Commission on Home Hardening.

Existing law establishes in state government the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, comprised of the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Department of Business Oversight, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, the California Horse Racing Board, and the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. This bill would establish the Commission on Home Hardening within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. The commission would be a 6-member body composed of, among others, the Insurance Commissioner, the State Fire Marshal, the Director of Housing and Community Development, and the Director of the Office of Emergency Services, or any of their respective designees. The bill would require the commission to develop a 3-tiered system of fire prevention levels for structures in a Wildland Urban Interface environment, as specified. The bill would require the commission to develop guidelines for certifying structures within the 3-tiered system by third-party inspectors and best practices for home hardening and wildfire mitigation for homeowners seeking certification. The bill would require the commission to work with stakeholders from fire protection districts, the insurance industry, building trades industry, planning associations, and cities and counties in developing the 3-tiered system and would require the system to comply with certain standards. This bill would also require the commission to develop new wildfire community hardening standards, as specified, and provide for a certification process for communities that meet these standards. The bill would require the commission to serve as a clearinghouse for information and studies relative to mitigation effectiveness in order to make recommendations on mitigation standards, and to consult with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety to develop recommended residential property insurance discounts for insurers to consider for residential properties meeting the structure type certifications and the certified wildfire community hardening standards. Existing law provides that a residential property insurance policy shall not be issued or renewed in this state unless it complies with certain requirements. This bill would authorize admitted insurers offering residential property insurance in this state to take into consideration the certifications and certified wildfire community hardening standards developed pursuant to these provisions for purposes of developing or revising underwriting guidelines or insurance rates.