8575-8582
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 8575-8582
8575. (a) There is hereby created a California Emergency Council, to consist of all of the following members: (1) The Governor, or an alternate appointed by him or her. (2) The Lieutenant Governor, or an alternate appointed by him or her. (3) The Attorney General, or an alternate appointed by him or her. (4) One representative of the city governments of the state and one representative of the county governments of the state, to be appointed by the Governor and to serve at his or her pleasure, except that these members shall be from different counties. (5) One representative of the American National Red Cross, to be appointed by the Governor. (6) One representative of the city or county fire services of the state and one representative of the city or county law enforcement services of the state, to be appointed by the Governor and to serve at his or her pleasure, except that these members shall be from different counties. (7) One representative of a local public health agency, to be appointed by the Governor and to serve at his or her pleasure. (b) The President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall meet with and participate in the work of the Emergency Council to the same extent as members of the council appointed by the Governor, except when that participation is constitutionally incompatible with their respective positions as Members of the Legislature. (c) If the President pro Tempore of the Senate does not desire to serve on the Emergency Council, the Senate Rules Committee may appoint a Member of the Senate to serve in his or her stead. If the Speaker of the Assembly does not desire to serve on the Emergency Council, he or she may appoint a Member of the Assembly to serve in his or her stead. 8576. (a) The Governor shall be ex officio Chairperson of the Emergency Council. (b) The California Emergency Management Agency shall provide staff support to the Emergency Council as necessary. 8577. Neither the members of the Emergency Council nor the Members of the Legislature shall receive compensation for their services under this chapter, but they shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in connection with their duties hereunder. 8578. The Emergency Council shall meet upon call of the Governor, not less frequently than annually. Except during a state of war emergency or a state of emergency, notice of such meeting shall be given to each member not less than 15 days prior to the day selected by the Governor for the meeting of the Emergency Council. 8579. (a) It shall be the duty of the Emergency Council, and it is hereby empowered, to act as an advisory body to the Governor in times of emergency and with reference thereto in order to minimize the effects of those occurrences by recommending ameliorative action. (b) The powers and duties of the Emergency Council shall include all of the following: (1) To consider, recommend, and approve orders and regulations that are within the province of the Governor to promulgate. (2) To consider and recommend to the Governor for approval the boundaries of any mutual aid regions of the state as may be designated. (3) To recommend to the Governor the assignment of any responsibility, service, or activity relative to emergencies or emergency planning to a state agency having duties related to that responsibility, service, or activity. (4) To consider and recommend the creation by the Governor of advisory committees in order to make civilian participation and cooperation in emergency planning and activities available to the state. (5) To consider and recommend the expenditures of moneys appropriated for any of the objectives or purposes of this chapter. (6) To consider and recommend to the Governor for approval a State Emergency Plan built around mutual aid and the integration into that plan of the several state agencies whose resources are necessary in coping with emergencies. (7) To encourage the development and maintenance of emergency plans based on mutual aid, whereunder political subdivisions may most effectively protect life and property and mitigate other effects of emergencies. (8) To evaluate and report to the Governor on state communications systems with particular regard to their adequacy in case of emergency. (9) To encourage the individual and integrated emergency preparedness efforts of communities, businesses, and schools. (c) (1) The Emergency Council shall, at a minimum, have the following two standing advisory committees, with members selected by the Governor: (A) An advisory committee composed of representatives of volunteer organizations that aid or prepare their communities for potential disasters. (B) An advisory committee composed of the business leaders representing businesses in the state that will work in partnership with government to prepare businesses and communities for potential disasters. (2) The duties of the advisory committees shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (A) Developing and promoting statewide initiatives and programs to better prepare communities, businesses, and schools to survive disasters. (B) Advising the Emergency Council on how public, private, and nonprofit entities can provide resources, assets, personnel, volunteers, and any other relevant services to fully integrate the private sector into the state's emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery plans. (C) Advising the Emergency Council on appropriate agreements to provide for quick access to emergency supplies and services in order to minimize the need to stockpile those supplies. (3) The members of the advisory committees shall receive no compensation for their service. (d) When the Emergency Council is not meeting, the California Emergency Management Agency shall provide notice to the members of the council of any state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to Section 8558, as soon as practical after the issuance of the proclamation. The notification shall include the status of emergency activities. 8582. Nothing herein shall operate to prevent the Governor from establishing a committee or board composed of heads of state agencies, should he deem it necessary to aid him or the Emergency Council or both in obtaining information or advice, assisting in developing or carrying out plans, or otherwise acting in accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter.