09/27/2008 GAAS:668:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Strengthen California’s Emergency Response Capabilities
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger today signed a package of legislation that will strengthen the
state's ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. These include a
bill that merges the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Office
of Homeland Security (OHS) into a single, streamlined cabinet-level agency and legislation
that enhances emergency assistance to disaster victims and re-authorizes the
disaster response emergency operations account. The Governor also signed
legislation today to boost California's
wildfire prevention and firefighting capabilities, including measures that
update existing fuel management laws, promote healthier forests and make it
easier to access firefighting equipment and private donations.
"Here in
California we know all too well the kind of destruction that natural disasters
like floods, earthquakes and fires can cause, and this comprehensive package of
legislation will enhance the state's emergency response efforts so we are even
more prepared the next time disaster strikes," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "It's
equally important that when a disaster or emergency situation arises, we get
the resources and assistance to the victims as quickly as possible-and this
legislation will help make that happen."
As part of the
Governor's efforts to streamline the state's emergency response capabilities,
he signed AB
38 by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), which will combine
OES and OHS into a new cabinet-level California Emergency Management Agency
(Cal EMA). The bill gives the merged agency the responsibility of
overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and
homeland security activities in the state.
AB
2327 by Assemblymember Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) requires entities that
provide assistance during an emergency or disaster to strive to ensure that all
victims receive the assistance they need and for which they are eligible. Public
employees are required to assist evacuees and other individuals in securing
disaster-related assistance and services without asking for information or
documents that are not strictly necessary to determine eligibility under state
or federal laws. Non-profit organizations would be encouraged to comply with
the same guidelines.
SB
1227 by Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) re-authorizes the
Disaster Response Emergency Operations Account (DREOA), a special account that
funds state agencies for disaster response operation costs. The DREOA was set
to expire at the end of 2008, which would have effectively rendered the state
unable to fund responses to fires and other natural disasters. The bill
re-authorizes the account until January 1, 2014.
AB
2796 by Assemblymember Nava authorizes OES to establish a statewide
registry of private businesses and nonprofit organizations that are interested
in donating services, goods, labor, equipment, resources or other facilities in
times of emergency.
SB
1213 by Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego) eliminates the 15-day notification requirement for a licensee of a
mobile health care unit to report to the California Department of Public Health
(CDPH) and local authorities the location that it will be providing health care
services, prior to its first time arrival. Instead, allowing a mobile health
care unit to move to a new location and require notification to CDPH at least
24 hours prior to operation. This bill will also allow the notification
requirement to be waived in the event of an emergency, as defined.
"This year
California has already faced a destructive fire season with more than 2,000
fires burning about 1.2 million acres, underscoring the importance of legislation
signed today that will help us do even more to prevent these fires from starting
in the first place," Governor Schwarzenegger said.
In addition to
overall emergency response legislation, the Governor today signed the following
bills to improve wildfire fire prevention and firefighting capabilities:
SB
1595 by Senator Kehoe (D-San Diego) updates existing fuel management laws
by amending defensible space requirements that separate structures from
surrounding vegetation and other potential wildfire fuels. The purpose is to
reduce the amount of embers, which are often carried by strong winds up to one
mile ahead of the flames and rapidly spread wildfires. Controlling the number
of airborne embers can significantly reduce the risk of igniting nearby homes.
AB
2859 by Assemblymember Ted Gaines
(R-Roseville) expands the authority for the California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to thin green trees and other vegetation to
promote healthy forests in areas with disease or insect infestations and
facilitates and increases fuel treatment and clearance by exempting certain
treatment activities, such as removal of trees 16 inches in diameter at breast
height for fire or fuel breaks adjacent to communities, from the requirement of
a Timber Harvesting Plan.
AB
2742 by Assemblymember Warren Furutani (D-Gardena) will add leased or
rented firefighting equipment to the list of eligible equipment for which the
Department of Motor Vehicles may issue a restricted driver's license to a firefighter.
AB
3075 by the Committee on Governmental Organization requires OES to give
first priority for the sale of new or used firefighting apparatus and equipment
to a local agency that serves a rural area and to give second priority to any
local agency.
SB
1668 by Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) requires the State Fire
Marshal to prepare and adopt regulations establishing minimum requirements for
the protection of life and property against fire and panic, for a laboratory or
research and development facility that stores, handles or uses regulated
hazardous materials.
