BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 1620 (Rodriguez) - California Emergency Management and
Disaster Preparedness Commission.
Amended: April 22, 2014 Policy Vote: GO 7-3
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 11, 2104
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 1620 would establish the California Emergency
Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission and give the
Commission specified duties relating to disaster preparedness.
Fiscal Impact:
Ongoing costs of about $260,000 per year to provide staff
support to the Commission and pay for costs associated with
public meetings (General Fund).
Background: Under current law, the Office of Emergency Services
is responsible to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of
natural disasters. Under current law, the Governor is required
to coordinate the State Emergency Plan and programs related to
emergency services. The State Emergency Plan addresses the
planned responses to natural disasters and other emergencies by
state and local governments. The Office of Emergency Services
plans to complete an update of the California Emergency Plan
this year.
Under the Governor's Reorganization Plan Number 2 (2012) the
former California Emergency Management Agency was transformed
from a cabinet level agency into a part of the Governor's
Office. That reorganization plan also eliminated the California
Emergency Council. The former California Emergency Council had
similar membership and duties to those required by this bill.
Proposed Law: AB 1620 would establish the California Emergency
Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission and give the
Commission specified duties relating to disaster preparedness.
The bill would require the Commission to:
AB 1620 (Rodriguez)
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Ensure that loss of life and damage to property are
minimized in emergencies;
Ensure that sufficiently trained personnel can be activated
for emergencies;
Ensure that the health and safety of vulnerable populations
are protected;
Ensure that the public is provided with information;
Ensure that every local government has planned for a
disaster;
Ensure that emergency responses are coordinated across all
levels of government;
Review and make recommendations regarding vulnerabilities
to infrastructure, the availability of emergency supplies,
and the ability of emergency responders to communicate in an
emergency;
Specify the membership of the Commission to include
specified members of state government and representatives of
local governments and emergency response agencies.
Related Legislation:
AB 918 (Cooley, Statutes of 2013) requires the Office of
Emergency Services to update the California Emergency Plan
to include specified information.
AB 2200 (J. Perez) would create a California Cyber Security
Commission with specified duties. That bill will be heard in
this committee.