BILL NUMBER: AB 1620INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Rodriguez FEBRUARY 6, 2014 An act to add Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1620, as introduced, Rodriguez. The California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission. Existing law requires the Governor and the Office of Emergency Services to prepare for and mitigate the effects of emergencies in the state and does not limit the Governor from formally recognizing committees or boards established by or with segments of the private sector, public agencies, or both, that control facilities, resources, or the provision of services essential to the mitigation of the effects of an emergency. This bill would establish in state government the California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission as a statewide executive-level commission to assess and improve the condition of the state's emergency preparedness, management, and disaster recovery capabilities. This bill would require the commission to, among other things, review and make recommendations on the availability of adequate equipment, fuel, food, water, and other emergency supplies. This bill would make legislative findings in this regard. 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. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The state is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, public health pandemics, the effects of climate change, acts of terrorism, and other potential dangers. (b) The state has important need to assess the status of intergovernmental coordination on emergency planning, communication protocols, disaster response, and crisis management. SEC. 2. Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 15. THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMISSION 8899.50. (a) There is in state government the California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission as a statewide executive-level commission to assess and improve the condition of the state's emergency preparedness, management, and disaster recovery capabilities. (b) For purposes of this chapter, "commission" shall mean the California Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Commission. 8899.55. The commission shall ensure all of the following: (a) Loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure and property is minimized during a disaster. (b) Sufficiently trained personnel can be activated for emergency response and recovery efforts. (c) The health and safety of hospital patients, skilled nursing facility residents, the aged, blind, disabled, nonnative English speakers, and other vulnerable populations are protected during an emergency. (d) The public is provided with reliable and timely information during an emergency or disaster. (e) Every locality has planned for, and is prepared for, a disaster. (f) Emergency responses are effectively coordinated across all levels of government. 8899.60. The commission shall review and make recommendations on all of the following: (a) Vulnerabilities in the state's health care, energy, transportation, communication, and other systems infrastructure. (b) The availability of adequate equipment, fuel, food, water, and other emergency supplies. (c) The ability of first responders and other critical personnel to communicate effectively with each other and have access to adequate resources.