SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) According to the United States Geological Survey, California is one of the most seismically active states, second only to Alaska.
(2) California has experienced dozens of disastrous earthquakes, which have caused loss of life, injury, and economic loss. Some of the most significant earthquakes in California’s history include:
(A) The 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which, at a magnitude of 7.8, resulted in an estimated 3,000 deaths and over $500
million in property losses.
(B) The 1971 San Fernando earthquake, which, at a magnitude of 6.7, resulted in at least 65 deaths and caused property damage of over $500 million.
(C) The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which, at a magnitude of 6.9, caused 63 fatalities and over $6 billion in property damage.
(D) The 1994 Northridge earthquake, which, at a magnitude of 6.7, claimed the lives of 60 people and caused estimated property damage of between $13 and $32 billion.
(3) About 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and over 80
percent of the world’s largest earthquakes occur along the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. The Pacific Ring of Fire includes the very active San Andreas Fault Zone in California.
(4) The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF) released in 2008 predicted a 99.7 percent likelihood of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in California in the next 30 years.
(5) A 2013 study published by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology discovered that a statewide California earthquake involving both the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas may be possible.
(6) Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Turkey, Romania,
Italy, and China either have or are working on earthquake early warning systems that are capable of saving lives and helping to mitigate loss.
(7) The Office of Emergency Services, Caltech, California Geological Survey, University of California, United States Geological Survey, and others have been conducting earthquake early warning research and development in California. They operate the California Integrated Seismic Network, which has a demonstration earthquake early warning capability.
(8) By building upon the California Integrated Seismic Network and processing data from an array of sensors throughout the state, a fully developed earthquake early warning system would effectively detect some strength and progression of earthquakes and alert the public within seconds,
sometimes up to 60 seconds, before potentially damaging ground shaking is felt.
(9) An earthquake early warning system should disseminate earthquake information in support of public safety, emergency response, and loss mitigation.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the establishment of an earthquake early warning system pursuant to this act shall not result in any undue burden upon the General Fund and that, to the maximum extent possible, the Office of Emergency Services shall seek other sources for funding the implementation of Section 8587.8 of the Government Code.