8595-8598
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 8595-8598
8595. The Governor may assign to a state agency any activity concerned with the mitigation of the effects of an emergency of a nature related to the existing powers and duties of such agency, including interstate activities, and it shall thereupon become the duty of such agency to undertake and carry out such activity on behalf of the state. 8596. (a) Each department, division, bureau, board, commission, officer, and employee of this state shall render all possible assistance to the Governor and to the Secretary of Emergency Management in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. (b) In providing that assistance, state agencies shall cooperate to the fullest possible extent with each other and with political subdivisions, relief agencies, and the American National Red Cross, but nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to limit or in any way affect the responsibilities of the American National Red Cross under the federal act approved January 5, 1905 (33 Stat. 599), as amended. (c) Entities providing disaster-related services and assistance shall strive to ensure that all victims receive the assistance that they need and for which they are eligible. Public employees shall assist evacuees and other individuals in securing disaster-related assistance and services without eliciting any information or document that is not strictly necessary to determine eligibility under state and federal laws. Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent public employees from taking reasonable steps to protect the health or safety of evacuees and other individuals during an emergency. (d) State personnel, equipment, and facilities may be used to clear and dispose of debris on private property only after the Governor finds: (1) that the use is for a state purpose; (2) that the use is in the public interest, serving the general welfare of the state; and (3) that the personnel, equipment, and facilities are already in the emergency area. 8597. Whenever a state of emergency is proclaimed to exist within any region or area, or whenever a state of war emergency exists, the following classes of state employees who are within the region or area proclaimed or who may be assigned to duty therein shall be peace officers and shall have the full powers and duties of those officers for all purposes as provided by Section 830.1 of the Penal Code, and shall perform those duties and exercise any powers which are appropriate or which may be directed by their superior officers: (a) All peace officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. (b) All deputies of the Department of Fish and Game who have been appointed to enforce the provisions of the Fish and Game Code pursuant to Section 851 of that code. (c) The Director of Forestry and Fire Protection and the classes of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who are designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection as having the powers of peace officers pursuant to Section 4156 of the Public Resources Code. (d) Peace officers who are state employees within the provisions of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code. 8598. Whenever a local emergency exists within a region or area of the state and the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the Department of Corrections or the Department of the Youth Authority employing any peace officer within Section 830.5 of the Penal Code is requested by properly constituted local authorities to assist local law enforcement, the officers assigned to assist within the designated regions or areas shall have the full powers of peace officers within the meaning of Section 830.1 of the Penal Code and shall perform those duties and exercise those powers as are appropriate or as may be directed by their superior officers.