To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Rex Bohn
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Letter of Support for Assembly Bill 38 Related to Fire Safety (Supervisor Rex Bohn)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair to sign and send the attached letter of support for Assembly Bill 38 (“AB 38”) to Governor Newsom.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
AB 38, introduced by Assembly Member Wood, addresses fire safety with low-cost retrofits, regional capacity review, and a wildfire mitigation program. AB 38 is on Governor Newsom’s desk and he will need to act on the bill by October 15, 2019. AB 38 will provide resources to communities through the administration of a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program with the aim of increasing the number of structures that meet current defensible space standards and wildland urban interface building codes; thus, reducing their vulnerability to the impacts of wildfire. The bill will also require the Natural Resources Agency to review the regional capacity of counties to improve forest health, fire resiliency, and safety. If enacted, AB 38 will require prescribed disclosure notices and information about home hardening improvements and low-cost retrofits to home buyers.
Support for AB 38 is consistent with the Humboldt County 2019 Legislative Platform under the categories of Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Assistance and Climate Change Protection. In addition, the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (“HCFSC”) supports sending a letter urging enactment of the bill, in recognition that it will provide resources for the implementation of the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. In short, the enactment of AB 38 will support getting more homes in Humboldt county retrofitted to withstand damage from wildfire.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board Discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter of support for AB 38
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A