GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, AND
WELCOME TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
I'M ASSEMBLY MEMBER FREDDY
RODRIGUEZ. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
WELCOME TO THIS HEARING. AT
TODAY'S HEARING, WE WILL TAKE
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THOSE IN
THE ROOM. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
MAY ALSO SUBMIT TESTIMONY TO THE
COMMITTEE AT AERM DOT ASSEMBLY
CA.GOV. FIRST ESTABLISH A
QUORUM. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. QUORUM. ROLL CALL.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ HERE.
DAVIES. DAVIES. HERE. ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. HERE. BENNETT.
BENNETT. HERE BURNER. HERE.
BURNER. HERE. CALDERON CARILLO.
WALDRON. AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM
. FIRST UP, WE HAVE, BILLS ON
CONSENT. SB SEVEN FOR DODD
REGARDING THE OFFICE OF WILDFIRE
FIRE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. SB 1101 LIMÓN
REGARDING CAL FIRE AND
PRESCRIBED FIRE. THE MOTION IS
Dð PASS THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS, SB 1461. ALAN,
REGARDING LANDSLIDES OF THE
STATE EMERGENCIES. THE MOTION IS
Dð PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. DO I HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND
SECRETARY CALL THE ROLL. OKAY.
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, S B 74
DODD SB 1101 LIMÓN SB 1461. THE
MOTION IS THE SAME FOR ALL Dð
PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. RODRIGUEZ IS Ã.
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. DAVIES. DAVIES
AYE. ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA. AYE.
BENNETT BENNETT. AYE. BERNER.
AYE. BERNER I. CALDERON.
CARILLO. WALDER AN. AND CONSENT
IS OUT. AND WITH THAT, WE DO
HAVE, FOUR ITEMS REMAINING ON
OUR AGENDA FOR ITEM ONE, ACR
151. BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A
MEMBER HERE YET. SIX. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DAVIES, ARE YOU GOING TO
PRESENT FILE NUMBER SIX? SB
1271? IF SO, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND
GET THAT STARTED. DO YOU WANT TO
DO THIS FOR THIS COMING OVER
RIGHT NOW? IF YOU CAN MOVE ON,
OKAY. WE CAN JUST HOLD ON
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY
HERE YET. OKAY, GREAT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, MEMBERS
WILL BE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
SIX, SB 1271. MEN WE HAVE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAVIS PRESENTING
ON THE SENATOR'S BEHALF.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, WHEN YOU'RE
READY. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON.
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ON
BEHALF OF SENATOR MINH, I WOULD
LIKE TO START OFF BY ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS AND
THANK THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS BILL. SB
1271 WILL CLARIFY THE DEFINITION
OF EACH ELECTRIC BIKE E-BIKE
CLASS AND ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE OF THE
E-BIKES AND ELECTRONIC SCOOTERS
BY REQUIRING THEM TO BE
MANUFACTURED WITH BATTERIES THAT
MEET EUROPEAN UNION AND
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY
STANDARDS. IN RECENT YEARS, THE
SALE OF E-BIKES HAS SKYROCKETED,
WHICH HAS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT
THEIR POTENTIAL SPEED AND FIRE
RISK. MOST E-BIKES AND
E-SCOOTERS ARE POWERED BY
LITHIUM BATTERIES AND REPORT OF
DEADLY FIRES LINKED TO THESE
DEVICES HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO POORLY
MANUFACTURED BATTERIES. SB 1271
WILL PROTECT CONSUMERS AND THE
PUBLIC BY REMOVING LOW QUALITY,
BATTERY POWERED PERSONAL
MOBILITY DEVICES FROM THE
MARKET. IN ADDITION, SOME
MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN SELLING
E-BIKES THAT ARE ABLE TO SWITCH
BETWEEN SPEED MODES, ALLOWING A
BIKE TO MOVE FROM A LOWER CLASS
TO THROTTLE MODE TO A FASTER
CLASS THREE PEDAL ASSIST MODE.
