Bill Text: CA AB2232 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Accessibility to emergency information and services: emergency shelters: persons with pets.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-06-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 14, Statutes of 2024. [AB2232 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB2232-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 2232
CHAPTER 14
An act to amend Section 8593.10 of the Government Code, relating to emergency services.
[
Approved by
Governor
June 14, 2024.
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 14, 2024.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2232, Maienschein.
Accessibility to emergency information and services: emergency shelters: persons with pets.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, provides that political subdivisions, as defined, have full power during a local emergency to provide mutual aid to any affected area in accordance with local ordinances, resolutions, emergency plans, or agreements. Existing law defines “emergency plan” for these purposes to mean official and approved documents that describe the principles and methods to be applied in carrying out emergency operations or rendering mutual aid during emergencies. Existing law requires that a county send a copy of its emergency plan to the Office of Emergency Services upon an update to the plan.
Existing law requires, upon the next update to a city or county’s emergency plan, whenever a city or county designates any number of
emergency warming centers, that it also, to the extent practicable, designate at least one heating center that can accommodate persons with pets. Existing law defines “warming center” to mean a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme cold.
This bill would specify that, upon the next update to a city or county’s emergency plan, whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency warming centers, that it also, to the extent practicable, designate at least one warming center that can accommodate persons with pets.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8593.10 of the Government Code is amended to read:8593.10.
(a) For the purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:(1) “Cooling center” means a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat.
(2) “Emergency shelter” means a temporary or provisional safe space that provides a basic shelter for people affected by disaster.
(3) “Pet” means a domesticated animal, such as a dog or cat, that is commonly kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.
(4) “Warming center” means a facility established to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme cold.
(b) (1) Upon the next update of a city or county’s emergency plan:
(A) A county shall update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
(B) A city that has previously adopted an emergency plan designating emergency shelters shall update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
(C) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency shelters, it shall designate at least one emergency shelter that can accommodate persons with pets.
(D) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency cooling centers, it shall, to the extent practicable, designate at least
one cooling center that can accommodate persons with pets.
(E) Whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency warming centers, it shall, to the extent practicable, designate at least one warming center that can accommodate persons with pets.
(2) An emergency shelter designated as able to accommodate persons with pets shall be in compliance with both of the following:
(A) Safety procedures regarding the sheltering of pets referenced or established in the component of the state and local emergency plan.
(B) Applicable disaster assistance policies and procedures of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(c) Whenever a city or county provides public information regarding the availability of a cooling center or warming center, that information shall include whether the
cooling or warming center can accommodate pets.
(d) A city or county shall make available to the public by posting on its internet website information for pet emergency preparedness, including, but not limited to:
(1) Information for creating an evacuation plan and emergency checklist for pets consistent with recommendations publicly published by the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Local organizations that may provide emergency pet assistance.
(3) Local emergency shelters, cooling centers, or warming centers, when active, that can accommodate persons with pets.
