Bill Text: CA AB1877 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Office of Emergency Services: communications: notifications: translation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-21 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 630, Statutes of 2018. [AB1877 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1877-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 23, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  February 22, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1877

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Introduced by Assembly Member Limón
(Principal coauthor: Senator Jackson)

January 17, 2018

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An act to add Section 8594.16 to the Government Code, relating to emergency services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1877, as amended, Limón. Office of Emergency Services: communications: translation.

The California Emergency Services Act establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the Governor’s office under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services and makes the office responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. Existing law requires the Governor to coordinate a State Emergency Plan, which is in effect in each political subdivision of the state, and requires the governing body of each political subdivision, as defined, to take actions necessary to carry out the provisions of that plan. Existing law defines an “operational area” as an intermediate level of the state emergency services organization, consisting of a county and all political subdivisions within the county area.

This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services and the governing body of each political subdivision, including each operational area, to translate any emergency communication into the most commonly spoken languages language other than English in the impacted county or counties. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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.

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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 8594.16 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 8594.15, to read:

8594.16.

 The Office of Emergency Services and the governing body of each political subdivision, including each operational area, shall translate any emergency communication, including, but not limited to, radio or television broadcasts, wireless emergency alerts, and emergency briefings and conferences facilitated by local law enforcement, into the most commonly spoken languages language other than English in the impacted county or counties.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.