CA SB160

Requires counties to integrate cultural competence into emergency plans upon next update, addressing how culturally diverse communities are served in emergency communications, evacuation, sheltering, mitigation, planning, and preparedness.

Mandates counties provide community engagement forums in geographically diverse locations to solicit input from culturally diverse communities within their jurisdiction.

Authorizes counties to establish a community advisory board to coordinate outreach forums, prioritize diverse communities for engagement, and implement cultural competence strategies in emergency plans.

Defines "cultural competence" as the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures, including addressing linguistic and cultural needs of diverse populations.

Defines "culturally diverse communities" to include racial and ethnic groups, indigenous peoples, immigrants and refugees, women, elderly and youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, people with limited English proficiency, and other demographic factors.