BILL ANALYSIS 1
1
SENATE ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
DEBRA BOWEN, CHAIRWOMAN
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|SB 669 - Polanco |Hearing Date:April 13, | S|
| |1999 | |
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|As Introduced: February 24, | | B|
|1999 | | |
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| | | 6|
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DESCRIPTION
Current law establishes a list of entities with which the
Department of General Services (DGS) must consult when
considering the state's 911 program.
This bill adds a representative from a city and a county to
that list.
KEY QUESTIONS
1)Should DGS be formally required to consult with local
governments in discussions about 911 service?
2)Should the bill be clarified to accurately reflect the
author's intent with regard to exactly who DGS should be
required to consult with when it comes to 911 service?
BACKGROUND
Current law establishes a 911 program, managed by DGS, to
expedite public safety response to citizen emergencies. As
one of its responsibilities, DGS is required to regularly
consult with a number of state and private entities,
including the State Fire Marshall, the State Department of
Health Services, the Governor's Office of Traffic Safety,
the Office of Emergency Services, the public utilities of
the state, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). This
bill adds a representative from a city and a county to this
list of consultees.
Calls to 911 are answered either by the CHP or by local
public safety agencies, and responded to by local
government agencies (e.g. police or sheriff departments).
Since local governments play a critical role in maintaining
an efficient and effective 911 program, it arguably makes
sense to give local governments a seat at the table when
911 issues are discussed.
COMMENTS
1)This bill is sponsored by the League of California
Cities, which argues that since cities are participants
in the 911 system statewide, it is appropriate to include
them in DGS's consultation requirements. The author
intends that a representative from a city and a
representative from a county be consulted.
2)A similar bill, AB 2206 (Floyd), passed the Assembly in
1998 but was never heard in the Senate.
POSITIONS
Support:
None reported to Committee.
Oppose:
None reported to Committee.
Randy Chinn
SB 669 Analysis
Hearing Date: April 13, 1999