California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development

Facilities Development Division (FDD)
Seismic Retrofit Program – SB1953

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.

The Facilities Development Division has formed the Seismic Retrofit Program Unit. This group, headed by Chris Tokas, S.E., is comprised of structural engineers and an engineering geologist, reviews and approves the seismic evaluation reports and compliance plans as they are submitted to OSHPD. An overview of SB1953 is available through the following link.

Public Education Campaign for Hospital Seismic Safety

• November 2011 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume IX
• March 2010 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume IIX
• March 2009 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume VII
• August 2008 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume VI
• January 2008 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume V
• California's Hospital Seismic Safety Law; Its History, Implementation and Related Issues
• May 2007 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume IV
• August 2006 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume III
• January 2006 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume II
• July 2005 Seismic Safety Bulletin - Volume I

SB 1953 Regulations

• 2007 Title 24, Part 1, Chapter 6

• Code Application Notice (CANs)

  • CAN 1-1.5.2
  • CAN 1-11.1
  • CAN 1-6-1.4.5.1
  • CAN 2-1648A
  • CAN 2-1648B

• Policy Intent Notice (PINs)

  • PIN 13 - Lighting System Retrofit
  • PIN 32 - NPC-2 Seismic Bracing Upgrades (SB 1953)

• Ground Motion Maps

  • 1.0 second spectral response acceleration map, with 0.75g contours shown

Legislative Changes

• SB 1801 (99/00); Amends Section 130060 of the Health and Safety Code
• SB 2006 (99/00); Adds Section 130063 to the Health and Safety Code
• AB 2194 (99/00); Adds Section 1276.05 to the Health and Safety Code
• SB 1661 (05/06); Amends Section 130060 & 130061 of the Health and Safety Code
• SB 306 (07); Amends Section 129765 of, & adds Section 130061.5 to, the Health and Safety Code

Related Information

• Recent Information about SB 306
• Application for Seismic Evaluation Report and/or Compliance Plan Review and/or NPC/SPC Upgrade
• Application for Extension / Delay in Compliance
• SB 1953 FAQ's
• Equipment Anchorage Pre-Approval Program
• Hospital Seismic Performance Ratings
• Hospital Request for Extensions
• Summary of Requests for HAZUS Re-assessments
• Earthquake Emergency Response Plan

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