Assembly BillChaptered/SignedGovernment
AB 2471: Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.
What AB 2471 does, verified September 17, 2026
This bill aims to amend the California Emergency Services Act to improve the state's emergency response services. The bill would make the following changes: The Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission would be expanded to include representatives from the state fire marshal, department of insurance, and strategic growth council. The commission's quorum would be changed from 8 to 9 members, with the governor appointing 9 members instead of 10. The commission would be required to work with the office of the state fire marshal, department of insurance, and strategic growth council to identify key activities and responsibilities related to seismic safety. The commission would also be authorized to make policy recommendations to the legislature until January 1, 2030.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 212, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-15)Alert me
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Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions25 total · showing 5
| Sep. 15, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 212, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 15, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 04, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6719.). |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 14, 2026 · 1,860 words
Assembly Bill No. 2471
CHAPTER 212
An act to amend Sections 8589.71, 8589.72, and 8589.75 of the Government Code, relating to emergency services.
[ Approved by Governor September 14, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 14, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2471, Committee on Emergency Management. Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the Governor’s office under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services and makes the office responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. Existing law establishes the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission in the Office of Emergency Services, which consists of 15 members, 10 of whom are appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and 3 members who are representatives of specified state agencies. Existing law requires at least 8 members to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any commission meeting, as specified. Existing law requires the commission to, at a minimum, work with specified entities to, among other things, identify key activities and responsibilities related to seismic safety. Existing law, until January 1, 2030, authorizes the commission to coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of Emergency Services to, among other things, research other potential sources of funding for seismic mitigation activities.
This bill would additionally provide for the appointment of 3 members who are representatives of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Insurance, and Strategic Growth Council, and would reduce the number of members appointed by the Governor to 9 members, as specified. The bill would instead require at least 9 members to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any commission meeting, as specified. The bill would additionally require the commission to, at a minimum, work with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Insurance, and Strategic Growth Council to, among other things, identify key activities and responsibilities related to seismic safety. The bill would additionally authorize the commission, until January 1, 2030, to coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of Emergency Services to make policy recommendations to the Legislature, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8589.71 of the Government Code is amended to read:8589.71.
(a) (1) There is in the Office of Emergency Services the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission that consists of 17 members, 9 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and includes representatives from the professional fields identified in subdivision (d).(2) Any reference in statute or regulation to the Seismic Safety Commission shall be deemed to refer to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.
(b) The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint one member. Each of the members appointed pursuant to this subdivision may designate an alternate who shall be counted toward a quorum, who may vote, and who may receive expenses specified in Section 8589.73.
(c) One member shall be a representative from the Office of Emergency Services, one member shall be a representative from the Division of the State Architect in the Department of General Services, one member shall be a representative of the State Fire Marshal, one member shall be a representative of the Department of Insurance, one member shall be a representative of the Strategic Growth Council, and one member shall be a representative from the California Building Standards Commission. These members shall annually update the commission on their seismic safety activities pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8589.75.
(d) (1) Nine members shall represent the fields of structural engineering, planning, fire protection, public or investor owned utilities, insurance, social services, emergency services, and other local government areas that serve the public interest.
(2) At least four members shall be submitted by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, while the current membership of the commission is increased to 17, the following shall occur:
Appointments made prior to July 1, 2020, that are from established organizations outside the fields identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) shall remain on the commission until the current term expires.
(f) The Legislature declares that the individuals appointed to the commission are intended to represent the professions of structural engineering, planning, fire protection, public utilities, local government, insurance, social services, emergency services, and the Legislature and that this representation serves the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that for purposes of persons who hold this office, the specified professions are tantamount to and constitute the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103.
(g) Each member of the commission shall be appointed for a term of four years. Vacancies occurring on the commission shall be filled by appointment of the appointing power for the unexpired term.
(h) The appointing power may remove any member of the commission for neglect of duty required by this article, incompetency, or unprofessional conduct.
SEC. 2.
Section 8589.72 of the Government Code is amended to read:8589.72.
