Bill Text: CA AB2727 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Office of Emergency Services: Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2727 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB2727-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2727
| Introduced by Committee on Emergency Management (Assembly Members Rodriguez (Chair), Megan Dahle (Vice Chair), Arambula, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, and Waldron) |
February 14, 2024 |
An act to add Article 11.1 (commencing with Section 8619.20) to Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to emergency services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2727, as introduced, Committee on Emergency Management.
Office of Emergency Services: Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, creates the Office of Emergency Services (OES) in the office of the Governor. The OES is responsible for addressing natural, technological, or man-made disasters and emergencies, including responsibility for activities necessary to prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of emergencies and disasters to people and property.
This bill would establish the Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program within OES for the purpose of enhancing maritime firefighting capabilities of local fire departments. The bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require OES to conduct an all-risk maritime response capabilities assessment, as specified, and acquire and provide fire boats to local fire departments, as
specified, and would require the local fire departments to utilize the fire boats to enhance local, regional, and mutual aid response capabilities. By requiring local fire departments to utilize fire boats, as provided, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also establish the Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Fund for purposes of the program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 11.1 (commencing with Section 8619.20) is added to Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:Article 11.1. Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program
8619.20.
(a) The Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program is hereby established, to be administered by the office, for the purpose of enhancing maritime firefighting capabilities of local fire departments.(b) For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Disaster” has the same meaning as in Section 8680.3.
(2) “Office” means the Office of Emergency Services.
(3) “Program” means the Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program.
(4) “Fire boat” means a vessel designed
primarily for firefighting operations that may also be capable of water rescue and hazardous materials spill mitigation. A fire boat may also have the capability of pumping a large volume of water from a drafting operation.
8619.21.
Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the office shall do all of the following:(a) Conduct an all-risk maritime response capabilities assessment to identify local and regional gaps in maritime firefighting capabilities in responding to major vessel fires, fires following earthquakes, emergency medical services, or hazardous materials emergencies in ports, whether afloat or at a berth in dry dock.
(b) To mitigate preparedness gaps identified by the all-risk maritime response capabilities assessment conducted pursuant to subdivision (a), acquire and provide fire boats to local fire departments.
(c) Provide sustainment funding to local
fire departments for costs associated with fire boats provided under this article.
8619.22.
Upon receipt of a fire boat pursuant to Section 8619.21, a local fire department shall utilize the fire boat to enhance local, regional, and mutual aid response capabilities.8619.23.
(a) The Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury for purposes of this article. Moneys in the fund shall be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for use in accordance with this article.(b) The office may retain up to 3 percent of moneys in the fund for the purpose of administering this article.
