of the events
resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Furthermore, California is the site of some of the most
extraordinary natural disasters in North America, including
fires, earthquakes, floods, landslides, mudslides, insect
infestations and drought.
PQ:rm 6/1/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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