Bill Text: CA AB869 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Utilities: emergency response.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB869 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB869-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 869 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Medina
FEBRUARY 22, 2013
An act to add Sections 8610.7 and 8610.9 to the Government Code,
relating to utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 869, as introduced, Medina. Utilities: emergency response.
The California Emergency Services Act authorizes local governments
to create disaster councils by ordinance and requires the councils
to develop plans for meeting any condition constituting a local
emergency or state of emergency, including, but not limited to,
earthquakes, natural or manmade disasters specific to that
jurisdiction, or a state of war emergency.
The Public Utilities Act requires a gas corporation to develop a
plan for the safe and reliable operation of its commission-regulated
gas pipeline facility, as provided.
This bill would require the Public Utilities Commission, gas
corporations, and electric corporations, that provide gas or electric
service to more than 5,000 customers, to develop and publish plans
to respond to emergencies, including natural disasters, that have the
potential to disrupt natural gas or electric service and cause
damage, as provided.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 8610.7 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
8610.7. (a) The Public Utilities Commission and gas corporations
providing gas delivery to more than 5,000 customers shall develop and
publish plans to respond to emergencies, including natural
disasters, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, fires, and
floods, that have the potential to disrupt natural gas service and
cause damage, including leaks, fires, and explosions. The emergency
response plan shall be an element of the safety plan approved by the
commission pursuant to Section 961 of the Public Utilities Code.
(b) The plan shall specifically address service restoration
procedures as well as procedures to prevent or minimize damage from
service disruption, leaks, fires, and explosions associated with the
natural disaster.
(c) (1) The plan shall be consistent with emergency response plans
developed by the Office of Emergency Services and with any plan
developed by a local disaster council.
(2) The plan shall describe the capability of the gas corporation
to utilize its own employees for emergency response and any
procedures for utilizing personnel from other sources, including
assessing qualifications to assure that only qualified personnel are
utilized in emergency response.
SEC. 2. Section 8610.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:
8610.9. (a) The Public Utilities Commission and electric
corporations providing electric service to more than 5,000 customers
shall develop and publish plans to respond to emergencies, including
natural disasters, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, fires,
and floods, that have the potential to disrupt natural electric
service and cause damage. The plan shall reflect the ongoing
participation of electric corporation employees in plan development
and implementation.
(b) The plan shall specifically address service restoration
procedures as well as procedures to prevent or minimize damage from
service disruption, leaks, fires, and explosions associated with the
natural disaster.
(c) (1) The plan shall be consistent with emergency response plans
developed by the Office of Emergency Services and with any plan
developed by a local disaster council.
(2) The plan shall describe the capability of the electric
corporation to utilize its own employees for emergency response and
any procedures for utilizing personnel from other sources, including
assessing qualifications to assure that only qualified personnel are
utilized in emergency response.
