Emergency services: mutual aid: public works.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how the state will reimburse local agencies for any additional costs incurred due to compliance with this bill.

Emergency Services: Mutual Aid and Public Works

This law aims to improve emergency response by ensuring that public works resources, such as personnel, equipment, and materials, are available from other areas during emergencies.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a goal for the state to facilitate the rendering of public works resources critical for disaster response and recovery to areas affected by an emergency.
• Requires outside aid rendered during any state of war emergency or state of emergency to include public works personnel, equipment, and materials.
• Necessitates that the Office of Emergency Services work with relevant local and state public works agencies to develop a Public Works Emergency Mutual Aid Plan.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who need help during emergencies
• Public works agencies at both the state and local levels

Terms To Know

Emergency Services Act

A law that sets up rules for how California handles emergencies.

Mutual Aid Agreement

An agreement between different areas to help each other during emergencies.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact types of public works resources that will be used.
• It is unclear how much it will cost local agencies to comply with this new law.

Official Summary Text

AB 591, as introduced, Caloza.
Emergency services: mutual aid: public works.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the Governor’s office under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services and makes the office responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services. The office serves as the State Disaster Council for the purposes of the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement. Existing law states it is the purpose of the Legislature to facilitate the rendering of aid to areas stricken by an emergency and to make unnecessary the execution of written agreements customarily entered into by public agencies exercising joint powers, and that emergency plans duly adopted and approved as provided by the Governor shall be effective as satisfying the requirement for mutual aid operational plans provided in the Master Mutual Aid Agreement. Existing law requires
outside aid be rendered in accordance with approved emergency plans during any state of war emergency or state of emergency when the need arises in any county, city and county, or city.
This bill would additionally state that it is the purpose of the Legislature to facilitate the rendering of public works resources critical for disaster response and recovery to areas stricken by an emergency. The bill would require that outside aid rendered during any state of war emergency or state of emergency includes public works personnel, equipment, and materials. The bill would also require the Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with relevant local and state public works agencies, to develop and adopt a Public Works Emergency Mutual Aid Plan to ensure the systematic and efficient mobilization of public works resources during emergencies. By imposing requirements on public works agencies, which includes local public works agencies, this bill would create a
state-mandated local 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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF