BILL NUMBER: AB 2311 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 520
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 17, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 15, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 16, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Brown
FEBRUARY 18, 2016
An act to amend the heading of Article 6.5 (commencing with
Section 8593) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of, and to add
Section 8593.3 to, the Government Code, relating to emergency
services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2311, Brown. Emergency services: access and functional needs in
emergencies.
Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within
the office of the Governor and under the supervision of the Director
of Emergency Services and makes the office responsible for the state'
s emergency and disaster response services for natural,
technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. Existing law
defines the terms "political subdivision" and "emergency plan" for
purposes of emergency services provided by local governments.
Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to work with
specified entities to improve communication with deaf and
hearing-impaired persons during emergencies.
This bill would require each county, including a city and county,
to integrate access and functional needs, as defined, into its
emergency plan, upon the next update to its emergency plan, as
specified. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill
would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The heading of Article 6.5 (commencing with Section
8593) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code is
amended to read:
Article 6.5. Accessibility to Emergency Information and
Services
SEC. 2. Section 8593.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:
8593.3. (a) A county, including a city and county, shall, upon
the next update to its emergency plan, integrate access and
functional needs into its emergency plan by addressing, at a minimum,
how the access and functional needs population is served by the
following:
(1) Emergency communications, including the integration of
interpreters, translators, and assistive technology.
(2) Emergency evacuation, including the identification of
transportation resources and resources that are compliant with the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101
et seq.) for individuals who are dependent on public transportation.
(3) Emergency sheltering, including ensuring that designated
shelters are compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) or can be made compliant
through modification and that showers and bathrooms are fully
accessible to all occupants.
(b) For purposes of this section, the "access and functional needs
population" consists of individuals who have developmental or
intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic conditions,
injuries, limited English proficiency or who are non-English
speaking, older adults, children, people living in institutionalized
settings, or those who are low income, homeless, or transportation
disadvantaged, including, but not limited to, those who are dependent
on public transit or those who are pregnant.
SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.