California Code
DIVISION 1 - GENERAL
CHAPTER 7 - California Emergency Services Act

ARTICLE 1 - Purpose

Section 8550. - 8550. The state has long recognized its responsibility to mitigate...

Section 8551. - 8551. This chapter may be cited as the “California Emergency...

ARTICLE 2 - General Definitions

Section 8555. - 8555. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions...

Section 8556. - 8556. “Governor” means the Governor or the person upon whom...

Section 8557. - 8557. (a) “State agency” means any department, division, independent establishment,...

Section 8558. - 8558. Three conditions or degrees of emergency are established by...

Section 8559. - 8559. (a) A “mutual aid region” is a subdivision of...

Section 8560. - 8560. (a) “Emergency plans” means those official and approved documents...

Section 8561. - 8561. “Master Mutual Aid Agreement” means the California Disaster and...

Section 8562. - 8562. (a) “First responder” means an employee of the state...

ARTICLE 3 - Powers of the Governor

Section 8565. - 8565. The Governor shall have the powers granted by this...

Section 8565.1. - 8565.1. Nothing in this chapter shall operate to prevent the...

Section 8566. - 8566. The Governor is empowered to expend any appropriation for...

Section 8567. - 8567. (a) The Governor may make, amend, and rescind orders...

Section 8568. - 8568. The State Emergency Plan shall be in effect in...

Section 8569. - 8569. The Governor shall coordinate the State Emergency Plan and...

Section 8570. - 8570. The Governor may, in accordance with the State Emergency...

Section 8570.3. - 8570.3. On or before July 31, 2015, the Office of...

Section 8570.4. - 8570.4. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall update the...

Section 8570.5. - 8570.5. The Office of Emergency Services shall develop a guidance...

Section 8570.6. - 8570.6. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall include in...

Section 8571. - 8571. During a state of war emergency or a state...

Section 8571.5. - 8571.5. Nothing in this article shall authorize the seizure or...

Section 8572. - 8572. In the exercise of the emergency powers hereby vested...

Section 8573. - 8573. The Governor may cooperate with the President and the...

Section 8574. - 8574. None of the provisions of this chapter shall limit,...

ARTICLE 3.5 - Oil Spills

Section 8574.1. - 8574.1. In addition to any other authority conferred upon the...

Section 8574.2. - 8574.2. Any plan established pursuant to this article shall provide...

Section 8574.3. - 8574.3. State agencies granted authority to implement a plan adopted...

Section 8574.4. - 8574.4. State agencies designated to implement the contingency plan shall...

Section 8574.7. - 8574.7. The Governor shall require the administrator, not in conflict...

Section 8574.8. - 8574.8. (a) The administrator shall submit to the Governor and...

ARTICLE 3.7 - Toxic Disasters

Section 8574.16. - 8574.16. The Governor shall establish a state toxic disaster contingency...

Section 8574.17. - 8574.17. (a) (1) A state toxic disaster contingency plan established...

Section 8574.18. - 8574.18. (a) For purposes of this article, a “toxic disaster”...

ARTICLE 3.8 - Hazardous Substances Emergency Response Training

Section 8574.19. - 8574.19. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, in...

Section 8574.20. - 8574.20. The Office of Emergency Services shall manage the California...

Section 8574.21. - 8574.21. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall develop the...

Section 8574.22. - 8574.22. The Office of Emergency Services may hire professional and...

ARTICLE 3.9 - Regional Railroad Accident Preparedness and Immediate Response

Section 8574.30. - 8574.30. For purposes of this article, the following terms have...

Section 8574.32. - 8574.32. (a) (1) The director shall establish a schedule of...

Section 8574.34. - 8574.34. Every person who operates a railroad that transports hazardous...

Section 8574.36. - 8574.36. The fee imposed pursuant to Section 8574.32 shall be...

Section 8574.38. - 8574.38. The return required to be filed pursuant to Section...

