SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER BLOCH

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 1: EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION.

EXISTING FEDERAL LAW ESTABLISHES THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) WITHIN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND SETS FORTH THE DUTIES OF THE AGENCY AND ITS ADMINISTRATOR WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, MITIGATION, AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE COUNTRY.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DIRECT THE FEMA ADMINISTRATOR 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.

AFP 1: 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 HIGH-RISE 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 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE FEMA ADMINISTRATOR 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 CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT 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 PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

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RN 11 18085