(a) The commission shall elect annually from its membership its own chairperson and vice chairperson and may replace them with other commissioners by majority vote. Commission members shall be residents of California.(b) The commission shall hold at least three regular meetings each year. Additional meetings may be held upon call of the chairperson or at the written request of any two members of the commission.
(c) Notice of each regular meeting of the commission shall be given in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3).
(d) At least nine members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any commission meeting if there are no vacancies, or else a majority of the appointed members of the commission at the time.
SEC. 3.
Section 8589.75 of the Government Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 212 of the Statutes of 2024, is amended to read:8589.75.
(a) The commission exists as a separate unit within the Office of Emergency Services, and may recommend policies, hold meetings, hold hearings, set dates of the meetings or hearings, and positions on proposed state and federal legislation. The commission shall retain authority to issue reports, publications, and literature.(b) (1) At a minimum, the commission shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings, progress, and recommendations related to activities of the commission and the state toward higher levels of seismic safety and any other seismic safety issues.
(2) The Legislature finds that numerous agencies at various levels of government have substantial responsibilities in the fields of earthquake preparedness and seismic safety. To provide a consistent policy framework to track and monitor those activities, the commission shall, at a minimum, work with agencies that include, but are not limited to, the entities listed in subparagraphs (A) to (L), inclusive, to identify key activities and responsibilities related to seismic safety and develop a schedule to provide periodic updates to the commission on their activities. This information shall be summarized in the report required in paragraph (1) and include information to find additional information related to these activities therein:
(A) Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.
(B) California Earthquake Authority.
(C) Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
(D) Department of Transportation.
(E) Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams.
(F) Public Utilities Commission.
(G) State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(H) University of California.
(I) The California State University.
(J) Office of the State Fire Marshal.
(K) Department of Insurance.
(L) Strategic Growth Council.
(c) (1) The commission may coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of Emergency Services to do any of the following:
(A) Develop a list of all fire stations in California and each station’s status in meeting the standards of the Essential Services Buildings Seismic Safety Act of 1986 (Article 1 (commencing with Section 16000) of Chapter 2 of Division 12.5 of the Health and Safety Code) to determine which stations are adequately designed and constructed to minimize fire hazards and to resist the forces generated by earthquakes, gravity, and winds.
(B) Collect data on the implementation of earthquake early warning technology in all fire stations in California and their interest in implementing that technology.
(C) Research other potential sources of funding for seismic mitigation activities.
(D) Make policy recommendations to the Legislature to mitigate the risks of both of the following:
(i) Fires following major earthquakes in urban areas, including, but not limited to, alternative water suppression systems.
(ii) Disruptions to fuel, gas, electrical, water, transportation, communications, and other lifeline infrastructure systems due to major earthquakes.
(2) By January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the commission shall provide a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Emergency Management describing the commission’s actions, conclusions, and policy recommendations pursuant to paragraph (1).
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.
Section 8589.75 of the Government Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 212 of the Statutes of 2024, is amended to read:8589.75.
(a) The commission exists as a separate unit within the Office of Emergency Services, and may recommend policies, hold meetings, hold hearings, set dates of the meetings or hearings, and positions on proposed state and federal legislation. The commission shall retain authority to issue reports, publications, and literature.(b) (1) At a minimum, the commission shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings, progress, and recommendations related to activities of the commission and the state toward higher levels of seismic safety and any other seismic safety issues.
(2) The Legislature finds that numerous agencies at various levels of government have substantial responsibilities in the fields of earthquake preparedness and seismic safety. To provide a consistent policy framework to track and monitor those activities, the commission shall, at a minimum, work with agencies that include, but are not limited to, the entities listed in subparagraphs (A) to (L), inclusive, to identify key activities and responsibilities related to seismic safety and develop a schedule to provide periodic updates to the commission on their activities. This information shall be summarized in the report required in paragraph (1) and include information to find additional information related to these activities therein:
(A) Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey.
(B) California Earthquake Authority.
(C) Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
(D) Department of Transportation.
(E) Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams.
(F) Public Utilities Commission.
(G) State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(H) University of California.
(I) The California State University.
(J) Office of the State Fire Marshal.
(K) Department of Insurance.
(L) Strategic Growth Council.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2030.
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