Bill Text: CA AB944 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 944

Bill Title: Fire stations: alternative power generation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB944 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB944-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly April 25, 2023

Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 944

Introduced by Assembly Member Irwin

February 14, 2023

An act to add Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 13065) to Part 1 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 944, as amended, Irwin. Fire stations: alternative power generation.

Existing law designates areas over which the state has primary responsibility for preventing and suppressing fires. Existing law also authorizes the formation of fire protection districts for the purpose of providing local fire protection and other services relating to the protection of lives and property. Existing law requires a skilled nursing facility to have an alternative source of power, as defined, to protect resident health and safety, as defined, for no fewer than 96 hours during any type of power outage.

This bill would require a fire station to have an alternative source of power, as defined, to ensure continued operation for no fewer than 96 hours during any type of power outage. The bill would impose specific compliance requirements based on whether a fire station uses a generator as its alternative source of power, or batteries or a combination of batteries in tandem with a renewable electrical generation facility. The bill would require a fire station to comply with its requirements by January 1, 2026. By imposing new duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

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

SECTION 1.

Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 13065) is added to Part 1 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

CHAPTER 2.5. Fire Stations

13065.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is the public policy of this state to ensure that fire stations have an alternative source of power during power outages that may result from an emergency, a public safety power shutoff, a natural disaster, or other cause.

(b) (1) A fire station shall have an alternative source of power to ensure continued operations for no fewer than 96 hours during any type of power outage.

(2) For purposes of this section, “alternative source of power” means a source of electricity that is not received through an electric utility, but is generated or stored onsite, which may ~~include~~ include, but is not limited to to, emergency generators using fuel, large capacity batteries, and renewable electrical generation facilities.

(c) A fire station that uses a generator as its alternative source of power shall maintain sufficient fuel onsite to maintain generator operation for no less than 96 hours or make arrangements for fuel delivery for an emergency event. If fuel is to be delivered during an emergency event, the fire station shall ensure that fuel will be available with no delays.

(d) A fire station that uses batteries or a combination of batteries in tandem with a renewable electrical generation facility as its alternative source of power, shall have sufficient storage or generation capacity to maintain operation for no fewer than 96 hours. A fire station shall also make arrangements for delivery of a generator and fuel in the event power is not restored within 96 hours and the generation capacity of the renewable electrical generation facility is unable provide sufficient power to comply with this section.

(e) A fire station shall comply with the requirements of this section by January 1, 2026.

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.