HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislative Review - SB1346 (Ducheny) - Fire Prevention & Suppresion-7E; sl
CITY OF PALM DESERT
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
COMMITTEE ACTION ON SB1346 (DUCHENY) AT IT'S
MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2004
DATE: MAY 13, 2004
CONTENTS: SB1346 Language
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, concur with the action taken by the Legislative Review Committee at
it's meeting of April 27, 2004, and direct staff to prepare a letter of opposition for the
Mayor's signature with regard to SB1346 (Decheny) relative to Fire Prevention and
Suppression.
Executive Summary:
Passage of SB1346 would require the Department of Forestry to staff at least four
persons on all department fire engines during fire season, except in Southern California,
where the Departments would be required to staff at least four persons on fire engines
year round.
Background:
Under existing law, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is responsible for
protecting the State's forest, range, and brush land resources from fire and requires that
the Department organize fire crews and patrols. Passage of SB1346 would require the
Department to staff at least four persons on all department fire engines during the fire
season, except in Southern California, where the bill would require the Department to
staff at least four persons in all department fire engines year round.
The reason for this Legislative Committee recommendation is two fold:
• The City of Palm Desert contracts for fire protection services with the County of
Riverside, which in turn contracts with the State's Department of Forestry. The
bill as written does not differentiate between services for the State and the local
contracts. If passed as written it could be interpreted to mean that all engines
staffed by CDF personnel could have the same requirement. The City currently
contracts for 3 man engines.
SB1346 (Ducheny)
May 13, 2004
Page 2 of 2
• It will probably be the beginning, at least at the state level that will eventually set
standards for all agencies that provide fire protection. Four man engine
requirements would substantially increase the cost of providing fire protection
services.
Patric Scully
Seni Management Analyst
Sheila R. Gilligan
ACM Community Service
PS/CLO:ah
Paul Gibson
Director of Finance/City Treasurer
Carlos L. Or:�
City Mana•er
G:1CityMgr\Amy HughesMWord Files\Ortega\staff reports151304Ducheny.doc
SB 1346 Senate Bill INTRODUCED
Page 1 of 1
BILL NUMBER: SB 1346 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Ducheny
FEBRUARY 18, 2004
An act to add Section 4114.3 to the Public Resources Code,
relating to natural resources.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1346, as introduced, Ducheny. Natural resources: fire
prevention and suppression.
Under existing law, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
is responsible for protecting the state's forest, range, and
brushland resources from fire. Existing law requires the department
to organize fire crews and patrols.
This bill would require the department to staff at least four
persons on all department fire engines during fire season, as
defined, except in southern 'California, as defined, where the bill
would require the department to staff at least 4 persons on all
department fire engines year-round.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State -mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 4114.3 is added to the Public Resources Code,
to read:
4114.3. (a) The department shall staff at least four persons on
all department fire engines during fire season, except in southern
California, where the department shall staff at least four persons on
all department fire engines year-round.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(1) "Fire season" means the period, declared by the director,
during which weather and fuel conditions present a constant fire
hazard to the people of the state.
(2)"Southern California" means the area of the state that is south
of Santa Barbara and the Tehachapi mountain range.
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb 1301-1350/sb_1346 bill 20040218_introduced.html 4/14/2004