Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, creates, within the office of the Governor, the Office of Emergency Services, which is responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services, as specified. Existing federal law establishes a program, known colloquially as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, to finance up to 75% of the cost of hazard mitigation measures determined to be cost effective and that substantially reduce the risk of, or increase resilience to, future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster, or any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under specified federal law. Existing federal law authorizes states to administer this program, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services, when reviewing funding proposals under the
federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, to collaborate with the Department of Insurance to assess the extent to which the proposed project would increase the availability of insurance policies covering damage from fire, as specified. The bill would require the office to publish the assessment for each project that receives grant funding on its internet website.
The Joint Exercise of Powers Act authorizes 2 or more public agencies, if authorized by their legislative or other governing bodies, to enter into an agreement to jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties, as provided. That act requires, among other things, that the agreement state the purpose of agreement or power to be exercised and provide for the method by which the purpose will be accomplished or the manner in which the power will be exercised.
Existing law, operative until July 1, 2025, requires the Office of Emergency
Services to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program to, among other things, encourage cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting to create fire-resistant homes, businesses, and public buildings. That law requires the joint powers authority to develop eligibility criteria for property owners, community organizations, and local governments that may receive financial assistance under the wildfire mitigation program.
This bill would require this joint powers authority, when reviewing projects or proposals, to assess the extent to which the project or proposal would increase the availability of insurance policies covering damage from fire, as specified. The bill would require the joint powers authority to publish the assessment for each project or proposal that receives grant funding on its internet website.