Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery: wildfire debris cleanup and removal: contracts.

Existing law, the California Disaster Assistance Act, is administered by the Director of Emergency Services. Existing law requires a state agency, upon request of the Director of Emergency Services and to the extent that funds are allocated therefor, to render services and perform duties within its area of responsibility when considered necessary to carry out the purposes of the act. Existing law requires the Director of Emergency Services to adopt regulations, as necessary, to govern the administration of a disaster assistance program that includes specific project eligibility requirements, a procedure for local governments to request the implementation of programs, and a method for evaluating these requests by the Office of Emergency Services. Regulations of the Office of Emergency Services make debris removal from publicly and privately owned lands and waters, undertaken in response to a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor, eligible for state financial assistance. Existing law establishes in the California Environmental Protection Agency the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) , administered under the control of an executive officer known as the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery. At the direction of the Office of Emergency Services, CalRecycle manages wildfire debris removal operations throughout the state. This bill would require the department, defined as CalRecycle or another state agency tasked to manage wildfire debris cleanup and removal by the Office of Emergency Services, within the office of the Governor, to prequalify contractors to enter into contracts to perform prescribed wildfire debris cleanup and removal work in communities impacted by wildfires. The bill would require the department to require any contractor seeking to enter into a contract before the onset of major damage to obtain and submit to the department a standard form of questionnaire and financial statement, verified under oath. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prohibit the department from awarding a contract to any bidder for the performance of any portion of a wildfire debris cleanup and removal project, unless the bidder meets prescribed eligibility requirements. 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.