Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials. Existing law authorizes the department to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when the department makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public. Under its existing regulatory authority, the department has adopted regulations establishing requirements, including a requirement that an individual acting as a radiation machine radiographer be a certified radiation machine radiographer, for conducting field radiography.

This bill would require the department to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from the regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials. Existing law authorizes the department to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when the department makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public. Under its existing regulatory authority, the department has adopted regulations establishing requirements, including a requirement that an individual acting as a radiation machine radiographer be a certified radiation machine radiographer, for conducting field radiography.

This bill would require the department to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from the regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials. Existing law authorizes the department to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when the department makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public. Under its existing regulatory authority, the department has adopted regulations establishing requirements, including a requirement that an individual acting as a radiation machine radiographer be a certified radiation machine radiographer, for conducting field radiography.

This bill would require the department to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from the regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials. Existing law authorizes the department to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when the department makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public. Under its existing regulatory authority, the department has adopted regulations establishing requirements, including a requirement that an individual acting as a radiation machine radiographer be a certified radiation machine radiographer, for conducting field radiography.

This bill would require the department to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from the licensing requirement bomb technicians of a bomb squad of specified public entities who have completed the required training, are certified by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, and have submitted to the department a record of current certification. The bill would require the department to exempt from the registration and inspection requirements sources of ionizing radiation operated by the bomb squads of the specified public entities. regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials. Existing law authorizes the department to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when the department makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public.

This bill would require the department to exempt from the licensing requirement bomb technicians of a bomb squad of specified public entities who have completed the required training and training, are certified by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. The bill would require the filing of a written record of current certification of certified bomb technicians employed by those bomb squads. Because the bill would require filing of written records by local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Investigation, and have submitted to the department a record of current certification. The bill would require the department to exempt from the registration and inspection requirements sources of ionizing radiation operated by the bomb squads of the specified public entities.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials. Existing law authorizes the department to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when the department makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public.

This bill would require the department to exempt from the licensing requirement bomb technicians of a bomb squad of specified public entities who have completed the required training and are certified by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. The bill would require the filing of a written record of current certification of certified bomb technicians employed by those bomb squads. Because the bill would require filing of written records by local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the department to exempt from the registration and inspection requirements sources of ionizing radiation operated by the bomb squads of the specified public entities.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 911

Author:(Wood and Quirk)

As Amended Ver:June 19, 2017

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: HEALTH

SUMMARY: Exempts certified bomb technicians employed by local governments and the State of California, including the University of California (UC), from specified requirements related to radioactive materials. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to exempt a bomb squad of a city, city and county, county, special district, or the State of California, including UC, from specified provisions of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) related to field radiography if all of the following requirements are met:
   1. All operators of ionizing sources of radiation are explosive ordnance disposal technicians certified as bomb technicians by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
   2. A radiation safety officer (RSO), who is certified as a bomb technician by the FBI, is designated by the employing jurisdiction. Specifies provisions of the CCR that apply to the RSO.
   3. The bomb squad has written operating procedures that apply to the kinds of radiation machines used by the bomb squad and are followed by applicable personnel.
   4. Radiation machines maintained and operated by the bomb squad meet specified requirements.
   5. The jurisdiction provides annual refresher training, as specified, to all operators at intervals not to exceed 12 months.
2. Specifies requirements for radiation surveys, radiation survey instruments, and high radiation area boundaries.
3. Requires DPH to evaluate compliance with the provisions of this bill during its inspection of the bomb squad. Permits DPH to revoke or rescind the exemption provided pursuant to this bill if a jurisdiction fails to comply with its provisions.

The Senate amendments delete the language adopted by the Assembly and instead recast these provisions into a new code section and made other technical and clarifying changes.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires DPH to provide for licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials or devices. Permits DPH to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation other than those that require a specific license.
2. Permits DPH to exempt certain sources of ionizing radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing or registration requirements in 1) above when DPH makes a finding that the exemption of these sources of ionizing radiation or kinds of uses or users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public.
3. Specifies requirements for field radiography in the CCR.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.

COMMENTS: According to the author, DPH currently requires bomb squads to license their specialized hand held X-ray units and the unit operators under the same standards as X-ray units in hospitals, medical offices, and industrial sites. These standards are designed to minimize the radiation exposure of the public and the X-ray unit operators. The FBI, which trains and certifies bomb squad members, mandates a 300 foot perimeter to be established around a potential bomb threat, severely limiting any possible radiation exposure to the public. In this scenario a member of the public standing outside the perimeter could receive no more than .004mr (millirem) of radiation. By comparison, a person flying cross country in an airplane receives about 5mr of radiation, and the average person in the United States is exposed to 360mr from background radiation annually. When responding to a potential bomb threat, squad members and their public safety colleagues are under tremendous pressure to act as quickly as possible to identify, diagnose, and neutralize the bomb threat. Stopping to put up signs, and set up radiation measuring instruments, to warn the public about potential exposure to an almost non-existent amount of radiation, as currently required by DPH, takes the team’s time and attention away from the much greater public health hazard--the bomb. The author states that this bill conforms state regulations and licensure requirements to federal policy.

