Bill Text: CA SB668 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Fire hydrants: water suppliers: regulations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-08-25 - Read third time and amended. [SB668 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB668-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  April 29, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 668

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Introduced by Senator Rubio

February 22, 2019

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An act to amend Section 8607.1 8607.2 of the Government Code, relating to fire suppression.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 668, as amended, Rubio. Fire hydrants: water suppliers: regulations.

Existing law requires a public water system with 10,000 or more service connections to undertake specified actions, including, among other things, to review and revise its disaster preparedness plan to ensure that it is sufficient to address possible disaster scenarios and, following a declared state of emergency, to furnish an assessment of its emergency response within 6 months thereafter and implement related recommendations in a timely manner. Existing law also requires the Office of Emergency Services to establish emergency response and recovery plans in coordination with public water systems.

This bill would instead impose these requirements upon an urban water supplier, as defined, in statute. The bill would require the Office of Emergency Services to establish emergency response and recovery plans in coordination with urban water suppliers. The bill would also require an urban water supplier to review and revise its disaster preparedness plan every 5 years. Because the bill would require local agencies to perform additional duties, the 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.

Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to establish a statewide uniform color coding of fire hydrants that relates to flow testing. Each agency that maintains fire hydrants is required to comply with these requirements as part of its ongoing maintenance program.

This bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board, by December 1, 2021, to develop and adopt regulations for reporting and inspections regarding public water suppliers. The bill would require that the regulations adopted by the board ensure water suppliers’ compliance with local standards for fire safety.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 8607.2 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8607.2.

 (a) All public water systems, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, with 10,000 or more service connections An urban water supplier shall review and revise their its disaster preparedness plans plan in conjunction with related agencies, including, but not limited to, local fire departments and the Office of Emergency Services to ensure that the plans are plan is sufficient to address possible disaster scenarios. These plans The plan should examine and review pumping station and distribution facility operations during an emergency, water pressure at both pumping stations and hydrants, and whether there is sufficient water reserve levels and alternative emergency power, including, but not limited to, onsite backup generators and portable generators. An urban water supplier shall review and revise its plans every five years.

(b) All public water systems, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, with 10,000 or more service connections In addition to the requirements of subdivision (a), an urban water supplier, following a declared state of emergency emergency, shall furnish an assessment of their its emergency response and make related recommendations to the Legislature within six months after each disaster, as well as implementing implement the recommendations in a timely manner.

(c) The Office of Emergency Services shall establish appropriate and insofar as practical, emergency response and recovery plans, including mutual aid plans, in coordination with public water systems, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, with 10,000 or more service connections. urban water suppliers.

(d) For purposes of this section, “urban water supplier” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 10617 of the Water Code.

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.

SECTION 1.Section 8607.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8607.1.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature that a statewide system for fire hydrants be adopted so that all firefighters can respond to emergencies calling for the use of water at any location in the state. Without this statewide standardized system, the lives of firefighters and those they serve would be put in serious jeopardy in a mutual aid fire response effort stretching across city and county boundaries.

(b)By January 1, 1994, the State Fire Marshal shall establish a statewide uniform color coding of fire hydrants. In determining the color coding of fire hydrants, the State Fire Marshal shall consider the national system of coding developed by the National Fire Protection Association as Standard 291 in Chapter 2 on Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants. The uniform color coding shall not preempt local agencies from adding additional markings.

(c)Compliance with the uniform color coding requirements of subdivision (b) shall be undertaken by each agency that currently maintains fire hydrants throughout the state as part of its ongoing maintenance program for its fire hydrants. Alternatively, an agency may comply with the uniform color coding requirements by installing one or more reflector buttons in a mid-street location directly adjacent to the fire hydrant in the appropriate color that would otherwise be required for the hydrant and a curb marking as near to the hydrant as practicable in that same color.

(d)By July 1, 1994, the State Fire Marshal shall develop and adopt regulations establishing statewide uniform fire hydrant coupling sizes. The regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall include provisions that permit the use of an adapter mounted on the hydrant as a means of achieving uniformity. In determining uniform fire hydrant coupling sizes, the State Fire Marshal shall consider any system developed by the National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Academy, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(e)By December 1, 1996, each local agency, city, county, city and county, or special district in order to be eligible for any funding of mutual aid fire response related costs under disaster assistance programs, shall comply with regulations adopted pursuant to this section. Compliance may be met if at least one coupling on the hydrant is of the uniform size.

(f)By December 1, 2021, the State Water Resources Control Board shall develop and adopt regulations for reporting and inspections regarding public water suppliers. The regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this section shall ensure water suppliers’ compliance with local standards for fire safety.

(g)Subdivision (d) shall not be applicable to the City and County of San Francisco due to the existing water system.