SACRAMENTO – Assembly Member Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) today won support from a key policy committee for a bill that could streamline emergency assistance for disaster victims. 

AB 2327, authored by Assembly Member Anna Caballero would require public employees to assist evacuees and other individuals in securing disaster-related assistance and services without asking for information or documents that are not strictly necessary to determine eligibility under state or federal laws.  Non-profit organizations would be encouraged to comply with the same guidelines. The bill passed out of the Assembly Government Organization Committee on a vote of 11-2.8-__.

Caballero introduced the bill following reports that some victims of last year’s San Diego fires were turned away from emergency shelters and denied food and clothing based on their inability to provide “proof” that they were bona fide victims. 

Victims fleeing a disaster commonly lack or lose access to their personal documents and replacing those documents can be particularly burdensome for the homeless, the elderly, Native American populations, persons with disabilities, immigrants and others.

“I was horrified to read that people were asked to leave the shelter in the middle of the night and were denied basic services, because they failed to bring with them identifying paperwork before leaving a disaster scene,” said Caballero.

“If your neighborhood is on fire, are you going to search for documents to prove who you are and where you live, or make sure your family and pets are safe?” she asked. 

Existing law requires state entities and employees to render all possible assistance to the state Office of Emergency Services, and to cooperate with each other and other specified relief agencies.  AB 2327 does not change these provisions, but will emphasize that public employees need only require that disaster victims provide documentation already required by state and federal laws prior to receiving emergency services.

“My goal is to make sure that all Californians forced to flee from their homes because of a disaster receive basic food, shelter and clothing,” said Caballero. 

 The bill is a non-fiscal measure, and goes next to the Assembly Floor for vote.