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Cal OES May Revision seeks funding for 9‑1‑1 upgrade, cybersecurity grants; proposes cut to flexible victim cash assistance
Summary
The Office of Emergency Services asked the Assembly subcommittee for new general‑fund and federal trust fund authority for next‑generation 9‑1‑1, local/state cybersecurity grants and disaster reimbursements, while proposing elimination of a one‑time flexible cash assistance pilot for crime survivors.
The Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) told the Assembly Subcommittee on Public Safety that its May Revision requests include new funding to support a next‑generation 9‑1‑1 rollout, a round of state and local cybersecurity grants, increased federal trust fund authority for FEMA reimbursements, and a multiyear relocation and replacement of a remote radio site.
Cal OES told the panel it is seeking a provisional General Fund augmentation of $23,200,000 for equipment and access costs to relocate the Red Mountain communications site and to build three replacement communication facilities at Rattlesnake Peak, Alder Camp and Big Lagoon. The administration also proposed a one‑time increase of $1,200,000,000 in federal trust fund authority to reflect updated FEMA reimbursement projections for eligible disaster costs.
Why it matters: Cal OES said next‑generation 9‑1‑1 remains a priority and proposed provisional budget language to ensure expenditures for the State Emergency Telephone Account do not raise the monthly 9‑1‑1 charge above the 41¢ rate in effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) recommended the subcommittee adopt the next‑generation 9‑1‑1 proposal but asked Cal OES to provide cost estimates for continuing the legacy 9‑1‑1 system for an additional year and quarterly progress reports because the project has “faced challenges and bears watching.”
Cal OES also requested $605,000 in state operations and $11,500,000 in local assistance for a third round of state and local cybersecurity grants. The LAO noted the program’s large federal share poses a risk and recommended Cal OES prepare contingency options if federal matching funds fall short.
On victim services, Cal OES said it proposed a one‑time reduction of $49,700,000 that had been appropriated in the 2022 budget for a flexible cash assistance pilot for survivors of crime; the May Revision would not fund the pilot in the coming fiscal year. Committee members and multiple public commenters from victim‑service organizations urged restoration of VOCA and state backfill funding during the hearing. The LAO and Department of Finance representatives noted uncertainty about the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allocation; LAO said the underlying federal fund cap had improved versus last year but that the allocation formula still creates uncertainty.
Department of Finance staff said they are open to discussing LAO’s recommended reporting language and contingency plans for the cybersecurity and next‑generation 9‑1‑1 proposals. The LAO advised provisional language and quarterly or monthly reporting for the larger projects and suggested OES prepare options in the event federal match funding declines.
Ending: Committee members expressed concern about the proposed cut to the flexible cash assistance pilot and asked Cal OES and the LAO for follow‑up materials on the 9‑1‑1 cost estimates, contingency planning for the cybersecurity grants, and the status of VOCA federal allocations.
