Sacramento - State Assemblymember Betty Karnette's (D-Long Beach) legislation to improve port security throughout California was approved on the Assembly Floor today. The bill, AB 1406, was amended to include specific requirements of the State of California Office of Homeland Security to assess funding needs, and sources of funding, to ensure California meets the U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidelines for port security. The measure now goes to the Governor for consideration.

Stated Karnette, "This measure has been significantly amended and received bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly. I am optimistic the Governor will support my efforts to improve homeland security and deter terrorist attacks. Assembly Bill 1406 is an important measure to ensure the state and federal government are working cooperatively to adequately protect California's ports."

Specifically, AB 1406 requires the state Office of Homeland Security (OHS) to determine the amount of funding necessary to meet federal port security requirements as established under federal law. Additionally, the bill requires the OHS to develop recommendations of how to develop a sufficient stream of security funding necessary to fully satisfy federal port security requirements that cannot be funded with current federal resources.

"While port security remains a federal responsibility, I know that it is also the duty of local and state officials to assess the fiscal needs to meet homeland security demands. I am convinced that California will never receive its fair share of port security funds from Washington, D.C., and it is necessary for California to identify its funding needs and sources to better prepare some of the State's biggest economic engines against terrorists," Karnette said.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that national port security will cost $7.5 billion over the next 10 years. California, which handles just under half of the nation's waterborne cargo, is projected to need roughly $2 billion dollars for port security in the next decade.