Amended IN Assembly April 03, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 270Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-NorrisJanuary 21, 2025 An act to add Section 8586.10 to Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Government Public Resources Code, relating to emergency response. fire safety.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 270, as amended, Petrie-Norris. Office of Emergency Services: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: autonomous firefighting activities. pilot project.Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services in the office of the Governor, with specified powers and duties relative to coordinating emergency services. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program, as specified.Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to, among other things, provide fire prevention and firefighting implements and apparatus and organize fire crews and patrols, as provided.This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot program project to equip the state with the nations first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use. The bill would also require the department to invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in those familiarization and training activities. The bill would require the department to convene, within 60 days of completion of the pilot project, leading fire professionals in California to assess the performance of the pilot project and, if the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts. The bill would include related legislative findings.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(a) Over the past decade, unprecedented climate disasters have increased in size, severity, and scale, which present enormous challenges to fire agencies in California and the public they serve. These disasters have strained existing response capacity and caused unimaginable human suffering, economic damage, watershed impacts, and reversal in climate progress.(b) Autonomous firefighting Firefighting aircraft with autonomous aerial suppression technology have the potential to scale wildfire response capacity by significantly improving safety increase suppression capabilities through operational safety, firefighting effectiveness, and mission efficiency for both crewed and un-crewed missions, expanding the response window to include operations at night and in degraded conditions that are unsafe for human pilots, and reducing response time by enabling uncrewed aircraft to be prepositioned in remote areas. uncrewed missions.SEC. 2.Section 8586.10 is added to the Government Code, to read:8586.10.The Office of Emergency Services shall establish a pilot program to equip the State of California with the nation's first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.SEC. 2. Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, to read: Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following: (1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
Amended IN Assembly April 03, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 270Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-NorrisJanuary 21, 2025 An act to add Section 8586.10 to Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Government Public Resources Code, relating to emergency response. fire safety.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 270, as amended, Petrie-Norris. Office of Emergency Services: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: autonomous firefighting activities. pilot project.Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services in the office of the Governor, with specified powers and duties relative to coordinating emergency services. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program, as specified.Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to, among other things, provide fire prevention and firefighting implements and apparatus and organize fire crews and patrols, as provided.This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot program project to equip the state with the nations first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use. The bill would also require the department to invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in those familiarization and training activities. The bill would require the department to convene, within 60 days of completion of the pilot project, leading fire professionals in California to assess the performance of the pilot project and, if the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts. The bill would include related legislative findings.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly April 03, 2025
Amended IN Assembly April 03, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 270
Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-NorrisJanuary 21, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris
January 21, 2025
An act to add Section 8586.10 to Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Government Public Resources Code, relating to emergency response. fire safety.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 270, as amended, Petrie-Norris. Office of Emergency Services: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: autonomous firefighting activities. pilot project.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services in the office of the Governor, with specified powers and duties relative to coordinating emergency services. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program, as specified.Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to, among other things, provide fire prevention and firefighting implements and apparatus and organize fire crews and patrols, as provided.This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot program project to equip the state with the nations first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use. The bill would also require the department to invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in those familiarization and training activities. The bill would require the department to convene, within 60 days of completion of the pilot project, leading fire professionals in California to assess the performance of the pilot project and, if the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts. The bill would include related legislative findings.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services in the office of the Governor, with specified powers and duties relative to coordinating emergency services. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program, as specified.
Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to, among other things, provide fire prevention and firefighting implements and apparatus and organize fire crews and patrols, as provided.
This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot program project to equip the state with the nations first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use. The bill would also require the department to invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in those familiarization and training activities. The bill would require the department to convene, within 60 days of completion of the pilot project, leading fire professionals in California to assess the performance of the pilot project and, if the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts. The bill would include related legislative findings.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(a) Over the past decade, unprecedented climate disasters have increased in size, severity, and scale, which present enormous challenges to fire agencies in California and the public they serve. These disasters have strained existing response capacity and caused unimaginable human suffering, economic damage, watershed impacts, and reversal in climate progress.(b) Autonomous firefighting Firefighting aircraft with autonomous aerial suppression technology have the potential to scale wildfire response capacity by significantly improving safety increase suppression capabilities through operational safety, firefighting effectiveness, and mission efficiency for both crewed and un-crewed missions, expanding the response window to include operations at night and in degraded conditions that are unsafe for human pilots, and reducing response time by enabling uncrewed aircraft to be prepositioned in remote areas. uncrewed missions.SEC. 2.Section 8586.10 is added to the Government Code, to read:8586.10.The Office of Emergency Services shall establish a pilot program to equip the State of California with the nation's first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.SEC. 2. Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, to read: Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following: (1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(a) Over the past decade, unprecedented climate disasters have increased in size, severity, and scale, which present enormous challenges to fire agencies in California and the public they serve. These disasters have strained existing response capacity and caused unimaginable human suffering, economic damage, watershed impacts, and reversal in climate progress.(b) Autonomous firefighting Firefighting aircraft with autonomous aerial suppression technology have the potential to scale wildfire response capacity by significantly improving safety increase suppression capabilities through operational safety, firefighting effectiveness, and mission efficiency for both crewed and un-crewed missions, expanding the response window to include operations at night and in degraded conditions that are unsafe for human pilots, and reducing response time by enabling uncrewed aircraft to be prepositioned in remote areas. uncrewed missions.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(a) Over the past decade, unprecedented climate disasters have increased in size, severity, and scale, which present enormous challenges to fire agencies in California and the public they serve. These disasters have strained existing response capacity and caused unimaginable human suffering, economic damage, watershed impacts, and reversal in climate progress.(b) Autonomous firefighting Firefighting aircraft with autonomous aerial suppression technology have the potential to scale wildfire response capacity by significantly improving safety increase suppression capabilities through operational safety, firefighting effectiveness, and mission efficiency for both crewed and un-crewed missions, expanding the response window to include operations at night and in degraded conditions that are unsafe for human pilots, and reducing response time by enabling uncrewed aircraft to be prepositioned in remote areas. uncrewed missions.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(a) Over the past decade, unprecedented climate disasters have increased in size, severity, and scale, which present enormous challenges to fire agencies in California and the public they serve. These disasters have strained existing response capacity and caused unimaginable human suffering, economic damage, watershed impacts, and reversal in climate progress.
(b) Autonomous firefighting Firefighting aircraft with autonomous aerial suppression technology have the potential to scale wildfire response capacity by significantly improving safety increase suppression capabilities through operational safety, firefighting effectiveness, and mission efficiency for both crewed and un-crewed missions, expanding the response window to include operations at night and in degraded conditions that are unsafe for human pilots, and reducing response time by enabling uncrewed aircraft to be prepositioned in remote areas. uncrewed missions.
The Office of Emergency Services shall establish a pilot program to equip the State of California with the nation's first testbed autonomous firefighting helicopter and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.
SEC. 2. Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, to read: Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following: (1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
SEC. 2. Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 4149) is added to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
### SEC. 2.
Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following: (1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following: (1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project
Article 4.6. Autonomous Aerial Suppression Technology Pilot Project
4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following: (1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
4149. (a) The department shall establish a pilot project to equip the State of California with the nations first testbed firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft into operational use.
(b) The department shall invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies and personnel to participate in the familiarization and training activities of the pilot project.
(c) Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot project, the department shall convene leading fire professionals in California, including stakeholders from local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to do both of the following:
(1) Assess the performance of the pilot project.
(2) If the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.