SECTIONS 8595-8598 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 8595-8598

8595. The Governor may assign to a state agency any activity
concerned with the mitigation of the effects of an emergency of a
nature related to the existing powers and duties of such agency,
including interstate activities, and it shall thereupon become the
duty of such agency to undertake and carry out such activity on
behalf of the state.

8596. (a) Each department, division, bureau, board, commission,
officer, and employee of this state shall render all possible
assistance to the Governor and to the Secretary of Emergency
Management in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
(b) In providing that assistance, state agencies shall cooperate
to the fullest possible extent with each other and with political
subdivisions, relief agencies, and the American National Red Cross,
but nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to limit or
in any way affect the responsibilities of the American National Red
Cross under the federal act approved January 5, 1905 (33 Stat. 599),
as amended.
(c) Entities providing disaster-related services and assistance
shall strive to ensure that all victims receive the assistance that
they need and for which they are eligible. Public employees shall
assist evacuees and other individuals in securing disaster-related
assistance and services without eliciting any information or document
that is not strictly necessary to determine eligibility under state
and federal laws. Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent public
employees from taking reasonable steps to protect the health or
safety of evacuees and other individuals during an emergency.
(d) State personnel, equipment, and facilities may be used to
clear and dispose of debris on private property only after the
Governor finds: (1) that the use is for a state purpose; (2) that the
use is in the public interest, serving the general welfare of the
state; and (3) that the personnel, equipment, and facilities are
already in the emergency area.

8597. Whenever a state of emergency is proclaimed to exist within
any region or area, or whenever a state of war emergency exists, the
following classes of state employees who are within the region or
area proclaimed or who may be assigned to duty therein shall be peace
officers and shall have the full powers and duties of those officers
for all purposes as provided by Section 830.1 of the Penal Code, and
shall perform those duties and exercise any powers which are
appropriate or which may be directed by their superior officers:
(a) All peace officers of the Department of the California Highway
Patrol.
(b) All deputies of the Department of Fish and Game who have been
appointed to enforce the provisions of the Fish and Game Code
pursuant to Section 851 of that code.
(c) The Director of Forestry and Fire Protection and the classes
of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who are designated
by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection as having the powers
of peace officers pursuant to Section 4156 of the Public Resources
Code.
(d) Peace officers who are state employees within the provisions
of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code.

8598. Whenever a local emergency exists within a region or area of
the state and the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the
Department of Corrections or the Department of the Youth Authority
employing any peace officer within Section 830.5 of the Penal Code is
requested by properly constituted local authorities to assist local
law enforcement, the officers assigned to assist within the
designated regions or areas shall have the full powers of peace
officers within the meaning of Section 830.1 of the Penal Code and
shall perform those duties and exercise those powers as are
appropriate or as may be directed by their superior officers.