(a) (1) Any state agency, including, but not limited to, a district agricultural association, or a joint powers agency that includes a district agricultural association, that seeks to hold an event with an expected attendance level over 10,000 participants on property that is either owned or operated by a state agency shall, at a normally scheduled meeting, and at least 30 days prior to the event date, assess the threat of loss of life or harm to participants that the event poses. The assessment shall consider, among others, all of the following topics:
(A) Prior events held by the promoter.
(B) Prior events held at the facility.
(C) Similar types of events in general.
(D) The potential need for law enforcement.
(E) The potential need for onsite medical care.
(F) The potential for drug use and distribution.
(2) If the state agency determines that, based on the facts presented to it in the assessment, there is a strong probability that loss of life or harm to the participants could occur, then the state agency shall require the promoter to prepare an event action plan. The promoter shall not hold the event until the state agency approves the event action plan. The event action plan shall address all of the following:
(A) Health and safety concerns, including, but not limited to, whether the promoter should provide free water, whether the promoter should prohibit any person under 18 years of age from attending the event, whether the promoter should provide onsite medical care, adequacy of ventilation, attendance capacity, and exit signs.
(B) Law enforcement concerns, including, but not limited to, a reasonable ratio of peace officers or security guards to event attendees, and mechanisms for the control of drug use and drug trafficking.
(C) The potential need for supplying educational pamphlets, or other relevant emergency materials, including, but not limited to, first aid, to help alleviate any risk posed by the event.
(D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, if the event is a performance that by its nature places the performers at risk, including, but not limited to, rodeos and monster truck rallies, then the event action plan is not required to address that risk.
(3) The state agency may charge the promoter a fee that does not exceed the reasonable costs to the state agency to prepare the threat assessment pursuant to paragraph (1), or to review the event action plan pursuant to paragraph (2).
(b) This section shall not apply to the following types of events:
(1) An event held at a fair that has adopted the Department of Food and Agriculture’s “Contract Policy and Recommended Best Practices for Contracting by California Fairgrounds.”
(2) An event regulated pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 27200) of Division 6 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
(3) An event that is an annual fair within the network of California fairs, as described in Division 3 (commencing with Section 3001) of the Food and Agricultural Code, if the primary purpose of the event is to exhibit or promote the state’s agriculture, livestock, or industrial or natural resources through exhibits, vendors, or other educational programming.
(c) For purposes of this section, “promoter” means the individual, association, corporation, partnership, or other organization that arranges, holds, organizes, or otherwise conducts the event. In no circumstance shall the state or a state agency be considered a promoter.
(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 666, Sec. 3. (AB 74) Effective January 1, 2012.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018