Planning and zoning: general plan: safety element.

The Planning and Zoning Law requires the legislative body of each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city and of any land outside its boundaries that bears a relation to its planning. Existing law requires the general plan to include a safety element that addresses, among other things, evacuation routes related to identified fire and geologic hazards. Existing law, upon the next revision of a local hazard mitigation plan on or after January 1, 2022, or beginning on or before January 1, 2022, if a local jurisdiction has not adopted a local hazard mitigation plan, requires the safety element to be reviewed and updated as necessary to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. This bill would also require the safety element to be reviewed and updated to identify evacuation locations. By increasing the duties of local planning officials with respect to the update of general plans, this 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.