An Assessment of the Consequences and Preparations for a Catastrophic California Earthquake Part 7

_The people of the State of California do enact as follows:_

SECTION 1. Section 8895.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:

8895.1. The commission shall initiate, with the a.s.sistance and partic.i.p.ation of other state, federal, and local government agencies, a comprehensive program to prepare the state for responding to a major earthquake prediction. The program should be implemented in order to result in specific tools or products to be used by governments in responding to an earthquake prediction, such as educational materials for citizens. This program may be implemented on a prototypical basis in one area of the state affected by earthquake predictions, provided that it is useful for application in other areas of the state upon its completion.

SEC. 2. Section 8897 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8897. The commission is responsible for all of the following in connection with earthquake hazard mitigation:

(a) Setting goals and priorities in the public and private sectors.

(b) Requesting appropriate state agencies to devise criteria to promote earthquake and disaster safety.

(c) Scheduling a report on disaster mitigation issues from the Office of Emergency Services, on the commission agenda as required. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term disaster refers to all natural hazards which could have impact on public safety.

(d) Recommending program changes to state agencies, local agencies, and the private sector where such changes would improve earthquake hazards and reduction.

(e) Reviewing the recovery and reconstruction efforts after damaging earthquakes.

(f) Gathering, a.n.a.lyzing, and disseminating information.

(g) Encouraging research.

(h) Sponsoring training to help improve the competence of specialized enforcement and other technical personnel.

(i) Helping to coordinate the earthquake safety activities of government at all levels.

(j) Establishing and maintaining necessary working relationships with any boards, commissions, departments, and agencies, or other public or private organizations.

SEC. 3. Section 8898 of the Government Code is amended and renumbered to read:

8897.1. To implement the foregoing responsibilities, the commission may do any of the following:

(a) Review state budgets and review grant proposals, other than those grant proposals submitted by inst.i.tutions of postsecondary education to the federal government, for earthquake related activities and to advise the Governor and Legislature thereon.

(b) Review legislative proposals, related to earthquake safety to advise the Governor and Legislature concerning such proposals, and to propose needed legislation.

(c) Recommend the addition, deletion, or changing of state agency standards when, in the commission's view, the existing situation creates undue hazards or when new developments would promote earthquake hazard mitigation, and conduct public hearings as deemed necessary on the subjects.

(d) In the conduct of any hearing, investigation, inquiry, or study which is ordered or undertaken in any part of the state, to administer oaths and issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, records, reports, books, maps, accounts, doc.u.ments, and testimony.

(e) In addition, the commission may perform any of the functions contained in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, in relation to other disasters, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 8897, in connection with issues or items reported or discussed with the Office of Emergency Services at any commission meeting.

SEC. 4. The sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Seismic Safety Commission for carrying out the provisions of Section 8895.1 of the Government Code as added by this act, contingent upon receipt of matching federal funds.

SEC. 5. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Const.i.tution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts const.i.tuting such necessity are:

In order to protect the public safety against earthquakes, including the imminent possibility of major earthquake predictions being made within the next 12 months, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.