Hazardous materials: reactive chemicals: methyl methacrylate: facilities.

The building permit prohibition now applies only to 'new' reactive chemical storage facilities, removing coverage of expanded or modified existing facilities that was in the prior version.

The CEQA advanced manufacturing exemption ineligibility is now specifically limited to facilities subject to the accidental release prevention program (Article 2, Chapter 6.95) where methyl methacrylate will be present at or above a state threshold quantity adopted by CalEPA, rather than applying broadly to all new or significantly expanded/modified reactive chemical storage facilities.

The adjacency restriction is narrowed from requiring the facility not be adjacent to 'a home or other building that may contain people such as a school or business' to simply requiring it not be adjacent to 'a home.' This removes protection for schools, businesses, and other occupied buildings.

CalEPA is now required to adopt a state threshold quantity applicable to methyl methacrylate through regulation, which will determine when the CEQA exemption ineligibility applies.

The required inspection frequency for reactive chemical storage facilities is reduced from at least once annually to at least once every 3 years.

The inspection requirement is changed from applying to the 'certified unified program agency' to the broader term 'unified program agency,' potentially expanding which agencies bear this responsibility.

The definition of 'regulated substance' under the accidental release prevention program is expanded from specifically naming methyl methacrylate to including any hazardous material that CalEPA determines may pose a significant risk of accidental release, fire, explosion, exposure, or catastrophic incident, with MMA deemed to meet that standard. This gives CalEPA authority to add other substances by regulation.

Several cross-references were corrected, including changing references to subdivision (i) of Section 25532 to subdivision (j), and updating a reference from Section 2735.3 to Section 5050.3 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations.

The entire tax provision (Section 17138.9 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) that excluded GKN Aerospace settlement payments from gross income for Orange County residents, property owners, and businesses is removed from the bill.

New Civil Code Section 2782.6 allows indemnification agreements protecting professional engineers and geologists providing hazardous materials services, with a $250,000 minimum liability threshold before indemnification applies. Does not apply to public entities or cover gross negligence or willful misconduct.

The CEQA advanced manufacturing exemption carve-out is narrowed to apply only to new reactive chemical storage facilities or significant expansions/modifications, and an explicit exception is added stating the restriction does not apply to repairs at existing facilities.

New Education Code Section 17213 requires school districts to verify proposed school sites are not hazardous waste disposal sites, DTSC-listed release sites, or near hazardous substance pipelines, and to consult on facilities within one-fourth of a mile that may emit hazardous air emissions. Governing boards must make written findings about health risks before approving a schoolsite.

Inspection frequency for reactive chemical storage facilities changed from at least once annually to every 3 years, significantly reducing oversight frequency.

New requirement that cities and counties designate in their emergency operations plan which specific emergency response department will serve as lead agency for hazardous materials incidents. This replaces the previous provision giving fire departments primary jurisdiction over county health departments during explosion events.

A general duty clause is added requiring owners and operators of facilities that produce, process, or store hazardous materials in any amount to identify hazards from potential releases, design and maintain safe facilities, and minimize consequences of accidental releases.

The definition of regulated substance is broadened from specifically listing methyl methacrylate to authorizing California EPA to designate any hazardous material it determines may pose a significant risk of accidental release, fire, explosion, exposure, or catastrophic incident. Methyl methacrylate is deemed to meet this standard.

A new definition of explosion is added, specifying it shall be construed according to its common and everyday meaning. The definition of reactive chemical storage facility now excludes facilities exempt from local building ordinances under Section 53091(d).

The bill now authorizes the secretary to determine the form and manner in which nonconfidential unified program data is made available on the internet, rather than simply requiring it be made available.

The building permit prohibition now applies to 'new, expanded, or modified' reactive chemical storage facilities instead of only 'new' ones. This means existing facilities that expand or modify their operations would also be subject to the backup cooling system, adjacency, and public notice requirements.

The CEQA advanced manufacturing exemption ineligibility provision was broadened by removing the qualifier 'pursuant to subdivision (a),' so that any approval of a building permit for a reactive chemical storage facility is ineligible for the exemption, not just those approved under the new conditions.

The requirement for the Office of Emergency Services to develop, post on its website, and update a map identifying all reactive chemical storage facilities in the state by January 1, 2028 (former subdivision (e) of Section 65850.21) has been entirely removed.

Section numbering was adjusted: the findings section moved from Section 5 to Section 4, and the reimbursement section moved from Section 6 to Section 5. Minor language cleanups were made throughout, including simplifying 'thermal runaway chemical reaction explosions, reactions' to 'thermal runaway chemical reactions' in the findings.

The entire CARE Act amendment (Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5977.1) is removed. The June 18 version would have changed the timeline for developing a CARE plan from 14 days to 21 days after a court finds a respondent meets CARE criteria. This provision no longer appears in the bill.

