Bill Text: CA AB570 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Fire protection: Special District Fire Response Fund: county service areas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 334, Statutes of 2023. [AB570 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB570-Amended.html
Bill Title: Fire protection: Special District Fire Response Fund: county service areas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 334, Statutes of 2023. [AB570 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB570-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
April 20, 2023 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 570
| Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher |
February 08, 2023 |
An act to amend Section 8586.9 of the Government Code, relating to fire protection.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 570, as amended, Gallagher.
Fire protection: Special District Fire Response Fund: county service areas.
Existing law creates within the office of the Governor, the Office of Emergency Services. Existing law also tasks the Office of Emergency Services with establishing and administering the FIRESCOPE Program (FIrefighting RESources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies), to maintain and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of managing multiagency firefighting resources in responding to an incident. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to carry out its responsibilities with respect to the FIRESCOPE Program in cooperation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and with the advice of the Fire and Rescue Service Advisory Committee/FIRESCOPE Board of Directors.
The California Constitution establishes the Special District Fire Response Fund as a subaccount within the California Fire Response Fund within the State Treasury. The California Constitution requires moneys in the Special District Fire Response Fund to be appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of funding fire suppression staffing in underfunded special districts that provide fire protection services, as provided.
Existing law creates within the office of the Governor the Office of Emergency Services. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to administer the Special District Fire Response Fund and, in cooperation with the board of directors of the FIRESCOPE Program, to develop a standard grant application form, establish an annual timeline to apply for grants, employ strategies to ensure that
underfunded special districts that provide fire protection services are aware of the availability of the Special District Fire Response Fund, establish reporting requirements for grant recipients, and develop metrics for consideration of grant applications, as specified.
This bill would define, for purposes of receiving grants under the FIRESCOPE Program that are funded by the Special District Fire Response Fund, a “special district that provides fire protection services” to include a county service area, as described, formed exclusively for fire protection services.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8586.9 of the Government Code is amended to read:8586.9.
(a) The Office of Emergency Services shall administer the Special District Fire Response Fund established pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution.(b) The office shall, in coordination with the board of directors of the FIRESCOPE Program, established pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13070) of Part 1 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, do all of the following:
(1) Develop a standard application form to be used by special districts that provide fire protection services to apply for grants from the Special District Fire Response Fund that includes, but is not limited to, all of the
following:
(A) Description of a special district’s eligibility to receive a grant pursuant to the criteria contained in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution.
(B) Specification of the number of additional fire suppression staff that would be supported by the grant.
(C) Identification of the benefits to firefighter health and safety and community response in the special district, if the grant is funded.
(D) Identification of opportunities to leverage other funding sources, if the grant is funded.
(2) Establish an annual timeline for special districts that provide fire protection services to apply for grants
from the Special District Fire Response Fund.
(3) Employ strategies to ensure that underfunded special districts that provide fire protection services are aware of the availability of the Special District Fire Response Fund to expand and increase fire suppression staffing in qualified districts.
(4) Establish reporting requirements for special districts that are awarded grants from the Special District Fire Response Fund.
(5) Develop metrics for consideration of grant applications consistent with paragraphs (3) and (4) of Subdivision (f) of Section 2.2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution.
(c) Notwithstanding any law, including Section 25210.7, for purposes of receiving grants under the FIRESCOPE
Program that are funded by the Special District Fire Response Fund, “special district that provides fire protection services” includes a county service area, as described in Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 25210) of Part 2 of Division 2 of Title 3, formed exclusively for fire protection services.
