(a) The board shall annually convene a meeting for the following purposes:

(1) To understand the existing needs for education and outreach, including to those groups with the highest awareness and education needs, including, but not limited to, homeowners.

(2) To facilitate discussion on how to coordinate existing education and outreach efforts with state and local government agencies, California operators, regional notification centers, and trade associations that fund outreach and education programs that encourage safe excavation practices.

(3) To determine the areas in which additional education and outreach efforts may be targeted through use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, of the moneys in the Safe Energy Infrastructure and Excavation Fund pursuant to subdivision (c).

(b) In addition to state and local government agencies, California operators, regional notification centers, and trade associations that fund outreach and education programs that encourage safe excavation practices, the meeting pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include representatives of groups that may be the target of those outreach and education efforts.

(c) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the board shall grant the use of the moneys in the Safe Energy Infrastructure and Excavation Fund to fund public education and outreach programs designed to promote excavation safety around subsurface installations and targeted towards specific excavator groups, giving priority to those with the highest awareness and education needs, including, but not limited to, homeowners.

(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 809, Sec. 16. (SB 661) Effective January 1, 2017.)