THE CLASS THREE DEVICES ARE NOT
CONSIDERED E-BIKES IN THE
VEHICLE CODE, AND CAUSED
CONFUSION WITH REGARDS TO
POLICING THESE VEHICLES. AS
CLASS TWO E-BIKES FOLLOW
DIFFERENT LAWS ON THE ROAD THAN
CLASS THREE E-BIKES, MANY
PARENTS ARE UNAWARE THAT WHEN
THEY PURCHASE A SWITCHABLE CLASS
TWO E-BIKE FOR THEIR CHILD, THAT
IT IS ILLEGAL FOR THE CHILD TO
OPERATE THE BIKE IN THE CLASS
THREE RANGE, SINCE IT ALLOWS
THEM TO REACH SPEEDS OF UP TO
28MPH. THIS MEASURE WILL MODIFY
THE DEFINITION OF E-BIKE CLASSES
TO CLARIFY THE APPROPRIATE CLASS
FOR A SWITCHABLE E-BIKE. IF ANY.
TODAY I HAVE KIRSTEN BLAD,
ADVOCATE FOR STREETS FOR ALL TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF SB 1271. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. YOU CAN GO
AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS KIRSTEN BLAD. I'M THE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STATE
POLICY FOR STREETS FOR ALL, AND
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
STREETS FOR ALL, WE'RE A
MULTIMODAL, SAFE STREETS,
ADVOCATE GROUP. AND, WE'RE VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE SAFE USE OF
E-BIKES, E-BIKES HAVE EXPLODED
IN POPULARITY IN RECENT YEARS
AND ARE ACTUALLY NOW OUTPACING
ELECTRIC CARS AND ELECTRIC
TRUCKS AS THE BEST SELLING
ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN AMERICA.
E-BIKES PROVIDE FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
RIDE A REGULAR BIKE TO DUE TO
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS AND PROVIDE
INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN, AND
RELIEF FOR PARENTS WHO
INCREASINGLY SPEND SO MUCH OF
THEIR TIME AS CHILD CHAUFFEURS.
OVERALL WE ARE EXCITED AND VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF E-BIKES, BUT WE
RECOGNIZE THAT RAPID GROWTH
BRINGS SOME GROWING PAINS, WHICH
IS WHAT THIS BILL IS AIMING TO
ADDRESS. SB 1271 IS PRETTY
SIMPLE AND PRIMARILY DOES TWO
THINGS. FIRSTLY, IT CLARIFIES
THE DEFINITION OF E-BIKES TO
ENSURE THAT PROBLEMATIC MOPED
DEVICES BEING SOLD ON THE MARKET
AS E-BIKES ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED
TO BE SOLD AND MARKETED TO
CHILDREN AND PARENTS AS E-BIKES.
SECONDLY, IT REQUIRES HIGH
QUALITY BATTERY STANDARDS THAT
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DEVICE
IN TERMS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
FIRES LIKE WE HAVE SEEN IN NEW
YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO, USUALLY
DUE TO VERY SHODDY IMPORTS WITH
LOW QUALITY BATTERIES, AS WE'VE
WORKED VERY HARD TO NOT REQUIRE
A STANDARD THAT IS SO HIGH AS TO
BOTH SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE
COST OF E-BIKES AND DECREASE
MARKET COMPETITION, SUCH THAT
ONLY A FEW COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO
COMPETE UNDER THE NEW
REGULATIONS. WE THINK THE BEST
MARKET FOR CONSUMERS IS A
DIVERSE MARKET WHICH BALANCES
APPROPRIATE SAFETY MEASURES WITH
MARKET COMPETITIVENESS. THANK
YOU. WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYONE
ELSE IN THE ROOM FOR SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND, ANYONE IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL. AND WITH THAT, WE
BRING BACK TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? YES
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BENNETT, JUST
WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE BILL
AND THE AUTHOR'S INTENT HERE TO
DEAL WITH ONE HALF OF THE SAFETY
ISSUE FROM E-BIKES, AND THAT'S
THE BATTERIES. AND THE OTHER
HALF IS THE IRRESPONSIBLE RIDING
OF E-BIKES. THAT'S REALLY
ENDANGERING A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND
I HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD
LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH THAT AS
WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT. SO WE DO
HAVE A MOTION BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BERNER AND SECONDED BY ARAMBULA
WITH THAT, WE'D LIKE TO CLOSE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ORPHALI ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE
WELCOME. SO, SECRETARY WOULD
LIKE TO CALL THE ROLL. FILE ITEM
SIX, SB 1271. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS AS AMENDED TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ I DAVIES I DAVIES I
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I BENNETT.