Section 8574.40. - 8574.40. Notwithstanding the petition for redetermination and claim for refund...

Section 8574.42. - 8574.42. (a) The board may prescribe, adopt, and enforce regulations...

Section 8574.44. - 8574.44. (a) The Regional Railroad Accident Preparedness and Immediate Response...

Section 8574.46. - 8574.46. (a) (1) The director shall contract with the Department...

Section 8574.48. - 8574.48. (a) The Regional Railroad Accident Preparedness and Immediate Response...

ARTICLE 4 - California Emergency Council

Section 8575. - 8575. For the purposes of the California Disaster and Civil...

ARTICLE 4.5 - Urban Heavy Rescue Act

Section 8584. - 8584. This article shall be known and may be cited...

Section 8584.1. - 8584.1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that...

ARTICLE 5 - Office of Emergency Services

Section 8585. - 8585. (a) (1) There is in state government, within the...

Section 8585.01. - 8585.01. The Office of Emergency Services shall be the lead...

Section 8585.05. - 8585.05. Unless the context otherwise requires, for purpose of this...

Section 8585.1. - 8585.1. (a) The director shall be appointed by, and hold...

Section 8585.2. - 8585.2. (a) All employees serving in state civil service, other...

Section 8585.5. - 8585.5. The office shall establish by rule and regulation various...

Section 8585.7. - 8585.7. The office may certify the accredited status of local...

Section 8585.8. - 8585.8. (a) The office may enter into an agreement directly...

Section 8586. - 8586. The Governor shall assign all or part of his...

Section 8586.5. - 8586.5. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall establish and...

Section 8586.7. - 8586.7. (a) (1) The office and the Department of Forestry...

Section 8586.8. - 8586.8. (a) For purposes of this section, “office” means the...

Section 8586.9. - 8586.9. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall administer the...

Section 8587. - 8587. (a) During a state of war emergency, a state...

Section 8587.5. - 8587.5. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in cooperation with...

Section 8587.6. - 8587.6. (a) Prior to January 1, 2018, the office shall...

Section 8587.7. - 8587.7. (a) The Office of Emergency Services, in cooperation with...

Section 8587.8. - 8587.8. (a) The Office of Emergency Services, in collaboration with...

Section 8587.9. - 8587.9. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is...

Section 8587.11. - 8587.11. (a) There is in state government, within the office,...

Section 8587.12. - 8587.12. (a) On or before February 1, 2018, the office,...

Section 8588. - 8588. Whenever conditions exist within any region or regions of...

Section 8588.1. - 8588.1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that this state...

Section 8588.2. - 8588.2. (a) The office shall establish a statewide donations system...

Section 8588.3. - 8588.3. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is...

Section 8588.5. - 8588.5. To promote an increase in the number of trained...

Section 8588.7. - 8588.7. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall procure mobile...

Section 8588.8. - 8588.8. Upon the proclamation of a state of emergency declared...

Section 8588.9. - 8588.9. (a) The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program is...

Section 8588.10. - 8588.10. (a) The director shall establish a Curriculum Development Advisory...

Section 8588.11. - 8588.11. (a) The office shall contract with the California Fire...

Section 8588.12. - 8588.12. (a) The Curriculum Development Advisory Committee, described in Section...

Section 8588.15. - 8588.15. (a) The director shall appoint representatives of the access...

Section 8589. - 8589. The Office of Emergency Services shall be permitted the...

Section 8589.1. - 8589.1. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall plan to...

Section 8589.2. - 8589.2. (a) The Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with...

Section 8589.3. - 8589.3. (a) A person who is acting as an agent...

Section 8589.4. - 8589.4. (a) A person who is acting as an agent...

Section 8589.45. - 8589.45. (a) In every lease or rental agreement for residential...

Section 8589.5. - 8589.5. (a) For the purposes of this section, “emergency action...

Section 8589.6. - 8589.6. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall develop model...

