MARCH 2003 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

A watch bill is one where Cal-Chiefs as not taken a position yet. FPO Committees to make recommendations.

AB 731, Spitzer: Cal-Chiefs: Watch

Topic: Building Inspections: H&S Code Section 13146.2

Last Action: Amended 3/24/03 in Asm Governmental Organization Committee

Scheduled Hearing Date: Unknown

Digest Summary: To amend Section 13146.2 of the Health and Safety Code, to allow inspections of apartment houses at least once every three years. Current law requires inspections annually and allows local jurisdictions to charge fees to cover cost of inspections.

An apartment house would be defined under this section as: an apartment house in which each unit has a separate exit to the exterior of the apartment house.

AB 904, Lowenthal Cal-Chiefs: Support
Topic: Arson: registration.
Last Action: In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
Scheduled Hearing Date: 4/1/03 (ASM PUBLIC SAFETY)
Digest Summary: Existing law requires a person convicted in this state of arson, as defined, on or after November 30, 1994, to register with the chief of police or sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the person is residing within a specified period after changing his or her residence.
This bill would, in addition, require a person to register as an arsonist if the person is convicted, on or after January 1, 2004, in any other state, federal, or military court, of any offense that if committed or attempted in this state would have been punishable as arson, or if the person has been ordered by any other court to register as an arsonist.

AB 1034 , Mullin Cal-Chiefs: Watch
Topic: Housing: building standards.
Last Action: From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
Digest Summary: Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a city, county, or city and county to collect any fee, cost, or charge incurred in the correction of any violation of a specified provisions of law or regulations regarding untenantable dwellings, fire safety, and building standards.
This bill would additionally authorize the collection of fees, costs, or charges incurred in the correction of any violation of specified regulations or ordinances.

AB 1216 (2003-2004) , Vargas Cal-Chiefs: Support
Topic: Fire safety: regulations.
Last Action: Read first time
Digest Summary: Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal, no later than July 1, 1996, in consultation with the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, to prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for comprehensive space and structure defensibility, including in very high fire severity zones.
This bill instead would require the State Fire Marshal, no later than January 1, 2005, in consultation with the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, to prepare regulations that provide for comprehensive space and structure defensibility from exterior fire penetration.

AB 1576 , Liu: Cal-Chiefs: Watch
Topic: Water heaters: earthquakes.
Last Action: Read first time.
Digest Summary: Existing law requires all new, replacement, and existing water heaters to be braced, anchored, or strapped to resist falling or horizontal displacement due to earthquake motion, as specified.
This bill would expressly impose that requirement on all water heaters in rental housing, to be complied with by no later than July 1, 2005.

AB 1640 , Laird Cal-Chiefs: Watch
Topic: Hazardous materials: enforcement.
Last Action: Read first time.

Digest Summary: Existing law requires the Secretary for Environmental Protection to adopt regulations and implement a unified hazardous waste and hazardous materials management regulatory program.
This bill would authorize a unified program agency to suspend or revoke any unified program facility permit or element of a unified program facility permit for a violation of the requirements encompassed in the permit.

SB 54 , Dunn Cal-Chiefs: Watch
Topic: Mobilehomes.
Last Action: Set for hearing April 7.

Scheduled Hearing Date: 04/07/03 (SEN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT)
Digest Summary: The existing Mobilehome Parks Act generally provides for enforcement of the act by a local enforcement agency.
This bill would require an inspector or representative of the enforcement agency to notify a complainant regarding a violation of the act as to when the complaint will be investigated, and to advise the complainant of the findings of the inspector.

SB 567 , Torlakson Cal-Chiefs: Support
Topic: Local ordinances: penalties for violation.
Last Action: Set for hearing April 8.
Scheduled Hearing Date: 04/08/03 (SEN PUBLIC SAFETY)
Digest Summary:Existing law provides with respect to city and county ordinances that the violation of an ordinance is a misdemeanor unless the ordinance makes it an infraction.
This bill would double the maximum amounts of those fines.

SB 747, Romero Cal-Chiefs: Watch
Topic: Underground storage tanks.
Last Action: To Com. on ENV. QUAL.

Digest Summary: Existing law imposes various monitoring, replacement, and upgrading requirements with regard to an underground storage tank installed on or before January 1, 1984, and used for the storage of hazardous substances.
This bill would repeal that provision.

SB 942, Sher `Cal-Chiefs: Watch
Topic: Hazardous waste: transportation: database.
Last Action: To Com. on ENV. QUAL.

Digest Summary:Existing law requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to develop a database that tracks all hazardous waste shipped in and out of the state for handling, treatment, storage, disposal, or a combination thereof.
This bill would require the database, additionally, to include whether the receiving facility, if it is outside of the state, operates in accordance with California's standards for handling hazardous waste.