BENNETT I. BERNER BERNER I
CALDERON. CALDERON I CARILLO
WALDRON. WITH THAT THEM. THAT
MOTION IS OUT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. SO NOW WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
MOVE ON TO FILE ITEM ONE ACR 151
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON.
HELLO AND YOU CAN PROCEED WHEN
YOU'RE READY. OKAY THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, ACR 151
SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND
PRIORITIZE THE USE OF
SEISMICALLY VETTED NONSTRUCTURAL
COMPONENTS WITHIN OUR BUILDINGS.
NONSTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS CAN
INCLUDE PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL,
WIRING, AND HVAC SYSTEMS, ALL OF
WHICH ARE SEPARATE FROM
STRUCTURAL BUILDING COMPONENTS
SUCH AS THE FOUNDATION OF A
BUILDING OR LOAD BEARING WALLS.
THE NONSTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
WITHIN OUR BUILDINGS PLAY A
MAJOR YET UNDERESTIMATED ROLE IN
SEISMIC RESILIENCY. FOLLOWING AN
EARTHQUAKE, BUILDINGS ARE OFTEN
OFTEN RENDERED INHOSPITABLE DUE
TO SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE
NONSTRUCTURAL SYSTEMS, DESPITE
MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURAL
COMPONENTS GIVEN THE CONSTANT
THREAT OF EARTHQUAKES IN OUR
STATE, ACR 151 SEEKS TO RAISE
THE IMPORTANCE OF SEISMICALLY
VETTED NONSTRUCTURAL
TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE POINT OF
NEW CONSTRUCTION TO THE
FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY OF A
BUILDING POST EARTHQUAKE. HERE
WITH ME IN SUPPORT IS RICHARD
MCCARTHY, A FORMER EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEISMIC SAFETY
COMMISSION AND CURRENT PRESIDENT
OF THE EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA DIVISION AND BOB
TAUBIN, NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF
BUILDING CODES FOR OMEGA FLEX.
AND WITH THAT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD
AND PROCEED. GOOD AFTERNOON
MEMBERS. SO AGAIN, RICHARD
MCCARTHY, PRESIDENT OF THE
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING RESEARCH
INSTITUTE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER, WE SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION. IT'S CALLED TO
PRIORITIZE NON STRUCTURAL
COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SEISMICALLY VETTED. THESE
PRODUCTS HAVE GONE AN EXTRA MILE
TO HELP ENSURE BUILDINGS
FUNCTIONALLY FUNCTIONALITY AFTER
A DAMAGING EARTHQUAKE. LET ME
TELL YOU HOW MUCH, SEISMIC
TESTING HAS EXPANDED OVER THE
LAST TEN YEARS. WE ARE GOING IN
THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE'LL BE
CONSTRUCTING A TEN STORY
BUILDING ON UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA'S OUTDOOR SHAKE
TABLE, IT WILL BE GO THROUGH
MANY SEISMIC SHAKE TESTS. IT'LL
ALSO BE, FILLED WITH NON
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS BY
DIFFERENT COMPANIES. AND WE'RE
ALSO GOING TO DO FIRE TESTS ON
THOSE THAT SAMPLE AS WELL, THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THE UNITED STATES. REMEMBER A
BUILDING'S FRAME IS THE MEMBER
SAID MAY SUFFER NO DAMAGE FROM
THE SHAKING, BUT DAMAGED NON
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS CAN LEAD TO
RED OR YELLOW TAGGING, THUS
RENDERING THE STRUCTURE
UNOCCUPIABLE. WE BELIEVE
COMPANIES SHOULD REVIEW THESE
OPTIONS AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN A
BUILDING OWNERS ARE READY TO GO
TO CONSTRUCTION, THEY CAN. ON
THE RFP PROCESS, THEY CAN
REQUEST FIRE AND SHAKE TEST
RESULTS FROM THESE NON
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS AND SEE IF
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AS AN
OPTION. IT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE
LOSSES DOWN THE LINE. SO IT'S
COST EFFECTIVE. SO AND FINALLY
THIS RESOLUTION IDENTIFIES THE A
COST EFFECTIVE ACTION THAT CAN
HELP REDUCE THE SEISMIC RISK TO
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES. AGAIN ERI IS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? YOU MAY GO IF YOU
LIKE, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR.
