CA AB900

Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish an electrical grid inspection unit with a northern region and southern region, each staffed with 10 fire captain specialists and one battalion chief.

Authorizes the inspection unit to enforce electrical corporation compliance with safety, firebreak maintenance, and vegetation control statutes in state responsibility areas and Public Utilities Commission-designated Tier 2 or Tier 3 High Fire Threat Districts.

Requires the department to adopt regulations establishing inspection protocols for electrical lines and equipment, including standards for issuing citations, notification procedures, and reinspection verification.

Makes department inspection notifications admissible in Public Utilities Commission proceedings regarding utility expense recovery, memorandum account reviews, and compliance reviews of wildfire mitigation plans.

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for establishing and staffing the electrical grid inspection unit.