Natural disasters: insurance and related alternative risk transfer products: Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, among other things, vests the Governor with various powers and duties related to that act, including coordinating the State Emergency Plan and those programs necessary for the mitigation of the effects of an emergency in this state. Existing law authorizes the Governor to expend any appropriation for support of the California Emergency Services Act to carry out its provisions. Existing law creates the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner, and prescribes the commissioner's powers and duties, including a duty to convene a working group to identify, assess, and recommend risk transfer market mechanisms that promote investment in natural infrastructure to reduce the risks of climate change related to catastrophic events, create incentives for investment in natural infrastructure to reduce risks to communities, and provide mitigation incentives for private investment in natural lands to lessen exposure and reduce climate risks to public safety, property, utilities, and infrastructure. Existing law establishes the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties, a continuously appropriated fund, and requires the Controller to transfer as necessary from that fund to the unappropriated balance of the General Fund an amount necessary to eliminate any General Fund deficit as of the end of each fiscal year. Existing law also continuously appropriates moneys in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties to the Director of Finance for the purpose of allocating funds for disaster relief, as specified. This bill would authorize the Governor to purchase insurance, reinsurance, insurance linked securities, or other related alternative risk transfer products for the State of California to help mitigate against costs incurred by the state in response to a mudslide, wildfire, or flood. The bill would require the Office of Emergency Services, or another agency designated by the Governor, to work with the Treasurer and the Insurance Commissioner to determine the appropriate product to be purchased by the state pursuant to these provisions. The bill would authorize the Office of Emergency Services, or the Governor's designee, the Treasurer, and the Insurance Commissioner to consult with the working group described above when implementing these provisions. The bill would continuously appropriate moneys in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties to the Director of Finance, and would authorize the Director of Finance to allocate funds from the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties to the Governor, for these purposes, thereby making an appropriation.