BOB TORBIN, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF
CODES AND STANDARDS AT OMEGA
FLEX. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING
THAT CALIFORNIA IS EARTHQUAKE
COUNTRY AND THE STATE HAS DONE A
FINE JOB AND DIRECTING
REGULATIONS TO PRESERVE THE
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE
BUILDINGS AND THE CRITICAL
TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURES.
HOWEVER WHEN IT COMES TO THESE
NON STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS, THE
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S
UNDER GROUND AND WITHIN THE
BUILDING, THERE IS A LACK OF
COVERAGE AND REGULATIONS THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. ARE ACR
151 IS A GOOD START IN THAT
DIRECTION. DEALING WITH THE
CRITICAL UNDERGROUND AND IN
BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE,
INCLUDING THE HVAC, THE WATER,
THE FUEL, THE ELECTRICAL
SERVICES AND ELEVATORS AND SUCH.
THE GOOD NEWS WITH, CURRENT
SITUATION IS THAT NATIONAL
CONSENSUS STANDARDS ALREADY
EXIST AGAINST WHICH THESE NON
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS CAN BE
TESTED. OMEGA FLEX FOR ONE HAS
ALREADY TESTED, SOME OF OUR
PIPING PRODUCTS AND EXISTING
NATIONAL STANDARDS THAT CAN BE
IN CORPORATED INTO ANY
REGULATIONS HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THESE
SPECIAL COMPONENTS, THE
NONSTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS, THESE
SPECIAL SEISMIC TESTING CRITERIA
ARE NOT REQUIRED IN THE BUILDING
CODE. SO ENGINEERS ARE FORCED TO
ENGINEER AND DESIGN, SEISMIC
RESTRAINTS, BRACING SYSTEMS,
DESPITE ANY OTHER SEISMIC
QUALIFICATIONS THAT THESE NON
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS MAY HAVE.
SO GOING FORWARD WE USING ACR
151 AS A CATALYST TO DRIVE THE
BUILDING COMMUNITY AND TO GIVING
PREFERENCE, IF YOU WILL, TO
THESE TESTED AND CERTIFIED
NONSTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS. GIVE
IT PREFERENCE IN THEIR SELECTION
PROCESS. AND IN FACT ULTIMATELY
THE OUTCOME WOULD RESULT IN
LOWER COST TO THE BUILDING
BECAUSE OF LOWER REQUIREMENTS
FOR BRACING AND, STRUCTURAL
SUPPORTS, OBVIOUSLY HIGHER
SEISMIC RESILIENCE, REGARDLESS
OF WHAT THE EARTHQUAKE MAY LOOK
LIKE. AND FINALLY, AND MOST
SIGNIFICANTLY, REDUCING THE
FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY TIME, THE
TIME IT TAKES FOR THAT BUILDING
AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE TO BE BACK
INTO FULL SERVICE. SO I SEEK
YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL? SO WE HAVE A
MOTION, A SECOND MOTION BY
MEMBER WARNER, SECONDED BY MR.
