BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1197
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   January 19, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   AB 1197 (Hill) - As Amended:  January 11, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              
          JudiciaryVote:10-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to 
          establish a whistleblower protection program to protect public 
          utility employees, former employees, and third party contractors 
          and subcontractors from management retaliation for bringing 
          information to the commission or other public entities regarding 
          safety-related or other issues.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          The PUC would incur costs for developing and implementing the 
          comprehensive program, which would include reviewing the 
          reports/filings and investigation/enforcement.  Depending on the 
          level of activity in the program, and associated workload, 
          annual special fund costs could be in the range of $800,000 for 
          six personnel. �Public Utilities Reimbursement Account]

          �The just-released Governor's 2012-13 Budget proposes an 
          additional 56 positions for the PUC, a 5% staffing increase.]

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose . In response to the September 2010 gas pipeline 
          explosion in San Bruno, which killed eight people and destroyed 
          several dozen homes, the PUC undertook a reexamination of its 
          pipeline safety regulations.  Among the many possible rules 
          changes considered by a recent PUC memorandum is the issue of 
          whistleblower protection for public utility employees who wish 
          to disclose safety problems without fear of retaliation.  The 
          commission is in support of this bill.









                                                                  AB 1197
                                                                  Page  2

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081