BILL NUMBER: AB 1620	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 21, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 28, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Rodriguez

                        FEBRUARY 6, 2014

   An act to add Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state
government.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1620, Rodriguez. The California Emergency Management and
Disaster Preparedness Commission.
   Existing law requires the Governor and the Office of Emergency
Services to prepare for and mitigate the effects of emergencies in
the state and does not limit the Governor from formally recognizing
committees or boards established by or with segments of the private
sector, public agencies, or both, that control facilities, resources,
or the provision of services essential to the mitigation of the
effects of an emergency.
   This bill would establish in state government the California
Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission as a
statewide executive-level commission to assess and improve the
condition of the state's emergency preparedness, management, and
disaster recovery capabilities. This bill would require the
commission to review and make recommendations on emergency management
and disaster preparedness, including, but not limited to, the
availability of adequate equipment, fuel, food, water, and other
emergency supplies. This bill would require the membership of the
commission to include certain state officials or their designees,
representatives of certain local governmental entities, and the
President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly,
or their designees, as specified. This bill would also authorize the
Governor to appoint a representative of the American Red Cross to the
commission. This bill would make legislative findings in this
regard.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The state is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters,
public health pandemics, the effects of climate change, acts of
terrorism, and other potential dangers.
   (b) The state has important need to assess the status of
intergovernmental coordination of emergency planning, communication
protocols, disaster response, and crisis management.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) is added to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 15.  THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS COMMISSION


   8899.50.  (a) There is in state government the California
Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission as a
statewide executive-level commission to assess and improve the
condition of the state's emergency preparedness, management, and
disaster recovery capabilities.
   (b) For purposes of this chapter, "commission" shall mean the
California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission.

   8899.55.  The commission shall ensure all of the following:
   (a) Loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure and
property is minimized during a disaster.
   (b) Sufficiently trained personnel can be activated for emergency
response and recovery efforts.
   (c) The health and safety of hospital patients, skilled nursing
facility residents, the aged, blind, disabled, nonnative English
speakers, and other vulnerable populations are protected during an
emergency.
   (d) The public is provided with reliable and timely information
during an emergency or disaster.
   (e) Every locality has planned for, and is prepared for, a
disaster.
   (f) Emergency responses are effectively coordinated across all
levels of government.
   8899.60.  The commission shall review and make recommendations on
emergency management and disaster preparedness, including, but not
limited to, all of the following:
   (a) Vulnerabilities in the state's health care, energy,
transportation, communication, and other systems infrastructure.
   (b) The availability of adequate equipment, fuel, food, water, and
other emergency supplies.
   (c) The ability of first responders and other critical personnel
to communicate effectively with each other and have access to
adequate resources.
   8899.65.  (a) The commission shall be composed of the following
members:
   (1) The Governor, or his or her designee.
   (2) The Attorney General, or his or her designee.
   (3) One representative of a city government and one representative
of a county government, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the
pleasure of, the Governor, except that these members shall be from
different counties.
   (4) One representative of a city or county fire service and one
representative of a city or county law enforcement service, who shall
be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor, except
that these members shall be from different counties.
   (5) One representative of a local public health agency, who shall
be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
   (6) One representative who is an administrator of a local
emergency medical services agency that serves a population of less
than one million persons, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the
pleasure of, the Governor.
   (7) One representative who is an administrator of a local
emergency medical services agency that serves a population of greater
than one million persons, who shall be appointed by, and serve at
the pleasure of, the Governor.
   (8) The Director of Emergency Services, or his or her designee.
   (9) The Director of the Emergency Medical Services Authority, or
his or her designee.
   (10) The President of the Public Utilities Commission, or his or
her designee.
   (11) The Director of the State Department of Public Health, or his
or her designee.
   (12) The Director of Technology, or his or her designee.
   (b) The commission may include one representative of the American
Red Cross, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of,
the Governor.
   (c) The President pro Tempore of the Senate, or his or her
designee who is a Member of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
Assembly, or his or her designee who is a Member of the Assembly,
shall meet with and participate in the activities of the commission
to the extent that the participation is not incompatible with their
respective positions as Members of the Legislature.