OES now Cal EMA?As part of the Governor's efforts to streamline the state's emergency response capabilities, he recently signed AB 38 by Assembly member Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), which will combine OES and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security (OHS) into a new cabinet-level California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA). The bill gives the merged agency the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities in the state.
Some Frequently Asked Questions1. When will the California Emergency Management Agency become a new state agency? The legislation takes effect on January 1, 2009
2. What will happen to the Office of Emergency Services? Its operations and functions will be merged with the Office of Homeland Security into a new state agency.
3. Who will be in charge of this new agency? The California Emergency Management Agency shall be under the supervision of a Secretary of California Emergency Management, who shall have all rights and powers of a head of an agency as provided. This position is appointed by the Governor.
(More information about the structure and leadership of the new agency will be announced as it becomes available.)http://www.oes.ca.gov/WebPage/oeswebsite.nsf/Content/133E6011D9901DF4882574D300787165?OpenDocument