ARAMBULA, WITH THAT, IS THERE
ANY OPPOSITION OF THIS MEASURE
SEEING NONE. BRING IT BACK TO
MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS. AND WITH THAT, WE DO
HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, AND
ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR BRINGING
THIS, VERY IMPORTANT BILL
FORWARD AS WE TALK ABOUT I'VE
ALWAYS ADVOCATED CALIFORNIA AS A
DISASTER PRONE STATE.
EARTHQUAKES ARE HAPPENING, AND
WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE NEXT
BIG ONE. AND WE TALK ABOUT
BUILDING JUST THE FOUR WALLS,
BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE THOSE
BUILDINGS. SO I'D LIKE TO BE OUT
OF THE COAUTHOR. I THINK I COULD
ADD MYSELF, OR IF I HAVEN'T
ALREADY, BE A COAUTHOR, AND
THANK YOU WITH EVERYTHING. AND
WITH THAT, THE SECRETARY WOULD
LIKE TO CALL THE ROLL. OH, WITH
THAT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE,
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, SECRETARY
CORDERO. THANK YOU. ACR 151
CALDERON. THE MOTION IS Dð
PASSED. RODRIGUEZ I DAVIES.
DAVIES I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I
BENNETT. I BENNETT I BERNER I
BERNER I CALDERON I CALDERON I
CARRILLO I. CARRILLO I WALDRON.
WALDRON I. AND WITH THAT THE
MOTION IS OUT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU.
AND WITH THAT, WE CAN MOVE ON TO
ITEM NUMBER THREE, SB 1088.
SENATOR, WHEN YOU ARE READY.
HELLO. YOU MAY PROCEED WHEN
YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I'M HERE TO PRESENT
SENATE BILL 1088, WHICH WOULD
ESTABLISH THE RURAL AND SMALL
COMMUNITY FIRE RESILIENCE
PROGRAM WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, OR
CAL OES. THIS IS A PROGRAM
THAT'S GOING TO WORK IN
COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF WATER RESOURCES, THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD,
AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO
DEVELOP A SYSTEM WITH THE
DISTRIBUTION FOR THE
DISTRIBUTION OF STATE MATCHING
FUNDS TO COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE OR THE
WUI. THE WUI IS IN LINE IS THE
LINE AREA OR ZONE WHERE
STRUCTURES AND OTHER HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT MEET OR INTERMINGLE
WITH UNDERDEVELOPED WILDLAND AND
VEGETATIVE FUELS. CALIFORNIA'S
RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
GROUND ZERO FOR LARGE SCALE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC
DEVASTATION DURING THIS PAST
DECADE, DUE TO THESE WILDFIRES,
AGING INFRASTRUCTURES COMBINED
WITH THE INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES
TO PREPARE FOR ADEQUATE WILDFIRE
RESPONSE, HAS LEFT MANY OF THE
RURAL COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA
AT RISK FOR FURTHER UNCHECKED
FIRE ACTIVITY. COMMUNITIES IN
THE TAHOE BASIN, WHICH ARE IN MY
DISTRICT, SERVE AS A PRIME
EXAMPLE WHERE MOST OF THE WATER
SYSTEMS WERE DEVELOPED BETWEEN
1930 AND 1950 TO SERVE SEASONAL
CABINS. SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF
THE BASIN ARE STILL SERVED BY A
PATCHWORK OF SMALL AND
GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED WATER
SYSTEMS, AND THEY LACK THE
CAPACITY TO COMBINE TO COMBAT
FIRES. SENATE BILL 1088 WOULD
PROVIDE MORE STATE MATCHING
FUNDS FOR THESE WILDFIRE DEFENSE
AND IMPROVE OUR WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROTECT RURAL
COMMUNITIES HERE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT IS JUSTIN BROGLIO FROM
THE NORTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY
DISTRICT. THANK YOU. JUSTIN, YOU
MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU. CHAIR
MOTION AND A SECOND. OH THANK
YOU, CHAIR RODRIGUEZ, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. AND THANK YOU TO
SENATOR FOR HELPING US INTRODUCE
THIS ON BEHALF OF THE TAHOE
WATER FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION
PARTNERSHIP. AGAIN, JUSTIN
BROGLIA WITH NORTH TAHOE PUBLIC
UTILITY DISTRICT. THIS BILL
CREATES A NEW AVENUE FOR
CALIFORNIA'S RURAL WATER
PROVIDERS TO SEEK STATE SUPPORT
FOR THESE CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. IN
CALIFORNIA, THERE ARE NUMEROUS
