California Senate Bill SB295 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 295AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2015 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 2015 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 24, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Senator Jackson (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Williams) FEBRUARY 23, 2015 An act to add Section 51015.1 to the Government Code, relating to pipeline safety. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 295, as amended, Jackson. Pipeline safety: inspections. Under the Elder California Pipeline Safety Act of 1981, the State Fire Marshal exercises safety regulatory jurisdiction over intrastate pipelines used for the transportation of hazardous or highly volatile liquid substances. The act authorizes the State Fire Marshal to exercise safety regulatory jurisdiction over portions of interstate pipelines located within the state and subject to an agreement between the United States Secretary of Transportation and the State Fire Marshal. The act authorizes the State Fire Marshal to enter, inspect, and examine, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, the records and properties of any pipeline operators that are required to be inspected and examined to determine whether the pipeline operator is in compliance with the act. This bill would  require   require, commencing January 1, 2017,  the State Fire Marshal, or an officer or employee authorized by the State Fire Marshal, to annually inspect all intrastate pipelines and operators of intrastate pipelines under the jurisdiction of the State Fire  Marshal.   Marshal, and would require the State Fire Marshal to adopt regulations implementing this provision by that date.  The bill would  require   prohibit  the State Fire  Marshal, to the maximum extent possible, to become   Marshal from becoming  an inspection agent  by entering into an agreement with   for specified interstate pipelines unless all regulatory and enforcement authority over those pipelines is transferred to the State Fire Marshal from  the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety  Administration, as specified.   Administration. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to revise specified fees assessed to cover the costs associated with this measure. 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 51015.1 is added to the Government Code, to read: 51015.1. (a)  The   Commencing January 1, 2017, the  State Fire Marshal, or an officer or employee authorized by the State Fire Marshal, shall annually inspect all intrastate pipelines and operators of intrastate pipelines under the jurisdiction of the State Fire Marshal to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  By January 1, 2017, the State Fire Marshal shall adopt regulations implementing this subdivision.  (b) For portions of interstate pipelines that are not under the jurisdiction of the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51010.6, the State Fire Marshal  shall, to the maximum extent possible,   shall not  become an inspection agent  through entering into an interstate inspection agent agreement with   for those pipelines unless all regulatory and enforcement authority over those pipelines is transferred to the State Fire Marshal from  the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. (c) The State Fire Marshal shall revise the fee assessed pursuant to Section 51019 to a level sufficient to cover the costs associated with the implementation of this section.