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AB-2538 State Warning Center: wildfire smoke notification.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 03/28/2022 09:00 PM
AB2538:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 28, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2538


Introduced by Assembly Member Robert Rivas

February 17, 2022


An act to add Section Sections 8586.9 and 8593.3.6 to the Government Code, relating to emergency services.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2538, as amended, Robert Rivas. State Warning Center: wildfire smoke notification.
Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to jointly establish and lead the Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center, comprised of representatives from specified state and other entities. Existing law requires the center to share intelligence and data relevant to wildfire threat, forecasting, detection, and prevention activities, as provided, in coordination with specified entities, including the California State Warning Center within the office.
This bill would require the office to expand to, upon the next update to its emergency plan, ensure its California State Warning Center to include integrates a plan for targeted alerts for public health dangers, including smoke from wildfires. The bill would require the office to create a state notification system that sends standard operating procedure to send text and voice messages, in multiple languages, to residents and farmworkers based on their ZIP Codes to alert them of public health dangers in their area.
This bill would also require a county to integrate targeted alerts for public health dangers into its emergency plan upon the next update to its emergency plan, as specified. The bill would require coordination between the office, county, other emergency system operations partners, and program management. By adding to the duties of county officials in developing and updating emergency plans, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NOYES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 8586.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:

8586.9.
 The office shall expand shall, upon the next update to its emergency plan, ensure its California State Warning Center to include integrates a plan for targeted alerts for public health dangers, including, without limitation, all both of the following:

(a)The creation of a state notification system, including the development of a backbone telemetry system, that sends text and voice messages, in multiple languages, to residents and farmworkers based on their ZIP Codes to alert them of public health dangers in their area, including, but not limited to, smoke from wildfires.

(a) The creation of a standard operating procedure to send text and voice messages, in multiple languages, to residents and farmworkers based on their ZIP Codes to alert them of public health dangers in their area, including, but not limited to, smoke from wildfires.
(b) Coordination with county, including a city and county, emergency managers, other emergency system operations partners, and program management.

(c)Maintenance of telemetry infrastructure.

SEC. 2.

 Section 8593.3.6 is added to the Government Code, to read:

8593.3.6.
 A county, including a city and county, shall, upon the next update to its emergency plan, integrate targeted alerts for public health dangers, including, without limitation, both of the following:
(a) The creation of a standard operating procedure to send text and voice messages, in multiple languages, to residents and farmworkers based on their ZIP Codes to alert them of public health dangers in their area, including, but not limited to, smoke from wildfires.
(b) Coordination with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, other emergency system operations partners, and program management.

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.