PROGRAMS AIMED AT HELPING WUI
COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS FUND
FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS
SUPPORTING HOMEOWNERS WITH
DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND HOME
HARDENING. HOWEVER, THERE'S NO
SUCH PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR
IMPROVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
FIRE SUPPRESSION. ADDITIONALLY,
THE SMALL RATE BASE IN OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO FINANCE THESE INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES. SO SENATE BILL 1088
CHANGES THAT AND ALLOWS OUR WUI
COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN HIGH AND
VERY HIGH SEVERITY ZONES, TO
SEEK MATCHING FUNDS TO
ACCELERATE THE INSTALLATION OF
THESE PROJECTS. SO WE THANK THE
SENATOR ALVARADO GIL, FOR
SUPPORTING THIS AND WE ASK FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE
IN SUPPORT? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME AND POSITION
REAL QUICK. REAL QUICK. MR.
CHAIR. DOUG HOUSTON,
REPRESENTING SIERRA BUSINESS
COUNCIL AND THE SIERRA
CONSORTIUM, BOTH IN SUPPORT.
THANKS JOSH GALLAGHER, ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ, IN
SUPPORT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND
WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE NO
ONE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
MEASURE SEEING NONE. BUT WE HAVE
A MOTION ALREADY, I BELIEVE,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAVIES MOTION
AND, ARAMBULA SECOND WITH THAT,
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BENNETT I VERY MUCH
SUPPORT THE BILL, BUT I DO HAVE
ONE COMMENT AND THAT IS THAT
OTHER EFFORTS LIKE THIS NOT
NECESSARILY WILDFIRE, BUT
EFFORTS TO TRY TO FOCUS ON
SOMETIMES CAN BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE
OF BY PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO
IMPROVE THEIR WATER SYSTEM. AND
IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON WILDFIRE.
AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE
AUTHORS AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS BILL
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS GO
FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF
IMPROVING WILDFIRE RESPONSE.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL ROAD
CREDIBILITY FOR THESE KINDS OF
PROGRAMS AND FOR BOND FUNDING
FOR THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS. IF
YOU GET NEW STORIES ABOUT HOW
THESE FUNDS WERE MANIPULATED FOR
SOME ULTERIOR PURPOSE, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION,
A SECOND SECRETARY LIKE, OH, I'M
SORRY WITH THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECRETARY.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE ROLL. FILE
ITEM THREE, SB 1088. ALVARADO
GIL. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATE
MOTIONS. RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ.
AYE DAVIES. DAVIES. AYE.
ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA AYE. BENNETT.
BENNETT. AYE. BERNER. BERNER
AYE. CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE.
CARILLO. CARILLO AYE. WALDRON.
WALDRON. AYE THAT MEASURES UP.
THAT MEASURES UP. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. AND NOW IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE OUR LAST ITEM
FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SB 1152.
YES. OKAY SENATOR, WHEN YOU'RE
READY. THANK YOU. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. CALIFORNIA IS NOT
IMMUNE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND
POWER OUTAGES, AND OUR
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARE
ESSENTIAL IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
THESE SYSTEMS HELP PROVIDE
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN FIRST
RESPONDERS. BECAUSE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THESE SYSTEMS, THE
STATE REQUIRES WIRELINE SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO HAVE BACKUP POWER
FOR 72 HOURS FOR THEIR
FACILITIES IN HIGH FIRE AREAS.
