BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1620
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 1620 (Rodriguez)
As Amended April 22, 2014
2/3 vote
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 13-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Hall, Campos, Chesbro, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Cooley, Dababneh, Gray, | |Bradford, |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, | | Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| |Medina, Perea, V. Manuel | |Pan, Quirk, |
| |P�rez, Salas | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Jones, Waldron, Wilk |Nays:|Bigelow, Donnelly, Jones, |
| | | |Linder, Wagner |
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ASSEMBLY: 55-23 (May 28, 2014) SENATE:
25-11 (August 21, 2014)
SUMMARY : Establishes in state government, the California
Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission
(Commission) as a statewide executive-level commission to assess
and improve the condition of the state's emergency preparedness,
management, and disaster recovery capabilities. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Specifies that 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,
AB 1620
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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.
2)Specifies that 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.
3)Specifies that the Commission shall be composed of the
Governor or his or her designee, specified Members of the
Legislature, members of the public and fire safety community,
and other designated members, as specified.
4)Makes various legislative findings.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, ongoing costs of about $260,000 per year to provide
staff support to the Commission and pay for costs associated
with public meetings by OES (General Fund).
COMMENTS :
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Purpose of the bill: According to the author, this bill will
create a mechanism by which to assess the status of
intergovernmental coordination on emergency planning,
communication protocols, disaster response, and crisis
management in the state.
California is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters,
pandemic flu, acts of terrorism, and other potential dangers.
There remains a constant need to assess the status of
intergovernmental coordination on emergency planning, disaster
response and crisis management. The Commission would also
review and make recommendations on various issues including the
role of the various federal, state, local, and private sector
entities in case of an emergency, any vulnerability in the
state's infrastructure, and the ability of first responders and
other critical personnel to communicate efficiently with each
other and have access to adequate resources.
The author further states that the California State Legislature
and people of California have very little information about
state preparedness, emergency plans, and response activities.
This bill will create a mechanism by which to assess the status
of intergovernmental coordination on emergency planning,
communication protocols, disaster response, and crisis
management in the state.
Background: Prior to 2012, the Legislature was part of the
California Emergency Council (CEC), which had been in existence
since World War II and had played a crucial role in the
development of emergency planning. Unfortunately the Governor's
Reorganization Plan No. 2 (GRP2) eliminated the CEC in an effort
to reduce state spending.
In addition, the GRP2 transformed the California Emergency
Management Agency from an agency-level organization into an
office within the Governor's Office and renamed it the Office of
Emergency Services. According to the author, this change has
dramatically decreased legislative and public oversight and
accountability.
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GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
This bill would establish the California Emergency
Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission to
evaluate and improve upon the state's emergency
preparedness, management, and disaster recovery
capabilities.
In 2012, I released the Governor's Reorganization Plan
No. 2, which transferred the responsibilities of the
California Emergency Management Agency to the
Governor's Office of Emergency Services and eliminated
the California Emergency Council to better streamline
governmental operations. This bill seeks to reinstate
that council as a new commission, which is contrary to
the goal of the Reorganization Plan, and would
duplicate systems and efforts already in place.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0005610