Committee advances SB 837 to add disaster‑preparedness training for older adults and people with disabilities

Senate Bill 837, presented by Senator Gomez Reyes, would require local Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) programs to provide disaster and emergency‑preparedness resources and training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Supporters described gaps in evacuation and assistance during recent wildfires and urged committee approval; the bill was reported to Senate Appropriations.

Reyes told the committee the bill was prompted by the Palisades and Eaton fires and an illustrative case in which an elderly man and his adult son with cerebral palsy were unable to evacuate and perished. “These tragic losses remind us that our emergency preparedness system is not adequately serving people with access and functional needs,” she said.

Carol Swartzlander, executive director of the California Commission on Aging, recounted hearings held after the January 2025 wildfires and presented data on the ages and functional needs of recent fire victims. Dan Okenfoss of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers described the Association’s Disability Disaster Access and Resources (DDART) program and provided operational figures since 2023: responses to roughly 962 public safety power shutoff activations, nearly 36,000 wellness checks, distribution of more than 2,000 backup batteries and relocation support for over 1,600 people with access and functional needs.

Supporters argued SB 837 would strengthen preparedness by ensuring ADRCs have tools and training to promote independence and resilience among older adults and people with disabilities. The committee moved the bill to Senate Appropriations and reported it out by a 5–0 vote.

The measure’s next step is consideration by the Appropriations Committee.