Existing law requires a person who, among other things, negligently or in violation of the law sets a fire, allows a fire to be set, or allows a fire to escape onto any public or private property to be liable for fire suppression costs incurred in fighting the fire and for rescue or emergency medical services. Existing law authorizes public agencies participating in the fire suppression, rescue, or emergency medical services to designate one or more agencies to bring an action to recover the costs incurred by all the participating agencies. Among other things, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is responsible for providing fire protection and prevention. Existing law provides that the General Fund consists of moneys received into the Treasury and not required by law to be credited to any other fund.

This bill would require any moneys recovered by the department in a civil action described above to be deposited by the department into the Treasury, as provided. The bill would require the department to make an annual report to the Legislature regarding any moneys recovered in a civil action. The bill would require all moneys in the account in the Special Deposit Fund entitled “Civil Cost Recovery Investigation Support Account” to be immediately be transferred to the General Fund.