SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 25

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER BLOCH

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 25: EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY SERVICES ACT, THE GOVERNOR IS AUTHORIZED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY PLAN, TO PLAN FOR, PROCURE, AND PREPOSITION SUPPLIES, MEDICINES, MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT, AND PROVIDE FOR MOBILE SUPPORT UNITS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DIRECT THE GOVERNOR TO MOBILIZE PARATRANSIT VEHICLES, PARAMEDICS, OR ANY OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT CAN BE SAFELY USED TO MOVE THE DISABLED AND SENIOR POPULATIONS TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY RECEIVE NEEDED SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTER.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 25: RELATING TO EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION

WHEREAS, THE DISABLED AND SENIOR POPULATIONS INCLUDE MANY WHO LIVE ALONE AND IN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE RAPID ACCESS IS DIFFICULT, SUCH AS IN THE HILLS, IN MOTORHOME PARKS, AND IN HIGHRISE BUILDINGS WITH INOPERATIVE ELEVATORS; AND

WHEREAS, SOME OF THE DISABLED AND SENIORS ARE HOMEBOUND OR LIVE IN HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, OR IN RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES; AND

WHEREAS, THESE POPULATIONS SUFFER FROM A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS THAT WILL REQUIRE SPECIAL PLANNING BECAUSE MANY ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES IN AN EMERGENCY RESULTING FROM A NATURAL DISASTER; AND

WHEREAS, SOME HAVE PERSONAL ASSISTANTS OR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE DOGS; AND

WHEREAS, SOME DISABILITIES INCLUDE FRAGILITY, DEMENTIA AND OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS, CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS, GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS, DIABETES, ASTHMA, AND OTHER PNEUMO-BRONCHIAL DISORDERS, PARA AND QUADRIPLEGIA, HEARING LOSS AND DEAFNESS, SIGHT LOSS AND BLINDNESS, AND GENERAL ILLNESSES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE GOVERNOR BE DIRECTED TO MOBILIZE PARATRANSIT VEHICLES, PARAMEDICS, OR ANY OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT CAN BE SAFELY USED TO MOVE THE DISABLED AND SENIOR POPULATIONS TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY RECEIVE NEEDED SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTER; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 09 16410

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