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AB-1620 The California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission.(2013-2014)

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Enrolled  August 25, 2014
Passed  IN  Senate  August 21, 2014
Passed  IN  Assembly  May 28, 2014
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 22, 2014

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1620

Introduced by Assembly Member Rodriguez

February 06, 2014

An act to add Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1620, Rodriguez. The California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission.
Existing law requires the Governor and the Office of Emergency Services to prepare for and mitigate the effects of emergencies in the state and does not limit the Governor from formally recognizing committees or boards established by or with segments of the private sector, public agencies, or both, that control facilities, resources, or the provision of services essential to the mitigation of the effects of an emergency.
This bill would establish in state government the California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission as a statewide executive-level commission to assess and improve the condition of the state’s emergency preparedness, management, and disaster recovery capabilities. This bill would require the commission to review and make recommendations on emergency management and disaster preparedness, including, but not limited to, the availability of adequate equipment, fuel, food, water, and other emergency supplies. This bill would require the membership of the commission to include certain state officials or their designees, representatives of certain local governmental entities, and the President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly, or their designees, as specified. This bill would also authorize the Governor to appoint a representative of the American Red Cross to the commission. This bill would make legislative findings in this regard.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The state is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, public health pandemics, the effects of climate change, acts of terrorism, and other potential dangers.
(b) The state has important need to assess the status of intergovernmental coordination of emergency planning, communication protocols, disaster response, and crisis management.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  15. The California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission

8899.50.
 (a) There is in state government the California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission as a statewide executive-level commission to assess and improve the condition of the state’s emergency preparedness, management, and disaster recovery capabilities.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, “commission” shall mean the California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission.

8899.55.
 The commission shall ensure all of the following:
(a) Loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure and property is minimized during a disaster.
(b) Sufficiently trained personnel can be activated for emergency response and recovery efforts.
(c) The health and safety of hospital patients, skilled nursing facility residents, the aged, blind, disabled, nonnative English speakers, and other vulnerable populations are protected during an emergency.
(d) The public is provided with reliable and timely information during an emergency or disaster.
(e) Every locality has planned for, and is prepared for, a disaster.
(f) Emergency responses are effectively coordinated across all levels of government.

8899.60.
 The commission shall review and make recommendations on emergency management and disaster preparedness, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Vulnerabilities in the state’s health care, energy, transportation, communication, and other systems infrastructure.
(b) The availability of adequate equipment, fuel, food, water, and other emergency supplies.
(c) The ability of first responders and other critical personnel to communicate effectively with each other and have access to adequate resources.

8899.65.
 (a) The commission shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The Governor, or his or her designee.
(2) The Attorney General, or his or her designee.
(3) One representative of a city government and one representative of a county government, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor, except that these members shall be from different counties.
(4) One representative of a city or county fire service and one representative of a city or county law enforcement service, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor, except that these members shall be from different counties.
(5) One representative of a local public health agency, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(6) One representative who is an administrator of a local emergency medical services agency that serves a population of less than one million persons, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(7) One representative who is an administrator of a local emergency medical services agency that serves a population of greater than one million persons, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(8) The Director of Emergency Services, or his or her designee.
(9) The Director of the Emergency Medical Services Authority, or his or her designee.
(10) The President of the Public Utilities Commission, or his or her designee.
(11) The Director of the State Department of Public Health, or his or her designee.
(12) The Director of Technology, or his or her designee.
(b) The commission may include one representative of the American Red Cross, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(c) The President pro Tempore of the Senate, or his or her designee who is a Member of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly, or his or her designee who is a Member of the Assembly, shall meet with and participate in the activities of the commission to the extent that the participation is not incompatible with their respective positions as Members of the Legislature.