Bill Text: CA SB1444 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Wildfires.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-08 - Referred to Com. on RLS. [SB1444 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB1444-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1444

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Introduced by Senator Stone

February 16, 2018

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An act to amend Section 51175 of the Government Code, relating to fire safety.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1444, as introduced, Stone. Wildfires.

Existing law finds and declares that wildfires are extremely costly to property owners and residents as well as to local agencies and that since fires ignore civil boundaries, it is necessary that cities, counties, special districts, state agencies, and federal agencies work together to bring raging fires under control.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to this finding and declaration.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 51175 of the Government Code is amended to read:

51175.

 The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows: all of the following:

(a) Wildfires are extremely costly, not only to property owners and residents, but also to local agencies. Wildfires pose a serious threat to the preservation of the public peace, health, or and safety. The wildfire front is not the only source of risk since embers, or firebrands, travel far beyond the area impacted by the front and pose a risk of ignition to a structure or fuel on a site for a longer time. Since fires ignore civil boundaries, it is necessary that cities, counties, special districts, state agencies, and federal agencies work together to bring raging fires under control. Preventive measures are therefore needed to ensure the preservation of the public peace, health, or and safety.

(b) The prevention of wildland fires is not a municipal affair, as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution, but is, instead, a matter of statewide concern. It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter apply to all local agencies, including, but not limited to, charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. This subdivision shall not limit the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law.

(c) It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to limit or restrict the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law.