Seismic Retrofit Program-SB1953

Brief Program History

Senate Bill 1953 (SB 1953) was introduced on February 25, 1994. It was signed into law on September 21, 1994 and filed by the Secretary of State on September 22, 1994. The bill was an amendment to and furtherance of the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Seismic Safety Act of 1983 (Alquist Act). SB 1953 (Chapter 740, 1994), is now chaptered into statute in Sections 130000 through 130070 of the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act, and part of the California Health and Safety Code. The regulations developed as a result of this statute are deemed to be emergency regulations and became effective upon approval by the California Building Standards Commission and filing with the Secretary of State on March 18, 1998. An overview of SB1953 is available through this link.

The Facilities Development Division formed the Seismic Retrofit Program Unit which is now referred to as the Seismic Compliance Unit. This Unit, headed by Dr. Roy Lobo, is comprised of structural engineers and senior architects responsible for review and approval of the following submittals to OSHPD:

  • Seismic Evaluation Reports (structural and non-structural)
  • Compliance Plans
  • Extension requests
  • Design criteria and conditional approvals of voluntary seismic compliance projects

Additional Program Functions

Public Education Campaign for Hospital Seismic Safety

For questions or comments related to the Seismic Retrofit Program, please e-mail the Seismic Compliance Unit.

FDD Links

Page last revised: November 29, 2012 11:29 AM