Section 8589.65. - 8589.65. (a) The Office of Emergency Services and California Volunteers,...

Section 8589.7. - 8589.7. (a) In carrying out its responsibilities pursuant to subdivision...

ARTICLE 5.1 - Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission

Section 8589.71. - 8589.71. (a) (1) There is in the Office of Emergency...

Section 8589.72. - 8589.72. (a) The commission shall elect annually from its membership...

Section 8589.73. - 8589.73. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the members...

Section 8589.74. - 8589.74. The commission may appoint from its membership, the engineering...

Section 8589.75. - 8589.75. (a) The commission exists as a separate unit within...

Section 8589.76. - 8589.76. The commission, in the discharge of its duties, may...

Section 8589.77. - 8589.77. In accordance with the administrative oversight and policies of...

Section 8589.78. - 8589.78. (a) The personnel records of all transferred employees shall...

ARTICLE 5.5 - State Assistance for Fire Equipment Act

Section 8589.8. - 8589.8. This article shall be known and may be cited...

Section 8589.9. - 8589.9. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is...

Section 8589.10. - 8589.10. As used in this article: (a) “Acquire” means acquisition...

Section 8589.11. - 8589.11. The office may acquire new or used firefighting apparatus...

Section 8589.12. - 8589.12. If a state agency, including the office, proposes to...

Section 8589.13. - 8589.13. (a) The office shall give first priority for the...

Section 8589.14. - 8589.14. The office shall operate an information system which is...

Section 8589.15. - 8589.15. The office may contract with the Prison Industry Authority...

Section 8589.16. - 8589.16. There is hereby created in the General Fund the...

Section 8589.17. - 8589.17. Every contract with a local agency for the resale...

Section 8589.18. - 8589.18. If a local agency defaults on a contract for...

Section 8589.19. - 8589.19. (a) After consultation with the California Emergency Management Agency...

Section 8589.20. - 8589.20. All state agencies, boards, and commissions shall cooperate with...

Section 8589.21. - 8589.21. The director shall be responsible for the programs created...

ARTICLE 5.7 - Firefighting Thermal Imaging Equipment Act of 2001

Section 8590. - 8590. This article shall be known and may be cited...

Section 8590.1. - 8590.1. As used in this article, the following terms have...

Section 8590.2. - 8590.2. There is established in the office a thermal imaging...

Section 8590.3. - 8590.3. In administering the purchasing program, the director shall do...

Section 8590.4. - 8590.4. (a) The director shall seek funding for the program...

ARTICLE 5.9 - Human Trafficking Victims Assistance

Section 8590.6. - 8590.6. For the purposes of this article: (a) “Comprehensive services”...

Section 8590.7. - 8590.7. (a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury...

ARTICLE 5.10 - Seismic Retrofitting Program for Soft Story Multifamily Housing

Section 8590.15. - 8590.15. For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:...

Section 8590.16. - 8590.16. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that there exists...

Section 8590.17. - 8590.17. (a) The CRMP shall develop and administer the program...

Section 8590.18. - 8590.18. (a) The CRMP shall develop criteria and a scoring...

Section 8590.19. - 8590.19. (a) The CRMP may accept any federal funds granted...

Section 8590.20. - 8590.20. (a) By January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter until...

Section 8590.21. - 8590.21. This article shall become inoperative on July 1, 2042,...

ARTICLE 6 - Advisory Committees

Section 8591. - 8591. Nothing in this chapter shall operate to prevent the...

ARTICLE 6.1 - California Olympic and Paralympic Public Safety Command

Section 8591.5. - 8591.5. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall establish, and...

Section 8591.6. - 8591.6. (a) No later than January 31, 2021, the Office...

Section 8591.7. - 8591.7. This article shall remain in effect only until January...

ARTICLE 6.2 - Public Safety Communication Act of 2002

Section 8592. - 8592. This article shall be known and may be cited...

