AB 1251

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act (CESA) , among other things, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected or likely to be affected. The CESA also authorizes the governing body of any city, county, or city and county, or an official designated by ordinance adopted by that governing body, to proclaim a local emergency, as provided. Existing law authorizes local health officials to take any preventative measures that may be necessary to protect and preserve the public health from any public health hazard during any state of emergency or local emergency. This bill would require a public health order issued by the County of Los Angeles local health officer during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency to be based on data for each service planning area, as defined, rather than on countywide data. The bill would further require that a local public health order related to the COVID-19 pandemic include the data for each service planning area upon which the order is based. The bill would specify that these provisions remain operative until the termination of the state of emergency declared on March 4, 2020. By requiring the County of Los Angeles to prepare emergency local public health orders based on data for each service planning area, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles. 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.