SECTIONS 8670.54-8670.56.1

8670.54.  (a) The Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee, hereafterin this article the committee, is hereby established to providepublic input and independent judgment of the actions of theadministrator and the State Interagency Oil Spill Committee. Thecommittee shall consist of ten members, of whom six shall beappointed by the Governor, two by the Speaker of the Assembly, andtwo by the Senate Rules Committee. The appointments shall be made inthe following manner: (1) The Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate Rules Committee shalleach appoint members who shall be representatives of the public. (2) The Governor shall appoint a member who has a demonstrableknowledge of marine transportation. (3) The Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committeeshall each appoint a member who has demonstrable knowledge ofenvironmental protection and the study of ecosystems. (4) The Governor shall appoint a member who has served as a localgovernment elected official or who has worked for a local government. (5) The Governor shall appoint a member who has experience in oilspill response and prevention programs. (6) The Governor shall appoint a member who has been employed inthe petroleum industry. (7) The Governor shall appoint a member who has worked in stategovernment. (8) The Governor shall appoint a member who has demonstrableknowledge of the dry cargo vessel industry. (b) The committee shall meet as often as required, but at leasttwice per year. Members shall be paid one hundred dollars ($100) perday for each meeting and all necessary travel expenses at state perdiem rates. (c) The administrator and any personnel the administratordetermines to be appropriate shall serve as staff to the committee. (d) A chairman and vice chairman shall be elected by a majorityvote of the committee.8670.55.  (a) The committee shall provide recommendations to theadministrator, the State Lands Commission, the California CoastalCommission, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and DevelopmentCommission, and the State Interagency Oil Spill Committee, on anyprovision of this chapter including the promulgation of all rules,regulations, guidelines, and policies. (b) The committee may, at its own discretion, study, comment on,or evaluate, any aspect of oil spill prevention and response in thestate. To the greatest extent possible, these studies shall becoordinated with studies being done by the federal government, theadministrator, the State Lands Commission, the State Water ResourcesControl Board, and other appropriate state and internationalentities. Duplication with the efforts of other entities shall beminimized. (c) The committee may attend any drills called pursuant to Section8601.10 or any oil spills, if practicable. (d) The committee shall report biennially to the Governor and theLegislature on its evaluation of oil spill response and preparednessprograms within the state and may prepare and send any additionalreports it determines to be appropriate to the Governor and theLegislature. (e) On or before August 1, 2005, the committee shall review theDepartment of Finance report required under Section 8670.42 andprepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature comments onthe report, including, but not limited to, recommendations forimproving the state's oil spill prevention, response, andpreparedness program.8670.56.  The administrator may expend from the Oil Spill Preventionand Administration Fund any amounts necessary for the purposes ofcarrying out this article.8670.56.1.  (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares thatbecause the administrator must rely on expertise provided by membersof the committee and be guided by their recommendations in makingdecisions that relate to the public safety, members of the committeeshould be entitled to the same immunity from liability provided otherpublic employees. (b) Members of the committee appointed pursuant to this article,while performing duties required by this article or by theadministrator, shall be entitled to the same rights and immunitiesgranted public employees by Article 3 (commencing with Section 820)of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 3.6 of Title 1. Those rights andimmunities are deemed to have attached, and shall attach, as of thedate of appointment of the member to the committee.