Oversight Hearings Urge OES, OHS Merger, Creation of Dept. of Public Health

For many of us in the legislature, not a day passes when we don’t think about the safety and security of the nation and this state. As elected and appointed officials, it’s our highest calling. But there are some things we can’t control, such as most natural disasters and, God forbid, acts of terrorism.

However, there are many things we can control. This includes everything from emergency planning and protecting critical assets, to ensuring that all necessary emergency resources and equipment such as medical supplies and emergency communication systems are available and functional. After more than a dozen policy hearings the Assembly has either convened alone or participated in with the Senate, we are now, finally at the point, where I believe a consensus has been arrived at, that will allow this State to take the next step in protecting its citizens.

The time has come to rethink the current state organizational structure for matters of emergency preparedness and homeland security. We now have two separate state entities responsible for different, and sometimes overlapping, responsibilities in the areas of emergency preparedness and response and homeland security: the Office of Emergency Services (OES), with almost 500 employees and a budget of $1 billion dollars, and the Office of Homeland Security (OHS), with 32 staff and a budget of $367 million.

The Governor’s proposed budget contemplates establishing OHS as an independent entity, effective 1/1/2007. Instead, I would suggest, that they need to operate as one cabinet-level agency. A new Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security would provide the clear chain of command that is needed during emergencies. It would also allow for the specific responsibilities of the two offices to be better defined. This would be good for both management and for accountability reasons, which have suffered under the current structure.

I am calling for the merger of the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security to create a cabinet-level post for these vital offices, an increased effort to make communications interoperability a reality, and the creation a of State Department of Public Health.

It is only a matter of time before California is rocked with a natural or man-made disaster. The State of California must be prepared to plan and respond to earthquakes, fires, floods, disease or terrorist attacks. Right now, there is a good chance we would fall flat on our faces in major crisis. The changes we are recommending would go far in improving this system.

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