Analysis Prepared by: John Gilman / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0001058

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 911

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 6/7/17

AYES: Wieckowski, Stone, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Skinner, Stern

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/20/17 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: City of Ontario

DIGEST:

This bill requires the State Department of Public Health (DPH) to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires DPH to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials.
2. Authorizes DPH to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes DPH to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when DPH makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of uses will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public.
3. Provides that under DPH’s existing regulatory authority, it has adopted regulations establishing requirements, including a requirement that an individual acting as a radiation machine radiographer be a certified radiation machine radiographer, for conducting field radiography.

This bill requires DPH to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

Background

1. Radiologic Health Branch. The Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) is within the Radiation Safety and Environmental Management Division of DPH. RHB enforces the laws and regulations indicated below designed to protect the public, radiation workers, and the environment. RHB is responsible for providing public health functions associated with administering a radiation control program. This includes licensing of radioactive materials, registration of X-ray-producing machines, certification of medical and industrial X-ray and radioactive material users, inspection of facilities using radiation, investigation of radiation incidents, and surveillance of radioactive contamination in the environment.
2. National Hazardous Device School. Established in 1971, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Hazardous Device School (HDS) has provided training to more than 20,000 local, state, and federal first responders and bomb technicians. Currently the school trains and certifies approximately 200 new bomb technicians each year from the 467 public safety bomb squads around the country. The basic certification course provides six weeks of instruction, and each of the country’s 3,100 public safety bomb technicians is required to complete continuing education annually. According to the FBI, training at the HDS includes all of the following:
   1. Identification of and response strategies for suicide bombers including dialogue, lethal force, and bomb removal;
   2. Use of canine bomb detection units;
   3. Identification of explosive devices and neutralization strategies;
   4. Public safety responses to be enacted around a bomb or weapons of mass destruction;
   5. Use of X-ray systems, robots, and bomb defusing equipment;
   6. Proper analysis, storage, and disposal of defused explosive devices; and,
   7. Coordination of police, fire, and bomb team personnel during a crisis incident.
3. X-ray units used for explosive device identification. Bomb squads utilize small, hand held x-ray machines to evaluate the content of a potential explosive device. According to the FBI, the x-ray sources that are utilized by bomb squads are pulse generating machines and do not contain a radioactive source similar to most commercial radiography machines. The machine emits x-rays only when the unit is turned on and is pulsing. The FBI states that the amount of radiation from this source is low.

Comments

Purpose of bill. According to the author, DPH currently requires bomb squads to license their specialized hand held X-ray units and the unit operators under the same standards as X-ray units in hospitals, medical offices, and industrial sites. These standards are designed to minimize the radiation exposure of the public and the X-ray unit operators.

The FBI, which trains and certifies bomb squad members, mandates a 300 foot perimeter to be established around a potential bomb threat, severely limiting any possible radiation exposure to the public. In this scenario a member of the public standing outside the perimeter could receive no more than .004mr (millirem) of radiation. By comparison, a person flying cross country in an airplane receives about 5mr of radiation, and the average person in the United States is exposed to 360mr from background radiation annually. When responding to a potential bomb threat, squad members and their public safety colleagues are under tremendous pressure to act as quickly as possible to identify, diagnose, and neutralize the bomb threat. Stopping to put up signs, and set up radiation measuring instruments, to warn the public about potential exposure to an almost non-existent amount of radiation, as currently required by DPH, takes the team’s time and attention away from the much greater public health hazard--the bomb. The author states that this bill conforms the state regulations and licensure requirements to federal policy.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/28/17)

City of Ontario (source)

Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern

California Fire Chiefs Association

California Professional Firefighters

California State Sheriffs’ Association

City of Ontario Fire Department

Fire Districts Association of California

League of California Cities

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell

National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board

Ontario Professional Firefighters, Local 1430

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/28/17)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/20/17

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gomez, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Brough, Choi, Gallagher, Mathis, Patterson, Ridley-Thomas

Prepared by:

6/28/17 15:16:21

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Senator Wieckowski, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 911

SUBJECT: Radioactive materials: licensing and registration: exemption

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires the State Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish rules or regulations for general or specific licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials, or devices or equipment utilizing these materials.
2. Authorizes DPH to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation, as specified. Existing law authorizes DPH to exempt certain sources of ionization radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing requirements when DPH makes a finding that the exemption of those kinds of uses will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public.
3. Under DPH’s existing regulatory authority, it has adopted regulations establishing requirements, including a requirement that an individual acting as a radiation machine radiographer be a certified radiation machine radiographer, for conducting field radiography.

