Bill Text: CA AB928 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Earthquake early warning system.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-02 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB928 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AB928-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 928 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 27, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Blakeslee FEBRUARY 26, 2009An act to add Section 32280.1 to the Education Code, relating to school safety.An act to add Section 185039 to the Public Utilities Code, relati ng to earthquake safety. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 928, as amended, Blakeslee.School safety: earthquake early warning system.Earthquake early warning system. Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with various powers and duties relative to implementation of an intercity high-speed train system. Existing law creates the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission and the California Emergency Management Agency with various powers and duties relative to earthquake hazard mitigation and governmental responses to calamities, respectively. This bill would require the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop an earthquake early warning system and coordinate development of that system with the California Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Education, and the Public Utilities Commission. The bill would require the earthquake early warning system to be designed to protect the lives of high-speed train passengers and schoolchildren, and protect critical infrastructure in this state by providing advanced earthquake warning and by enabling preventive measures seconds before an earthquake.Existing law states findings of the Legislature regarding the generally acknowledged fact that California will experience moderate to severe earthquakes in the foreseeable future and declares that increased efforts to reduce earthquake hazards should be encouraged and supported. Existing law requires each school district and county office of education to develop comprehensive school safety plans that include establishing an earthquake emergency procedure system in every public school building having an occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom. Existing law also requires the governing board of each private school to establish an earthquake emergency procedure system in every private school building under its jurisdiction having an occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom.This bill would require the State Department of Education, in conjunction with other agencies, to develop and evaluate a plan for identifying the potential to reduce injuries and loss of life among pupils and school employees by establishing an earthquake early warning system.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 185039 is added to the Public Utilities Code , to read: 185039. The authority, pursuant to the November 2005 "California High-Speed Train Final Program EIR/EIS: Volume 1 Chapter 3.2.3, Safety-Environment" (pages 3.2 to 3.23, inclusive), shall develop an earthquake early warning system. The authority shall coordinate development of this system with the California Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Education, and the Public Utilities Commission. The earthquake early warning system shall be designed to protect the lives of high-speed train passengers and schoolchildren, and protect critical infrastructure in this state by providing advanced earthquake warning and by enabling preventive measures seconds before an earthquake.SECTION 1.Section 32280.1 is added to the Education Code, to read: 32280.1. The department, in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, the California Seismic Safety Commission, and other organizations the department deems necessary, shall develop and evaluate a plan for identifying the potential to reduce injuries and loss of life among pupils and school employees by establishing an earthquake early warning system.