Section 8592.1. - 8592.1. For purposes of this article, the following terms have...

Section 8592.2. - 8592.2. (a) The committee shall have primary responsibility in state...

Section 8592.3. - 8592.3. (a) The committee shall consult with the following organizations...

Section 8592.4. - 8592.4. (a) The committee shall determine which state public safety...

Section 8592.5. - 8592.5. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a state...

Section 8592.7. - 8592.7. (a) A budget proposal submitted by a state agency...

Section 8592.8. - 8592.8. A “911” call, as described in Section 2896.1 of...

Section 8592.9. - 8592.9. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall take all...

ARTICLE 6.3 - The Manny Alert Act

Section 8592.20. - 8592.20. (a) This article shall be known, and may be...

Section 8592.21. - 8592.21. For purposes of this article, “office” means the Office...

Section 8592.22. - 8592.22. (a) The office, in consultation with any persons that...

ARTICLE 6.4 - Cybersecurity

Section 8592.30. - 8592.30. As used in this article, the following definitions shall...

Section 8592.35. - 8592.35. (a) (1) On or before July 1, 2018, the...

Section 8592.40. - 8592.40. (a) Each state agency shall report on its compliance...

Section 8592.45. - 8592.45. The information required by subdivisions (b) and (c) of...

Section 8592.50. - 8592.50. (a) (1) The office shall direct the California Cybersecurity...

ARTICLE 6.5 - Accessibility to Emergency Information and Services

Section 8593. - 8593. The Office of Emergency Services shall work with advocacy...

Section 8593.1. - 8593.1. The Office of Emergency Services shall investigate the feasibility...

Section 8593.2. - 8593.2. The Office of Emergency Services shall investigate the feasibility...

Section 8593.25. - 8593.25. (a) (1) A county, including a city and county,...

Section 8593.3. - 8593.3. (a) A county, including a city and county, shall,...

Section 8593.3.2. - 8593.3.2. (a) A county shall send a copy of its...

Section 8593.3.5. - 8593.3.5. (a) A county, including a city and county, shall,...

Section 8593.4. - 8593.4. (a) A local government may enter into an agreement...

Section 8593.5. - 8593.5. (a) A governing body of a postsecondary institution that...

Section 8593.6. - 8593.6. (a) No later than six months after securing funding...

Section 8593.7. - 8593.7. (a) On or before July 1, 2022, the Office...

Section 8593.8. - 8593.8. (a) (1) A county, including a city and county,...

Section 8593.9. - 8593.9. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall, by January...

Section 8594. - 8594. (a) If a law enforcement agency receives a report...

Section 8594.5. - 8594.5. (a) For purposes of this section, “blue alert” means...

Section 8594.10. - 8594.10. (a) For purposes of this section, “Silver Alert” means...

Section 8594.13. - 8594.13. (a) For purposes of this section, “Feather Alert” means...

Section 8594.15. - 8594.15. (a) For the purposes of this section, “Yellow Alert”...

Section 8594.16. - 8594.16. (a) Translating emergency notifications into the most commonly spoken...

ARTICLE 7 - Other State Agencies

Section 8595. - 8595. The Governor may assign to a state agency any...

Section 8596. - 8596. (a) Each department, division, bureau, board, commission, officer, and...

Section 8597. - 8597. Whenever a state of emergency is proclaimed to exist...

Section 8598. - 8598. Whenever a local emergency exists within a region or...

ARTICLE 7.5 - Statewide Natural Disaster Volunteer Corps Program

Section 8599. - 8599. The Office of Emergency Services shall develop a plan...

Section 8599.2. - 8599.2. The plan required by Section 8599 shall address, at...

ARTICLE 8 - Mutual Aid Regions

Section 8600. - 8600. (a) The Governor with the advice of the Office...

ARTICLE 9 - Operational Areas

Section 8605. - 8605. Each county is designated as an operational area. In...

