Print ArticleSacramento, CA – Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee announced that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 38 and Assembly Bill 2796.
California Emergency Services Act (CALEMA)
AB 38-Creates a new cabinet level California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) by combining the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security.
The bill will give CALEMA the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and homeland security activities in the state.
"Emergency personnel, firefighters and law enforcement all over the state have been asking for this reform for many years. CALEMA will make the state more responsive when disaster strikes," said Nava, Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security. "Everyone saw the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and the poor response by the federal government. We want to make sure that California´s emergency response and recovery system works effectively and efficiently and can respond to the needs of its residents."
The Legislative Analyst's Office, the Little Hoover Commission, and the Bureau of State Audits conducted separate examinations of California's emergency preparedness and response capabilities and recommended that the Legislature streamline state operations by consolidating OES and OHS into a single entity. Assemblymember Nava´s legislation will allow the state to reduce its administrative costs and reduce the conflict and duplication from having separate agencies. Additionally, it provides improved coordination and efficiency for the essential function of supporting emergency preparedness and response and protecting California and its residents.
Disaster Liability Protection Act
AB 2796-Authorizes the Office of Emergency Services to establish a registry of private businesses and nonprofit organizations that are interested in making donations to the state, to prepare the state for emergencies and disasters and provides for associated procedures and rules. Additionally, it will provide protections from civil liability for those businesses and non-profits that donate goods, services, labor, equipment, resources, and facilities before and during an emergency. Presently, liability protections exist for government agencies, their employees and private sector volunteers for actions taken during an emergency. No such protection exists for businesses or non-profit entities.
"I am very pleased that Governor Schwarzenegger saw the merits of my legislation and is joining with me, public safety organizations, the business community and non-profit organizations to better protect California," said Nava. "Organizations which donate personnel, goods and services when others are in need during an emergency, should not fear that they will be held liable by their good deed to help others. This legislation provides basic protections so that everyone will give freely."
California Emergency Services Act (CALEMA)
AB 38-Creates a new cabinet level California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) by combining the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security.
The bill will give CALEMA the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and homeland security activities in the state.
"Emergency personnel, firefighters and law enforcement all over the state have been asking for this reform for many years. CALEMA will make the state more responsive when disaster strikes," said Nava, Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security. "Everyone saw the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and the poor response by the federal government. We want to make sure that California´s emergency response and recovery system works effectively and efficiently and can respond to the needs of its residents."
The Legislative Analyst's Office, the Little Hoover Commission, and the Bureau of State Audits conducted separate examinations of California's emergency preparedness and response capabilities and recommended that the Legislature streamline state operations by consolidating OES and OHS into a single entity. Assemblymember Nava´s legislation will allow the state to reduce its administrative costs and reduce the conflict and duplication from having separate agencies. Additionally, it provides improved coordination and efficiency for the essential function of supporting emergency preparedness and response and protecting California and its residents.
Disaster Liability Protection Act
AB 2796-Authorizes the Office of Emergency Services to establish a registry of private businesses and nonprofit organizations that are interested in making donations to the state, to prepare the state for emergencies and disasters and provides for associated procedures and rules. Additionally, it will provide protections from civil liability for those businesses and non-profits that donate goods, services, labor, equipment, resources, and facilities before and during an emergency. Presently, liability protections exist for government agencies, their employees and private sector volunteers for actions taken during an emergency. No such protection exists for businesses or non-profit entities.
"I am very pleased that Governor Schwarzenegger saw the merits of my legislation and is joining with me, public safety organizations, the business community and non-profit organizations to better protect California," said Nava. "Organizations which donate personnel, goods and services when others are in need during an emergency, should not fear that they will be held liable by their good deed to help others. This legislation provides basic protections so that everyone will give freely."
view author's RSS feed