The definition of covered explosions is broadened from 'explosion due to thermal runaway reaction' to 'explosion, including, but not limited to, due to thermal runaway reaction.' This means the building permit restrictions now apply to any explosion risk at a reactive chemical storage facility, not just those caused by thermal runaway.

The statewide concern finding (which makes the law apply to charter cities) is broadened from citing risk from 'thermal runaway chemical reaction explosions' to risk from 'explosions at reactive chemical storage facilities, including, but not limited to, due to thermal runaway chemical reaction reactions.'

The safety system requirement is expanded from requiring only 'a backup cooling system for the reactive chemical storage' to allowing 'a backup cooling system for the reactive chemical storage or other contingency system approved by the unified program agency.' This gives facilities more flexibility in how they meet the safety standard.

A new definition of 'reactive chemical storage facility' is added: a stationary source (as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 25532) that has a process involving a reactive substance. This definition appears in both Section 65850.21 (Government Code) and Section 25404.7 (Health and Safety Code).

The fire department's primary jurisdiction to mitigate a crisis is expanded from applying when 'an explosion occurs' to when 'an explosion, or threat of an explosion, occurs.' This gives fire authorities earlier intervention authority.

The fiscal committee designation changes from 'no' to 'yes' and the state-mandated local program designation changes from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now formally acknowledges it imposes costs on local agencies that require state reimbursement review under the Commission on State Mandates.

The CalEnviroScreen reference is updated from 'California Communities Environmental Health Screening' to 'California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool,' and the CEQA exemption language is clarified to specify it applies to building permits 'for a reactive chemical storage facility.'

Added new Section 65850.21 to the Government Code prohibiting cities or counties from approving building permits for new reactive chemical storage facilities with thermal runaway explosion potential unless the facility has a backup cooling system, is not adjacent to homes or buildings that may contain people, and the public has been given notice and opportunity to comment.

Required the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to consider reactive chemical storage facilities as a factor in determining pollution burden under CalEnviroScreen, which identifies disadvantaged communities.

Added legislative findings that the reactive chemical storage provisions address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair, making them applicable to all cities including charter cities.

Added requirement that fire departments (not county health departments) have primary jurisdiction to mitigate thermal runaway reaction explosions at reactive chemical storage facilities.

Added new Section 25404.7 to the Health and Safety Code requiring certified unified program agencies to conduct annual inspections of each reactive chemical storage facility and report results to CalEPA, the State Fire Marshal, and the Office of Emergency Services.

Added requirement that cities or counties notify the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment when approving a building permit for a reactive chemical storage facility, and that such permits are ineligible for the advanced manufacturing CEQA exemption.

Required the Office of Emergency Services to develop and post a map of all existing reactive chemical storage facilities by January 1, 2028, updated whenever a new facility is approved.

The CARE Act change extending the CARE plan development period from 14 days to 21 days was retained but renumbered as the final section of the expanded bill.

Amended Section 25532 of the Health and Safety Code to add methyl methacrylate as a regulated substance under the accidental release prevention program, and specified that stationary sources storing or using methyl methacrylate are not eligible for exemption from the program.

Added new Section 17138.9 to the Revenue and Taxation Code excluding from gross income any settlement amounts received by qualified taxpayers (property owners, residents, or business operators in Orange County) for claims relating to the May 2026 GKN Aerospace chemical incident, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Removed the technical, nonsubstantive amendment to Section 16 of the Penal Code (definition of crimes and public offenses).

Added an entirely new Section 1 amending Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5977.1, establishing comprehensive procedures for the CARE court program including case management hearings, clinical evaluations, CARE plan development, medication orders, and a one-year maximum timeline for the CARE process.

Extended the deadline for the county behavioral health agency, respondent, counsel, and supporter to jointly develop a CARE plan from 14 days to 21 days after the court finds the respondent meets CARE criteria.

Added requirement that if no CARE agreement is reached, the court must order a clinical evaluation by a licensed behavioral health professional addressing diagnosis, capacity for informed consent on psychotropic medication, and recommended services and interventions.

Added that the court must find by clear and convincing evidence that a respondent meets CARE criteria before ordering a CARE plan; otherwise the petition must be dismissed.

Added consultation requirement for self-identified American Indian or Alaska Native respondents, requiring the county behavioral health agency to use best efforts to meaningfully consult with an Indian health care provider or tribal court in developing the CARE plan.

Added protections around medication orders: stabilization medication shall not be forcibly administered and failure to comply with a medication order shall not result in penalties including contempt or termination of the CARE plan.

The original Penal Code Section 16 amendment was renumbered from Section 1 to Section 2 and reformatted from a numbered list (1, 2, 3) to lettered subsections (a, b, c), a nonsubstantive technical change.