California lawmaker calls for overhaul of seismic safety in school facilities

From California Watch: The chairwoman of the California Senate disaster preparedness committee is calling for new building standards and an overhaul of the state's seismic safety law related to school facilities. Under the bill (SB 1271) introduced by Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, a task force would have until Jan. 1, 2014, to adopt new building standards and policies to bolster school seismic safety. The new standards are intended to address weaknesses in the state architect's office's oversight of seismic safety standards for K-12 public school construction.

From The Sacramento Bee: State oversight of seismic and structural safety standards on California school construction projects has been ineffective and incomplete, the state auditor says. Thousands of projects left uncertified even after they are finished. State Auditor Elaine Howle says the Division of the State Architect "has not provided an effective, comprehensive level of oversight of school construction processes."