California Fire Chiefs Association

Fire Prevention Officers Section

State Legislative Report

January 2008

State Budget

During the month of December, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his staff was doing a mid-year State Budget review. Since State spending exceed more than half the budget, the Governor declared a "Budget Emergency." He ordered the legislature to meet in a special session to address the State’s budget shortfall along with recommendations from his office on how to curb spending.

On January 10, 2008 the Legislature met and devised a plan to address the budget shortfall. Among the answers they came up with was a 10% across the board budget cut from every State Department. At this point, final and more detailed analysis of the State budget is under review.

State Legislation

The legislative year is just beginning. A Bill that was left on the table last year was AB 759 which would have required automatic fire sprinklers in residential care facilities. I called Assemblywoman Karnette’s Office to inquire about the Bill in the next legislative session. Her staff liaison told me that the Assemblywoman felt strongly about the Bill but was not sure she would carry it this year. November would be the end of her term-limit and since Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the Bill the last time it was passed by the legislature, she felt that he would more than likely veto it again. She felt badly that this Bill could not be passed during her term in office. She did not indicate that she would not carry it forward, but needed more time to make a decision.

Other state legislation will be reviewed as it comes forward.