Bill Text: CA AB1565 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2022-09-15 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 321, Statutes of 2022. [AB1565 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB1565-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1565

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Introduced by Committee on Emergency Management

March 03, 2021

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An act to amend Sections 8592.2 and 8593.2 of the Government Code, relating to emergency services, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1565, as introduced, Committee on Emergency Management. California Emergency Services Act: Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services and sets forth its powers and duties relating to mitigating the effects of natural, manmade, or war-caused emergencies.

Existing law assigns the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee, comprised of 14 specified state entities, primary responsibility in state government to develop and implement a statewide integrated public safety communication system for state government agencies that facilitates interoperability and coordinates other shared uses of the public safety spectrum, as provided.

This bill would require the committee to post a current version of its Working Group Charter to the internet website of the Office of Emergency Services.

Existing law requires the office to investigate the feasibility of establishing a toll-free 800 telephone hotline, which would be accessible to the public, including deaf, hearing impaired, and non-English speaking persons, for use during nonemergency and emergency periods to respond to inquiries about emergency preparedness and disaster status.

This bill would authorize the office to investigate the feasibility of establishing more than one toll-free 800 telephone hotline. Starting no later than January 1, 2022, the bill would require the office to annually publish on its internet website a summary of the feasibility investigations it conducted and the extent to which toll-free telephone hotlines were established for federally declared disasters in California.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Digest Key

Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 8592.2 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8592.2.

 (a) The committee shall have primary responsibility in state government for both of the following:

(1) Developing and implementing a statewide integrated public safety communication system that facilitates interoperability among state public safety departments listed in subdivision (b) of Section 8592.1 and other first response agencies, as the committee deems appropriate.

(2) Coordinating other shared uses of the public safety spectrum consistent with decisions and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.

(b) In order to facilitate effective use of the public safety spectrum, the committee shall consult with any regional planning committee or other federal, state, or local entity with responsibility for developing, operating, or monitoring interoperability of the public safety spectrum.

(c) The committee shall meet at least twice a year, of which one meeting shall be a joint meeting with the California Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee to enhance coordination and cooperation at all organizational levels and a cohesive approach to communications interoperability.

(d) The committee shall post a current version of the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee Working Group Charter on the internet website of the Office of Emergency Services.

SEC. 2.

 Section 8593.2 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8593.2.

 (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall investigate the feasibility of establishing a toll-free 800 telephone hotline, hotline or hotlines, including TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) accessibility, which would be accessible to the public, including deaf, hard-of-hearing, and non-English-speaking persons, for use during nonemergency and emergency periods to respond to inquiries about emergency preparedness and disaster status.

(b) On an annual basis, starting no later than January 20, 2022, the Office of Emergency Services shall publish on its internet website a summary of the investigations it conducted pursuant to subdivision (a), and the extent to which toll-free telephone hotlines were established for federally declared disasters in California.

SEC. 3.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

In order to ensure all measures are being taken to preserve public health and safety and assist vulnerable populations impacted by the ongoing pandemic and threat of catastrophic wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and other hazards as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act go into effect immediately.