The State Fire Marshal, in cooperation with the Department of Industrial Relations as appropriate, shall do all of the following:

(a)  Prior to January 1, 1997, inspect and certify the safety of all propane storage systems existing on January 1, 1995.

(b)  Adopt regulations setting forth safety standards for the siting and construction of fixed propane storage systems. These standards shall be prepared, adopted, and submitted for approval as building standards pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 of Division 13.

(c)  Adopt propane storage system fire safety compliance requirements setting forth propane fire safety handling standards relating to propane storage systems.

(d)  Adopt regulations setting forth minimum training and other qualifications for personnel handling propane storage systems, including, but not limited to, continuing education requirements.

(e)  Issue operator certificates to persons that comply with minimum training and other qualifications for personnel handling propane storage systems.

(f)  Adopt standards setting forth minimum training and other qualifications for firefighting personnel responding to a fire involving a propane storage system.

(g)  Upon completion of inspection of propane storage systems as required by subdivision (b), the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and the State Fire Marshal shall report to the Legislature on the condition of propane storage systems statewide. The report shall include identification and location of the propane storage systems inspected; identification of fire safety violations, if any, at each system inspected, and a determination of whether the fire safety violation was significant or minor. The report shall also include what remedial actions were taken, or were proposed to be taken, to correct the violations, and whether the propane storage system is in compliance with current fire safety requirements.

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health and the State Fire Marshal shall also recommend in the report, after consulting with representatives of the propane industry, any corrective or remedial legislation necessary to ensure future compliance with fire safety requirements, including, but not limited to, future fire safety inspection requirements, including the recommended frequency of these inspections.

(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1293, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)