ARTICLE 9.5 - Disaster Preparedness

Section 8607. - 8607. (a) The Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with...

Section 8607.1. - 8607.1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that...

Section 8607.2. - 8607.2. (a) All public water systems, as defined in subdivision...

Section 8608. - 8608. The Office of Emergency Services shall approve and adopt,...

Section 8608.1. - 8608.1. A city or county that requires a kennel license...

ARTICLE 9.8 - Disaster Preparedness

Section 8609. - 8609. State agencies granted authority by the Governor, the Business...

Section 8609.1. - 8609.1. Any disaster preparedness or response official may be specifically...

ARTICLE 10 - Local Disaster Councils

Section 8610. - 8610. (a) Counties, cities and counties, and cities may create...

Section 8610.3. - 8610.3. The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows: (a)...

Section 8610.5. - 8610.5. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Office” means...

Section 8611. - 8611. Counties, cities and counties, and cities may provide for...

Section 8612. - 8612. Any disaster council that both agrees to follow the...

Section 8613. - 8613. Should an accredited disaster council fail to comply with...

Section 8614. - 8614. (a) Each department, division, bureau, board, commission, officer, and...

ARTICLE 11 - Mutual Aid

Section 8615. - 8615. It is the purpose of the Legislature in enacting...

Section 8616. - 8616. During any state of war emergency or state of...

Section 8617. - 8617. In periods other than a state of war emergency,...

Section 8618. - 8618. Unless otherwise expressly provided by the parties, the responsible...

Section 8619. - 8619. The Governor may on behalf of this state enter...

Section 8619.5. - 8619.5. (a) The Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with...

ARTICLE 12 - State of War Emergency

Section 8620. - 8620. During a state of war emergency the Governor shall...

Section 8621. - 8621. During a state of war emergency every department, commission,...

Section 8622. - 8622. During a state of war emergency, the Governor, any...

Section 8623. - 8623. During a state of war emergency, any person holding...

Section 8624. - 8624. All of the powers granted the Governor by this...

ARTICLE 13 - State of Emergency

Section 8625. - 8625. The Governor is hereby empowered to proclaim a state...

Section 8626. - 8626. Such proclamation shall be in writing and shall take...

Section 8627. - 8627. During a state of emergency the Governor shall, to...

Section 8627.5. - 8627.5. (a) The Governor may make, amend, or rescind orders...

Section 8627.7. - 8627.7. (a) During a period for which the Governor has...

Section 8628. - 8628. During a state of emergency the Governor may direct...

Section 8628.5. - 8628.5. (a) During a state of emergency, the Governor may...

Section 8629. - 8629. The Governor shall proclaim the termination of a state...

ARTICLE 14 - Local Emergency

Section 8630. - 8630. (a) A local emergency may be proclaimed only by...

Section 8631. - 8631. In periods of local emergency, political subdivisions have full...

Section 8632. - 8632. State agencies may provide mutual aid, including personnel, equipment,...

Section 8633. - 8633. In the absence of a state of war emergency...

Section 8634. - 8634. During a local emergency the governing body of a...

ARTICLE 15 - Preservation of Local Government

Section 8635. - 8635. The Legislature recognizes that if this state or nation...

Section 8636. - 8636. As used in this article, “unavailable” means that an...

Section 8637. - 8637. Each political subdivision may provide for the succession of...

Section 8638. - 8638. To provide for the continuance of the legislative and...

Section 8639. - 8639. The qualifications of each standby officer should be carefully...

Section 8640. - 8640. Each standby officer shall take the oath of office...

Section 8641. - 8641. Each standby officer shall have the following duties: (a)...

Section 8642. - 8642. Whenever a state of war emergency a state of...

Section 8643. - 8643. During a state of war emergency a state of...

Section 8644. - 8644. Should all members of the governing body, including all...

ARTICLE 16 - General Fiscal Provisions

Section 8645. - 8645. In addition to any appropriation made to support activities...

