While things are beginning to get busy in the Capitol, here are four bills that will be affecting the fire service, and fire prevention in particular.  I will keep track of them and report any changes to you as they proceed through the process.  These bills in their entirety can be retrieved via the Internet at: www.leginfo.ca.gov

SB 122, as introduced, Haynes.  Public Safety Training Pilot Project Act of 1999.
 
 Existing law requires persons who exercise the powers of a peace officer to have completed a course of training that meets prescribed standards; among these courses it also requires the State Fire Marshal to establish and operate a statewide hazardous materials training facility.  Existing law also establishes the Emergency Medical Services Training Program Approval Fund, and the California Fire and Arson Training Fund for purposes related to the training of law enforcement and other public safety personnel.

This bill would create the Public Safety Training Facilities Fund to finance a 3 year pilot project to develop up to 3 public safety training facilities and to purchase capital equipment for those facilities to meet the training needs of public safety agencies and employees.  The fund would be administered by the Public Safety Training Facilities Board established by the bill.

This bill would become operative only if funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act for the purposes of the bill, and would be repealed on January 1, 2003.

AB 80, as introduced, Baldwin.  Community college facilities:  building standards.
 
(1) Existing law requires the Department of General Services to supervise the design and construction of certain school buildings to ensure that plans and specifications comply with specified structural safety standards and to ensure that the work of construction has been performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, for the protection of life and property.  Existing law also requires the Department of General Services to pass upon and approve or reject all plans for the construction, and in some cases, the alteration of any school building subject to those provisions, and to inspect the school buildings and the work of construction or alteration that in its judgment is necessary or proper for the enforcement of these requirements and the protection of the safety of students, instructors, and the public.  These requirements are part of the body of law known as the Field Act.

This bill would repeal the provisions of the Field Act that govern community college facilities.  The bill would require that community college buildings, as defined, be subject to the State Building Standards Law.  The bill would make conforming changes.  By requiring community college districts to comply with the State Building Standards Law, the bill would impose a state mandated local program.

(2) 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, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000.

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 these statutory provisions.

AB 423, as introduced, Dutra.  Fire protection: roofing materials.

Existing law requires every new structure, and every existing structure when 50% or more of the roof area is reroofed within a one year period, to have a fire retardant roof covering that is at
least class A, B, or C, as specified.   This bill would make that requirement applicable in the case of existing structures when 25% or more of the roof area is reroofed within a one year period.

AB 20, as introduced, Lempert.  School facilities:  automated fire detection and alarm.
 
This bill would authorize the funding of new construction, modernization, and hardship projects that include an automated fire detection and alarm system pursuant to the Greene Act of 1998.

This bill would require Department of General Services approved projects to comply with prescribed automated fire detection and alarm system requirements and would require adjustment of preppie allocations to cover the costs of the system.  The bill would provide that a modernization project funded under the Greene Act of 1998 may consist entirely of the installation of a prescribed automated fire detection and alarm system.

Existing law requires every public, private, or parochial school building to be provided with a dependable and operative fire warning system and requires the fire alarm signal to be sounded upon the discovery of fire.

This bill would require the State Fire Marshal to propose emergency regulations by July 1, 2000, to require all new public school facilities to have an automated fire detection and alarm
system, thereby imposing a state mandated local program.  The bill would authorize school districts, as defined, to apply for funding under the Greene Act of 1998 for the purposes of improving school safety by installing an automated fire detection and alarm system and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal related regulations.  The bill would require 20% local matching funds.

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, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund for costs mandated by the state pursuant to this act, but would recognize that local agencies and school districts may pursue any available remedies to seek reimbursement for these costs.

Submitted by

DANIEL NAJERA