California Professional Firefighters

SB 488 - Use of Public Safety Identifiers in Slate Mailers

Senator Lou Correa (D - Santa Ana) has introduced SB 488 to ensure the appropriate use of public safety logos. But political games are putting this reform at risk.

California's public safety departments and organizations are charged with, among other things, disseminating and enforcing important emergency warnings to the Senator Lou Correa (D - Santa Ana)public, including reverse 911 calls, Emergency Broadcast System messages, red flag warnings and other important emergency prevention and evacuation orders that ultimately save lives.

In recent years, certain slate mailer organizations sending political slate mail or other mass mailings have used public safety governmental and organizational logos, insignias and emblems on mail pieces in a creative effort to suggest to the voting public that these public safety entities support or endorse the issue(s) or candidate(s) represented in the mail piece.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A DECEPTIVE MAILER USING CAL FIRE LOGO.

The unauthorized use of such identifiers by slate mail organizations creates the very real potential for our state's citizens to be misled and become confused as they attempt to distinguish between legitimate public safety communications and political propaganda. Even worse, is the possibility that important public safety information is disregarded altogether in the event of an emergency because it is inaccurately assumed to be associated with a political campaign or candidate.

SB 488 ensures that public safety governmental and organizational logos, insignias, emblems, trademarks and other identifiers are used only with the approval of the governmental agency, department, group or organization to which the identifier belongs. Additionally, this bill requires specified disclosure information to be displayed on a mail piece.

SB 488 was introduced on February 17, 2011. This bill was approved by the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee on May 3, 2011 with a 3-2 vote. This bill was then sent to the Senate Floor, where is was approved 28-7 on May 31, 2011. This bill was then referred to the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee where it was approved unanimously on July 5, 2011.

The measure has won approval in the Assembly, but as of September 7th, remained stalled in the Senate. Two senators -- Ted Gaines and Tom Harman -- had previously supported the measure, but have so far refused to sign on.

For Questions, contact our Legislative Director, Amy Howard.