Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. The Public Utilities Act authorizes the commission, after a hearing, to require every public utility to construct, maintain, and operate its line, plant, system, equipment, apparatus, tracks, and premises in a manner so as to promote and safeguard the health and safety of its employees, passengers, customers, and the public, and authorizes the commission to prescribe the installation, use, maintenance, and operation of appropriate safety or other devices or appliances.
This bill, the Justin Kropp Safety Act, would require a public utility, and an independent contractor or subcontractor of the public utility, to have available at every worksite that has transmission or distribution lines of any voltage an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and would require the public utility, and the independent contractor or subcontractor of the public utility, to comply with certain standards and ensure specified procedures are followed. The bill would provide an exemption from civil liability for a public utility, and an independent contractor or subcontractor of the public utility, or a person when the person renders emergency care or treatment through the use, attempted use, or nonuse of an AED, except in case of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by the person rendering aid. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill would be part of the act and because a violation of a commission action implementing the bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.