This bill: Requires DPH to exempt bomb squads of specified public entities from regulatory requirements for conducting field radiography, under specified conditions.

Background

1. The Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) is within the Radiation Safety and Environmental Management Division of DPH. RHB enforces the laws and regulations indicated below designed to protect the public, radiation workers, and the environment. RHB is responsible for providing public health functions associated with administering a radiation control program. This includes licensing of radioactive materials, registration of X-ray-producing machines, certification of medical and industrial X-ray and radioactive material users, inspection of facilities using radiation, investigation of radiation incidents, and surveillance of radioactive contamination in the environment.
2. Established in 1971, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Hazardous Device School (HDS) has provided training to more than 20,000 local, state, and federal first responders and bomb technicians. Currently the school trains and certifies approximately 200 new bomb technicians each year from the 467 public safety bomb squads around the country. The basic certification course provides six weeks of instruction, and each of the country’s 3,100 public safety bomb technicians is required to complete continuing education annually. According to the FBI, training at the HDS includes all of the following:
   1. Identification of and response strategies for suicide bombers including dialogue, lethal force, and bomb removal;
   2. Use of canine bomb detection units;
   3. Identification of explosive devices and neutralization strategies;
   4. Public safety responses to be enacted around a bomb or weapons of mass destruction;
   5. Use of X-ray systems, robots, and bomb defusing equipment;
   6. Proper analysis, storage, and disposal of defused explosive devices; and,
   7. Coordination of police, fire, and bomb team personnel during a crisis incident.
3. X-ray Units Used for Explosive Device Identification. Bomb squads utilize small, hand held x-ray machines to evaluate the content of a potential explosive device. According to the FBI, the x-ray sources that are utilized by bomb squads are pulse generating machines and do not contain a radioactive source similar to most commercial radiography machines. The machine emits x-rays only when the unit is turned on and is pulsing. The FBI states that the amount of radiation from this source is low.

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author, DPH currently requires bomb squads to license their specialized hand held X-ray units and the unit operators under the same standards as X-ray units in hospitals, medical offices, and industrial sites. These standards are designed to minimize the radiation exposure of the public and the X-ray unit operators.

The FBI, which trains and certifies bomb squad members, mandates a 300 foot perimeter to be established around a potential bomb threat, severely limiting any possible radiation exposure to the public. In this scenario a member of the public standing outside the perimeter could receive no more than .004mr (millirem) of radiation. By comparison, a person flying cross country in an airplane receives about 5mr of radiation, and the average person in the United States is exposed to 360mr from background radiation annually. When responding to a potential bomb threat, squad members and their public safety colleagues are under tremendous pressure to act as quickly as possible to identify, diagnose, and neutralize the bomb threat. Stopping to put up signs, and set up radiation measuring instruments, to warn the public about potential exposure to an almost non-existent amount of radiation, as currently required by DPH, takes the team’s time and attention away from the much greater public health hazard--the bomb. The author states that this bill conforms the state regulations and licensure requirements to federal policy.

SOURCE:

City of Ontario

SUPPORT:

Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern

California Fire Chiefs Association

California Professional Firefighters

California State Sheriffs’ Association

City of Ontario Fire Department

Fire Districts Association of California

League of California Cities

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell

National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board

Ontario Professional Firefighters, Local 1430

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown

OPPOSITION:

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 5, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 911

Author:(Wood) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2017

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill exempts federally certified public bomb technicians and the devices they use from regulation by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Radiologic Health Branch.

FISCAL EFFECT:

This bill will result in absorbable special fund revenue loss, estimated at $24,000, and a corresponding decrease in workload, because the exemptions reduce the number of people and devices overseen by the department (Radiation Control Fund).

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. Bomb squads are comprised of federally certified technicians that assess, investigate, and disable suspected explosives. The author asserts CDPH regulation is designed for industrial and clinical uses of radioactivity, not for crisis situations where a bomb squad is defusing a threat. The author also asserts the risk of public exposure from the radiation-measuring instruments is minimal due to the 300-foot perimeter established around a bomb threat. This bill is sponsored by the City of Ontario and supported by public safety agencies, and it has no opposition.
2. Background. Exposure to some types of radiation can damage DNA and cause cancer. California law establishes a regulatory program to oversee dangerous sources of radiation and people who use radioactive materials or devices. CDPH's program includes licensing of radioactive materials, registration of X-ray-producing machines, certification of medical and industrial X-ray and radioactive material users, inspection of facilities using radiation, and investigation of radiation incidents. Because bomb squads use small, battery-powered X-ray sources to examine bombs, the devices and their users are subject to regulation.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) certifies bomb squad technicians, who would be exempt from licensure by CDPH under this bill. California law explicitly cites compatibility with federal standards and regulatory programs as a policy goal. It also authorizes CDPH to exempt sources of radiation or kinds of uses or users from regulatory requirements, if the department finds exemptions can be done in a manner that protects public health. The law also allows CDPH to provide for recognition of other state or federal licenses. On March 23, 2017, the City of Ontario obtained a licensure exemption for their bomb squad. This bill intends to apply a similar exemption to bomb squads statewide.

