Licensure: emergency equipment.

Replaced Assembly and Senate passage headers, clerk signature blocks, and Governor receipt line with the standard chaptered-law header including 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL,' Chapter 133 designation, and approval date of August 27, 2026.

Page numbering changed from page 94 to page 93 throughout the document, reflecting re-pagination in the chaptered format.

The sunset provision in Section 12804.9(k) that would have repealed the entire section on January 1, 2029 was removed. The driver's license examination requirements are now permanent rather than temporary.

The definition of 'emergency equipment' in new Section 12528(e) was expanded to include specific size and weight limitations: the motor vehicle must not exceed 45 feet in length, and any towed vehicle must not exceed 30,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or rating. This narrows what qualifies as emergency equipment compared to the broader prior definition.

A new exclusion was added: an authorized emergency vehicle that has been issued a license by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls is NOT considered 'emergency equipment' under this section. This prevents overlap with already-licensed CHP emergency vehicles.

A clarification was added stating that vehicles operated under this section are not exempt from Division 15 of the Vehicle Code (commencing with Section 35000), meaning standard traffic laws and safety regulations still apply to these emergency equipment operators.

The bill previously contained two separate sections (SEC. 2 and SEC. 3) both amending Section 12804.9, which was a drafting artifact from the amendment process. The enrolled version consolidated these into a single section using the simpler Class C recreational vehicle towing language, effectively not carrying forward the more complex Chapter 16 amendments to that provision.

Removed the provision allowing a person who is 'currently participating in' the emergency equipment training to operate such equipment. Now the operator must have fully completed the training before operating under a class C license.

Expanded the definition of 'emergency equipment' to include combinations of vehicles that meet the definition of a class A or class B vehicle, not just single motor vehicles operated under a class A or B license.

Added size and weight limitations: the motor vehicle shall not exceed 45 feet in length, and any towed vehicle shall not exceed 30,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating, whichever is greater.

Added an exclusion clarifying that an authorized emergency vehicle issued a license by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to operate in response to emergency calls is NOT 'emergency equipment' under this section.

Added a provision stating that vehicles operated under this section are not exempt from Division 15 of the Vehicle Code (traffic regulations, commencing with Section 35000), meaning standard traffic laws still apply to these operators.

Section 13510.15 of the Penal Code is entirely removed. This section had required POST to develop an emergency equipment training and certification program for peace officers and volunteers, and to issue certifications to those who completed the program.

Training standards are no longer set by POST. Instead, classroom instruction must be taught by an instructor who meets or exceeds standards adopted by the specific law enforcement agency, and driver training must be supervised by an instructor approved by that agency (previously 'registered with the commission').

The requirement for POST to issue an 'emergency equipment operation certification' to participants who complete training and pass the written examination is eliminated. There is no longer a state-issued credential; eligibility is based on completing agency-approved training.

The definition of 'emergency equipment' is now contained within Vehicle Code Section 12528 itself, rather than being defined in the removed Penal Code section and cross-referenced. The substance of the definition remains the same: a class A or B vehicle used for emergency response owned, leased, rented by, or under exclusive control of a law enforcement agency.

References in Vehicle Code Section 12804.9 to the emergency equipment provision are updated from Section 13510.15 of the Penal Code to Section 12528 of the Vehicle Code, reflecting the removal of the Penal Code section.

The bill's title and scope changed from 'firefighting emergency equipment' to simply 'emergency equipment,' broadening applicability beyond firefighting vehicles to all qualifying emergency equipment operated by law enforcement.

A new use case was added to the definition of 'emergency equipment': vehicles may now be used 'to and from a place where the emergency equipment is repaired or repositioned,' in addition to traveling to/from emergency scenes and transporting emergency control equipment.

The reference to amending Vehicle Code Section 12804.11 (firefighting equipment licensure) was removed from the bill's title, indicating those technical amendments to the firefighting endorsement provisions were dropped.

Instructor requirements were relaxed: an instructor can now hold a class C license (having completed the emergency equipment training and possessing at least five years of experience operating emergency equipment) instead of being required to hold a class A or class B license.

Training standards are no longer set exclusively by the commission; the language now references standards 'adopted by the commission law enforcement agency,' suggesting law enforcement agencies may set their own training standards for classroom instruction.

Driver training instructors must now be 'approved by the law enforcement agency' in addition to being registered with the commission, giving individual agencies a role in selecting behind-the-wheel trainers.

A new Section 12528 was added to the Vehicle Code housing the emergency equipment training and certification program. Cross-references in the class C license provision were updated to point to this new section rather than solely to Penal Code Section 13510.15.

The fiscal committee vote changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has identifiable state fiscal impact requiring fiscal committee review.

New Section 13510.15 added to the Penal Code, requiring the POST commission to develop an emergency equipment training and certification program for peace officers and volunteers registered with law enforcement agencies described in Sections 830.1 or 830.2.

The bill's scope expanded from amending only Vehicle Code Section 12804.11 (firefighting equipment) to also adding Penal Code Section 13510.15 and amending Vehicle Code Section 12804.9 (driver's license classifications).

Training must include at least 16 hours of classroom instruction, at least 14 hours of directly-supervised behind-the-wheel driver training, and a written examination. Instructors must hold a valid Class A or B license and be certified as qualified training instructors by the state, federal government, or a county training officers' association.

'Emergency equipment' is defined as a motor vehicle operated under a Class A or B license that is used to travel to/from emergency scenes or transport emergency control equipment, and that is owned, leased, rented by, or under the exclusive control of a law enforcement agency described in Section 830.1 or 830.2.

A new Class C license category (subdivision (b)(3)(L) of Vehicle Code Section 12804.9) is created that allows operation of emergency equipment by a person who has completed or is currently participating in the POST training program, meaning law enforcement personnel no longer need a commercial Class A or B license to drive these vehicles.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has a state fiscal impact requiring fiscal committee review.

Minor language corrections in Section 12804.11: 'his or her their' changed to 'their,' and 'must shall be' corrected to 'shall be.'