California Assembly Bill AB928 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 928AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Blakeslee FEBRUARY 26, 2009  An act to amend Section 8680.3 of the Government Code, relating to disaster assistance.   An act to add Section 32280.1 to the Education Code, relating to school safety.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 928, as amended, Blakeslee.  Disaster assistance.   School safety: earthquake early warning system.   Existing law states findings of the Legislature regarding the generally acknowledged fact that California will experience moderate to severe earthquakes in the foreseeable future and declares that increased efforts to reduce earthquake hazards should be encouraged and supported. Existing law requires each school district and county office of education to develop comprehensive school safety plans that include establishing an earthquake emergency procedure system in every public school building having an occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom. Existing law also requires the governing board of each private school to establish an earthquake emergency procedure system in every private school building under its jurisdiction having an occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom.   This bill would require the State Department of Education, in conjunction with other agencies, to develop and evaluate a plan for identifying the potential to reduce injuries and loss of life among pupils and school employees by establishing an earthquake early warning system.   Existing law, the California Disaster Assistance Act, defines the term "disaster" for its purposes as a fire, flood, storm, tidal wave, earthquake, terrorism, epidemic, or other similar public calamity that the Governor determines presents a threat to public safety.   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this provision.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 32280.1 is added to the   Education Code  , to read:   32280.1. The department, in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, the California Seismic Safety Commission, and other organizations the department deems necessary, shall develop and evaluate a plan for identifying the potential to reduce injuries and loss of life among pupils and school employees by establishing an earthquake early warning system.   SECTION 1.   Section 8680.3 of the Government Code is amended to read: 8680.3. "Disaster" is defined to mean a fire, flood, storm, tidal wave, earthquake, terrorism, epidemic, or other similar public calamity that the Governor determines presents a threat to public safety.