Today's Law As Amended


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AB-2232 Accessibility to emergency information and services: emergency shelters: persons with pets.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 8593.10 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8593.10.
 (a) For the purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:
(1) “Cooling center” means a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat.
(2) “Emergency shelter” means a temporary or provisional safe space that provides a basic shelter for people affected by disaster.
(3) “Pet” means a domesticated animal, such as a dog or cat, that is commonly kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.
(4) “Warming center” means a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme cold.
(b) (1) Upon the next update of a city or county’s emergency plan:
(A) A county shall update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
(B) A city that has previously adopted an emergency plan designating emergency shelters shall update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
(C) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency shelters, it shall designate at least one emergency shelter that can accommodate persons with pets.
(D) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency cooling centers, it shall, to the extent practicable, designate at least one cooling center that can accommodate persons with pets.
(E) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency warming centers, it shall, to the extent practicable, designate at least one heating warming  center that can accommodate persons with pets.
(2) An emergency shelter designated as able to accommodate persons with pets shall be in compliance with both of the following:
(A) Safety procedures regarding the sheltering of pets referenced or established in the component of the state and local emergency plan.
(B) Applicable disaster assistance policies and procedures of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(c) Whenever a city or county provides public information regarding the availability of a cooling center or warming center, that information shall include whether the cooling or warming center can accommodate pets.
(d) A city or county shall make available to the public by posting on its internet website information for pet emergency preparedness, including, but not limited to:
(1) Information for creating an evacuation plan and emergency checklist for pets consistent with recommendations publicly published by the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Local organizations that may provide emergency pet assistance.
(3) Local emergency shelters, cooling centers, or warming centers, when active, that can accommodate persons with pets.