Bill Text: CA SB1049 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 1049 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Public Utilities Commission: electrical and gas corporations: close call reporting programs.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Assembly without further action. [SB1049 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB1049-Amended.html

BILL NUMBER: SB 1049	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 3, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 1, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 15, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 27, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 11, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hill

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2016

   An act to add Section 326  to   to, and to
add and repeal Section 326.1 of,  the Public Utilities Code,
relating to the Public Utilities Commission.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1049, as amended, Hill. Public Utilities Commission: electrical
and gas corporations: close call reporting  program.
  programs. 
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical and gas
corporations. The California Constitution authorizes the commission
to establish rules for electrical and gas corporations, subject to
control by the Legislature.
   This bill would  require   authorize 
the commission to establish procedures and processes to implement a
confidential, nonpunitive, and independent close call reporting
program for purposes of facilitating the identification of accident
precursors by persons familiar with the operations of electrical or
gas corporations and of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating
unbiased safety information. The bill would authorize any person to
voluntarily submit through the program a confidential close call
report that both involves an electrical or gas corporation and
relates to public, employee, or contractor safety.   
The bill would also require the commission to implement, through a
proceeding, a close call reporting pilot program that would be
consistent with the program described above. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 326 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   326.  (a) The commission  shall   may 
establish procedures and processes to implement a confidential,
nonpunitive, and independent close call reporting program for
purposes of facilitating the identification of accident precursors by
persons familiar with the operations of electrical or gas
corporations, including, but not limited to, employees and
contractors of electrical or gas corporations, and of collecting,
analyzing, and disseminating unbiased safety information. Through the
program, any person, including, but not limited to, an employee or
contractor of an electrical or gas corporation or a member of the
public, may voluntarily submit a confidential close call report that
both involves an electrical or gas corporation and relates to public,
employee, or contractor safety.
   (b) The commission shall not use a report submitted pursuant to
subdivision (a) or information derived therefrom, except for
information concerning an accident or criminal offense, in an
enforcement action.
   (c) The commission may contract with a third party to administer
the program.
   (d)  An employee of, or the employee of a contractor performing
work for, an electrical or gas corporation shall not be subject to
demotion, discharge, or any other form of retaliation or
discrimination for participating in the close call reporting program
established pursuant to this section.
   SEC. 2.    Section 326.1 is added to the 
Public Utilities Code   , to read:  
   326.1.  (a) On or before July 1, 2017, the commission shall
implement, through a proceeding, a confidential, nonpunitive, and
independent close call reporting pilot program that is consistent
with the program described in Section 326.
   (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2022, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2022, deletes or extends
that date.