CURRENTLY, BROADBAND PROVIDERS
HAVE BEEN COMPLYING WITH THESE
REQUIREMENTS PRIMARILY USING
DIESEL GENERATOR GENERATORS.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE
BATTERY BACKUP POWER BECAUSE OF
EXISTING REGULATIONS AROUND FIRE
CODE AND SETBACKS. LITHIUM
BATTERIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART
OF MOVING TOWARDS ENERGY
RESILIENCY AND AWAY FROM FOSSIL
FUELS AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE,
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TODAY WITH
ME, I HAVE INGO HENSCHEL FROM
COX COMMUNICATION, TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS INGO.
THANK YOU. I THINK WE DO HAVE A
MOTION, A SECOND MOTION BY SOME
ARAMBULA, SECONDED BY CALDERON,
YOU MAY PROCEED. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS INGO HENTSCHEL. I'M
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF SAN DIEGO
MARKET FOR COX COMMUNICATIONS.
AS THE SENATOR DESCRIBED,
INTERNET SERVICE COMPANIES LIKE
COX COMMUNICATIONS HAVE BEEN
COMPLYING WITH THE CPUC 72 HOUR
BACKUP BATTERY BACKUP. BUT WE
HAVE BEEN SEEKING A GREENER
MEANS FOR COMPLIANCE AND SO FAR,
COMPLIANCE TO DATE HAS BEEN TO
DEPLOY FIXED NATURAL GAS OR
MOBILE DIESEL GENERATORS INTO
TIER TWO AND THREE HIGH FIRE
THREAT AREAS, THANKS TO
SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN BATTERY
TECHNOLOGY, LITHIUM BASED
BATTERY SOURCES, SOLUTIONS HAVE
EMERGED AS A FEASIBLE AND SAFE
ALTERNATIVE BATTERY MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS, OR BMS SYSTEMS FOR
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED IN TERMS
OF THE ROBUSTNESS AND SAFETY
FOCUS. THESE SYSTEMS MONITOR
CRITICAL CONDITIONS LIKE THERMAL
RUNAWAY, HIGH TEMPERATURES AND
OTHER ANOMALIES THAT CAN AFFECT
LITHIUM BATTERIES. THE BMS
SYSTEMS AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGER
BATTERY SYSTEM SHUTDOWN UPON
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. IN
ADDITION, THE ENERGY DENSITY OF
LITHIUM BATTERIES HAVE ADVANCED
AND THEY NOW MEET THE 72 HOUR
REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE EXISTING
POWER SUPPLY FOOTPRINT IN THE
PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. THIS IS
CRUCIAL AS MOST CITIES AND
RESIDENTS STRONGLY OPPOSE ADDING
STREET AND COMMUNITY UTILITY
EQUIPMENT TO THE RIGHT OF WAYS.
IF WE WERE TO DEPLOY THE CURRENT
FIRE CODE APPROVED LEAD ACID
BATTERIES, WE WOULD NEED TO
STACK 70 CAR BATTERIES TO OBTAIN
THE SAME 72 HOUR CAPACITY. AS
YOU CAN IMAGINE, OUR RESIDENTS
WOULD NOT BE PLEASED.
