(a) The director shall appoint representatives of the disabled community to serve on the evacuation, sheltering, communication, recovery, and other pertinent Standardized Emergency Management System committees, including one representative to the Technical Working Group. Representatives of the disabled community shall, to the extent practicable, be from the following groups:

(1) Persons who are blind or visually impaired.

(2) Persons with sensory or cognitive disabilities.

(3) Persons with physical disabilities.

(b) Within the Standardized Emergency Management System structure, the director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the needs of the disabled community are met by ensuring all committee recommendations regarding preparedness, planning, and procedures relating to emergencies include the needs of people with disabilities.

(c) The director shall prepare and disseminate sample brochures and other relevant materials on preparedness, planning, and procedures relating to emergency evacuations that include the needs of the disabled community, and shall work with nongovernmental associations and entities to make them available in accessible formats, including, but not limited to, Braille, large print, and electronic media.

(d) The director and the State Fire Marshal’s office shall seek research funding to assist in the development of new technologies and information systems that will assist in the evacuation of the groups designated in subdivision (a) during emergency and disaster situations.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature for the purpose of implementing this section and to the extent permitted by federal law, that funds may be used from the Federal Trust Fund from funds received from the federal Department of Homeland Security for implementation of homeland security programs.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 135. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)