CA SB1001

Beginning July 1, 2028, the Office of Emergency Services must issue Personal Identity Verification-Interoperable (PIV-I) credentials to local agencies, corporations, or mutual water companies responsible for public works and critical infrastructure upon request

PIV-I cards allow personnel access to areas closed during natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters for response and recovery operations, subject to approval by the incident commander or law enforcement

Applications must be signed by an authorized representative of the water company or local agency, include justification for access, and certify that the individual has completed appropriate training, experience, and licensing

PIV-I cards are valid for five years and renewable; employers must collect and destroy cards when employees leave or their job duties change such that access is no longer appropriate

The Office of Emergency Services may impose fees on water companies and local agencies to cover reasonable costs of issuing cards and administering the program