FURTHERMORE, FEEDBACK FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND OUR CUSTOMERS
INDICATE THAT PLACING NOISY
MOBILE GAS OR DIESEL GENERATORS
IN NEIGHBORHOODS DURING PSPS
EVENTS IS DISRUPTIVE. NOT TO
MENTION THE SECURITY CONCERNS
LIKE VANDALISM AND THEFT. THIS
BILL WILL ALLOW FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATION FOCUSED
SOLUTION THAT ENSURES SAFETY,
MINIMIZES RIGHT OF WAY
ENCROACHMENT ISSUES IN THE CITY,
AND ENHANCES THE OVERALL
EXPERIENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS BY
REDUCING NOISE POLLUTION CAUSED
BY CONTINUOUS GENERATOR
OPERATION DURING EXTENDED
OUTAGES. ON BEHALF OF COX
COMMUNICATIONS, WE ASK FOR YOUR
HELP WITH ADHERING TO CPUC 72
HOUR MANDATE AND SUPPORT FOR
SEEKING A GREENER SOLUTION TO
GAS GENERATORS. WE LOOK FORWARD
TO THE DISCUSSION WITH THE FIRE
MARSHAL AND HIS TEAM ON THE CODE
UPDATE TO ENSURE ALL
CALIFORNIANS REMAIN CONNECTED
DURING PSPS EVENTS AND NATURAL
DISASTERS. THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT? JUANITA
MARTINEZ. ON BEHALF OF CAL
BROADBAND AND THE CALIFORNIA
CHAMBER IN SUPPORT, GOOD
AFTERNOON, ALEJANDRO SOLIS, ON
BEHALF OF THE CLEAN POWER
CAMPAIGN, COMITÉ CIVICO EL VALLE
AND LOS AMIGOS DE LA COMUNIDAD
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT? ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A
SECOND, ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL THAT WE'LL BRING BACK TO
MEMBERS? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, I WANT TO THANK THE
CENTER ONCE AGAIN FOR BRINGING
IT BACK. AND, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE? THANK YOU. SECRETARY,
CALL THE ROLL. BILL. ITEM FIVE,
SB 1152 LIMÓN RODRIGUEZ. RIGHT.
I'M SORRY, THE MOTION IS Dð
PASS, AS AMENDED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ I DAVIES.
DAVIES. I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I
BENNETT. BENNETT I BERNER I
BERNER I CALDERON. CALDERON. I
CARILLO. CARILLO I WALDRON.
WALDRON I LOOKS LIKE THAT MOTION
IS OUT. THANK YOU. AND WITH
THAT, DID WE ANYBODY MISS ANY
VOTES? WE HAVE A CONSENT. I
THOUGHT WE DID THE CONSENT. NO.
YEAH, BUT THEY MISSED THE ABSENT
MEMBERS. OKAY, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND DO THE CONSENT FOR MEMBERS
THAT WERE MISSING. SO WITH THAT
SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONSENT ABSENT MEMBERS.
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, SB 74,
SB 1101, AND SB 1461, THE MOTION
IS THE SAME. DO PASS ON
COMMITTEE. DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CALDERON CALDERON I CARILLO
CARILLO I WALDRON. WALDRON. I
AND WITH THAT, THE CONSENT IS
OUT 1271 WHICH WAS Þ ALSO HAVE A
FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX SB 1271
SECRETARY, CALL THE ABSENT
MEMBERS.
FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX, SB 1271.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. CARILLO CARILLO
I WALDRON. WALDRON I. OKAY WITH
THAT. I BELIEVE WE GOT THEM ALL
TAKEN CARE OF. AND WITH THAT, I
BELIEVE THIS WAS OUR LAST
MEETING OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
OUR LAST, UNLESS SOMETHING COMES
UP. BUT WITH THAT, THANKS,
EVERYBODY, FOR, BEING A GOOD
PARTNER, KEEPING CALIFORNIA
SAFE. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK
SPEAKER, EMERITUS RENDON FOR
CREATING THIS NEW, COMMITTEE AND
HAVING ME CHAIR BE THE FIRST
CHAIRMAN OF THIS. BUT I WANT TO
THANK EVERYBODY FOR
PARTICIPATING IN HELPING MAKING
CALIFORNIA A SAFER PLACE. SO
THANK YOU ALL. AND CONSULTANTS
AND STAFF, THANK YOU GUYS ALL
FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL. THANK
YOU. AND THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANKS.