AB 2538

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to jointly establish and lead the Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center, comprised of representatives from specified state and other entities. Existing law requires the center to share intelligence and data relevant to wildfire threat, forecasting, detection, and prevention activities, as provided, in coordination with specified entities, including the California State Warning Center within the office. This bill would require the office to, upon the next update to its emergency plan, ensure its California State Warning Center integrates a plan for targeted alerts for public health dangers, including smoke from wildfires. The bill would require the office to create a standard operating procedure to send text and voice messages, in multiple languages, to residents and farmworkers based on their ZIP Codes to alert them of public health dangers in their area. This bill would also require a county to integrate targeted alerts for public health dangers into its emergency plan upon the next update to its emergency plan, as specified. The bill would require coordination between the office, county, other emergency system operations partners, and program management. By adding to the duties of county officials in developing and updating emergency plans, 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.