JULY 2002 LEGISLATIVE REPORT

CALIFORNIA FIRE CHIEF’S FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS

The following is legislation in the California Legislature being monitored by the FPO Legislative Committee.

For current information or to review any of these bills go to www.leginfo.ca.gov 

AB = Assembly Bill
SB = Senate Bill

AB 1983 Dickerson

TITLE: Wildland Fuel Reduction

INTRODUCED: 02/14/2002 LAST AMEND: 04/16/2002

COMMITTEE: Assembly Appropriations Committee

SUMMARY:

Enacts the California Fuel Hazard Reduction Act to be administered by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to encourage the development of wildland fuel reduction practices. Authorizes the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to adopt regulations necessary to carry out the act. Requires the director to report annually. Establishes the Fuel Hazard Reduction Fund.

AB 2141 Firebaugh

TITLE: Hazardous Materials

INTRODUCED: 02/20/2002

LAST AMEND: 05/23/2002

LOCATION: Senate Environmental Quality Committee

SUMMARY:

Includes in the public participation requirement of the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act, a site that is the subject to a corrective action order for the cleanup of a release of hazardous waste or constituents issued pursuant to the Hazardous Waste Control Law, a site that is the subject of a enforceable agreement under the act, a site that is subject to a notice under the California Land Environmental Restoration and Reuse Act.

AB 2201 Corbett

TITLE: School Safety: Emergency Manager

INTRODUCED: 02/20/2002

LAST AMEND: 04/17/2002 LOCATION: Assembly Appropriations Committee 

SUMMARY:

Requires School districts to appoint an emergency manager to develop and manage emergency response plans that coordinate with the standardized emergency management systems.

AB 2411 Corbett

TITLE: Building Standards: Local Agencies

INTRODUCED: 02/21/2002

COMMITTEE: Assembly Local Government Committee

SUMMARY:

Authorizes any local agency that has responsibility for the enforcement of state buildings standards to propose for adoption and approval by the commission one or more building standards if specified requirements are met.

AB 2481 Frommer

TITLE: Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act

INTRODUCED: 02/21/2002

LAST AMEND: 05/16/2002

LOCATION: Passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee

with amendments on 6/14/02 sent to Senate Appropriations

SUMMARY:

Revises and recasts provisions regulating the storage of hazardous substances in underground storage tanks. Revises the definition of product tight. Deletes the requirement that the tank not be subject to physical or chemical deterioration over the useful life of the tank. Provides procedures to be taken upon finding tanks with certain violations and penalties therefore. Provides requirements for tanks installed on or after a certain date.

 AB 2697

TITLE: Forestry: Firebreaks

INTRODUCED: 02/22/2002

LOCATION: ASSEMBLY

SUMMARY:

Makes a legislative declaration that state law should permit the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, when a county's firebreak standards are greater than the statewide standards, to impose the county's standards on buildings and structures located on state responsibility lands in the county.

AB 2993 Vargus

TITLE: Urban Wildland Interface Communities

INTRODUCED: 03/04/2002 LAST AMEND: 04/16/2002

COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee to be heard 8/05/02

SUMMARY:

Requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify incentives or financial relief to landowners to implement fire protection projects in forested areas surrounding urban wildland interface communities.

SB 489 Romero

TITLE: Extremely Dangerous Hazardous Waste

INTRODUCED: 02/22/2001

LAST AMEND: 05/02/2002

COMMITTEE: Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File

SUMMARY:

Relates to the handling and transportation of extremely dangerous hazardous waste. Provides the procedures required when loading, unloading, transferring or transporting such waste. Requires certain disclosure by persons applying for a hazardous waste facilities permit. Requires the Department of Toxic Substance Control to adopt a list of extremely dangerous hazardous wastes including wastes that could be used for contamination of air or water.

SB 1992 Perata

TITLE: Public Safety: Gas Appliances

INTRODUCED: 02/22/2002

LAST AMEND: 05/13/2002

LOCATION: Assembly Appropriations Committee

SUMMARY:

Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to consider whether to propose for adoption and approval by the Building Standards Commission, in the code adoption cycle that begins after 1/1/2003, the requirement that seismic gas shutoff devices or excess flow gas shutoff devices be installed in all or a portion of dwelling units, motels, hotels and lodginghouses.