SB 265: Cybersecurity preparedness: critical infrastructure sectors.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, among other things, creates the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), which is responsible for the states emergency and disaster response services, as specified. Existing law requires Cal OES to establish the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC) with the primary mission of reducing the likelihood and severity of cyber incidents that could damage Californias economy, its critical infrastructure, or public and private sector computer networks in the state. Existing law requires Cal OES to direct Cal-CSIC to prepare, and Cal OES to submit to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2024, a strategic, multiyear outreach plan to assist the food and agriculture sector and wastewater sector in their efforts to improve cybersecurity and an evaluation of options for providing grants or alternative forms of funding to, and potential voluntary actions that do not require funding and that assist, those sectors in their efforts to improve security preparedness.

This bill would require Cal OES to direct Cal-CSIC to prepare, and Cal OES to submit to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025, a strategic, multiyear outreach plan to assist critical infrastructure sectors, as defined, in their efforts to improve cybersecurity and an evaluation of options for providing grants or alternative forms of funding to, and potential voluntary actions that do not require funding and that assist, that sector in their efforts to improve cybersecurity preparedness. The bill would make related findings and declarations.