Analysis Prepared by: Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 21, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Jim Wood, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 911

Author:(Wood) – As Introduced Ver:February 16, 2017

SUBJECT: Radioactive materials: licensing and registration: exemption.

SUMMARY: Exempts certified bomb technicians employed by local governments or the University of California (UC) from licensing, registration, and inspection requirements for radioactive materials. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to exempt from the licensing requirements for handling radioactive materials or devices, members of a bomb squad of a city, city and county, county, special district, or UC who have completed the required training and are certified as bomb technicians by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or a successor federal agency responsible for training and certifying bomb technicians.
   
2. Provides that DPH require the filing of a record of current certification of all FBI certified bomb technicians employed by the bomb squad of a city, city and county, county, special district, or UC.
3. Requires DPH to exempt from registration and inspection requirements sources of ionizing radiation operated by a bomb squad of a city, city and county, county, special district, or UC.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires DPH to provide for licensing of persons to receive, possess, or transfer radioactive materials or devices. Permits DPH to require registration and inspection of sources of ionizing radiation other than those that require a specific license.
2. Permits DPH to exempt certain sources of ionizing radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing or registration requirements in 1) above when DPH makes a finding that the exemption of these sources of ionizing radiation or kinds of uses or users will not constitute a significant risk to the health and safety of the public.

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has not yet been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

1. PURPOSE OF THIS BILL. According to the author, DPH currently requires bomb squads to license their specialized hand held X-ray units and the unit operators under the same standards as X-ray units in hospitals, medical offices, and industrial sites. These standards are designed to minimize the radiation exposure of the public and the X-ray unit operators.

The FBI, which trains and certifies bomb squad members, mandates a 300 foot perimeter to be established around a potential bomb threat, severely limiting any possible radiation exposure to the public. In this scenario a member of the public standing outside the perimeter could receive no more than .004mr (millirem) of radiation. By comparison, a person flying cross country in an airplane receives about 5mr of radiation, and the average person in the United States is exposed to 360mr from background radiation annually. When responding to a potential bomb threat, squad members and their public safety colleagues are under tremendous pressure to act as quickly as possible to identify, diagnose, and neutralize the bomb threat. Stopping to put up signs, and set up radiation measuring instruments, to warn the public about potential exposure to an almost non-existent amount of radiation, as currently required by DPH, takes the team’s time and attention away from the much greater public health hazard--the bomb. The author states that this bill conforms state regulations and licensure requirements to federal policy.

1. BACKGROUND. Established in 1971, the FBI’s National Hazardous Device School (HDS) has provided training to more than 20,000 local, state, and federal first responders and bomb technicians. Currently the school trains and certifies approximately 200 new bomb technicians each year from the 467 public safety bomb squads around the country. The basic certification course provides six weeks of instruction, and each of the country’s 3,100 public safety bomb technicians is required to be recertified annually. According to the FBI, training at the HDS includes all of the following:
   
   1. Identification of and response strategies for suicide bombers including dialogue, lethal force, and bomb removal;
   2. Use of canine bomb detection units;
   3. Identification of explosive devices and neutralization strategies;
   4. Public safety responses to be enacted around a bomb or weapons of mass destruction;
   5. Use of X-ray systems, robots, and bomb defusing equipment;
   6. Proper analysis, storage, and disposal of defused explosive devices; and,
   7. Coordination of police, fire, and bomb team personnel during a crisis incident.
2. SUPPORT. Supporters, including the City of Ontario, the sponsor of this bill, argue that highly trained bomb squads use portable pulsed type X-ray sources that expose the public to far less radiation than the public receives in hospitals, medical offices, and industrial settings. In addition, mandated 300-foot safety perimeters at an incident further limit any possible radiation exposure to the public. These standards are appropriate for bomb squad members who are under substantial pressure to act quickly to diagnose and neutralize a suspicious object. Accordingly, the DPH X-ray standards, which are written to protect X-ray technicians and the public from exposure to radiation at hospitals and clinics, are redundant and impractical when applied to bomb squads in crisis situations.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

City of Ontario (sponsor)

California Fire Chiefs Association

California Professional Firefighters

California State Sheriffs’ Association

Fire Districts Association of California

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: John Gilman / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097