The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) California is likely to experience moderate to severe earthquakes in the foreseeable future, and increased efforts to reduce earthquake hazards should be encouraged and supported.

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(b) Hundreds of state and local government buildings which are vulnerable to severe earthquake damage continue to be a serious danger to the lives of thousands of state and local government employees and the people who must visit and depend on these buildings in which vital services are often provided.

(c) The Loma Prieta Earthquake of October 17, 1989, caused damage to state-owned buildings resulting in relocations of state government operations into more expensive leased facilities and some state buildings are now vacant. These facilities should be rehabilitated or replaced in order to reduce the long-term costs of providing state government services.

(d) It is the responsibility of state and local governments to provide, to the greatest extent feasible, their employees and the public throughout the state with buildings that are safe, accessible, and able to withstand earthquake forces without endangering occupants or significantly disrupting the performance of essential services.

(e) Therefore, the purposes of this bond act are to:

(1) Fund retrofitting, reconstruction, repair, replacement, or relocation of state-owned buildings or facilities which have earthquake or other safety deficiencies.

(2) Provide financial assistance to local governments for earthquake safety improvements in structures housing those agencies critical to the delivery of essential government functions in the event of emergencies and disasters.

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 23, Sec. 2. Approved in Proposition 122 at the June 5, 1990, election.)