Section 8646. - 8646. In carrying out the provisions of this chapter, the...

Section 8647. - 8647. (a) Whenever the federal government or any agency or...

Section 8648. - 8648. The Governor may reimburse any state agency for funds...

Section 8649. - 8649. Subject to the approval of the Department of Finance,...

Section 8650. - 8650. Any funds received by state agencies as reimbursement for...

Section 8651. - 8651. The Director of Emergency Services may procure from the...

Section 8652. - 8652. Before payment may be made by the state to...

Section 8653. - 8653. In the event that the Governor, during a state...

Section 8654. - 8654. (a) Whenever the Governor has proclaimed a state of...

Section 8654.1. - 8654.1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that financial assistance...

ARTICLE 16.5 - California Wildfire Mitigation Financial Assistance Program

Section 8654.2. - 8654.2. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) Catastrophic...

Section 8654.2. - 8654.2. (a) There is hereby created the California Emergency Relief...

Section 8654.3. - 8654.3. For purposes of this section: (a) “Joint powers authority”...

Section 8654.4. - 8654.4. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall enter into...

Section 8654.5. - 8654.5. (a) The State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the...

Section 8654.6. - 8654.6. Designated wildfire hazard areas eligible for financial assistance under...

Section 8654.7. - 8654.7. (a) The joint powers authority may accept any federal...

Section 8654.8. - 8654.8. (a) The joint powers authority shall develop eligibility criteria...

Section 8654.9. - 8654.9. (a) The joint powers authority may enter into cooperative...

Section 8654.10. - 8654.10. (a) The operation of this article is contingent upon...

ARTICLE 17 - Privileges and Immunities

Section 8655. - 8655. The state or its political subdivisions shall not be...

Section 8655.5. - 8655.5. (a) As used in this section, the following terms...

Section 8656. - 8656. All of the privileges and immunities from liability; exemptions...

Section 8657. - 8657. (a) Volunteers duly enrolled or registered with the Office...

Section 8657.5. - 8657.5. (a) (1) A private business utilizing the donations system,...

Section 8658. - 8658. In any case in which an emergency endangering the...

Section 8659. - 8659. (a) Any physician or surgeon (whether licensed in this...

Section 8660. - 8660. No other state or its officers or employees rendering...

ARTICLE 18 - Political Activity

Section 8661. - 8661. No organization established under the authority of this chapter...

ARTICLE 19 - Penalties and Severability

Section 8665. - 8665. Any person who violates any of the provisions of...

Section 8666. - 8666. If any section, subdivision, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase...

ARTICLE 20 - Effect Upon Existing Matters

Section 8668. - 8668. (a) Any disaster council previously accredited, the State Civil...

ARTICLE 21 - California Firefighter Peer Support and Crisis Referral Services Act

Section 8669.05. - 8669.05. This article shall be known, and may be cited,...

Section 8669.10. - 8669.10. (a) The state or any local or regional public...

Section 8669.15. - 8669.15. For purposes of this article, the following terms have...

Section 8669.17. - 8669.17. (a) A peer support program for local or regional...

Section 8669.20. - 8669.20. (a) In any civil, administrative, or arbitration proceeding, an...

Section 8669.25. - 8669.25. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), an...

Section 8669.30. - 8669.30. (a) In order to be eligible for the confidentiality...

ARTICLE 22 - Law Enforcement Peer Support and Crisis Referral Services Program

Section 8669.1. - 8669.1. The article shall be known, and may be cited,...

Section 8669.2. - 8669.2. (a) A local or regional law enforcement agency may...

Section 8669.3. - 8669.3. For purposes of this article, the following terms have...

Section 8669.4. - 8669.4. (a) A law enforcement personnel, whether or not a...

Section 8669.5. - 8669.5. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a...

Section 8669.6. - 8669.6. (a) To be eligible for the confidentiality protections afforded...

Section 8669.7. - 8669.7. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a...