ARTICLE 2. Emergency Powers [53019. - 53023.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 2.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 53019. Section 53019.

It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the State of California that the control of fires and dangerous conditions caused by great public calamities is a matter of statewide concern and interest to all inhabitants and citizens.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 53020. Section 53020.

As used in this article, “local agency” means public agency.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 53021. Section 53021.

Services performed or expenditures made by a local agency within or without its territorial limits are conclusively deemed for the direct protection and benefit of its inhabitants and property if made or performed for: (a) A national or local emergency created by military attack or sabotage. (b) Providing adequate national or local defense. (c) A local emergency, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 8558. (d) Before one local agency may respond to a request for material fire protection or aid pursuant to this article the requesting agency must have primary fire protection by an organized fire department pursuant to law, and the request for aid must come from the chief or other authorized agent of such requesting agency. Notwithstanding budget limitations and restrictions imposed by law, except limitations imposed by the Constitution, all such services performed or expenditures made are payable from any funds of the public agency rendering the services or making the expenditure upon the adoption of a resolution by the governing body of that agency determining that the services were performed or the expenditures were made in connection with such an emergency and designating the fund or funds from which the obligation is to be paid.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 53022. Section 53022.

If such services are performed outside the local agency’s limits, they shall be ordered by the chief administrative officer of the office or department performing them unless otherwise provided by the legislative body of the local agency.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 53023. Section 53023.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or any local ordinance all the privileges and immunities from liability, exemptions from laws and rules, all pension, relief, disability, workmen’s compensation, and other benefits, which apply to officers, agents, or employees of the local agency when performing functions within the local agency’s limits apply to them to the same extent while performing functions extraterritorially pursuant to this article.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026