(1) The governor and Legislature should fortify internal efforts to improve progress and accountability. The governor and Legislature should: (1.a) Require the department to develop performance measures and benchmarks for preparedness. Modeled after standards and benchmarks used by the federal Office of Management and Budget, measures should reflect all aspects of preparedness, be understandable to the public and present reliable and valid information on effectiveness. Performance measures and benchmarks should be subject to review and approval by the Emergency Council. (1.b) Require the department to prepare & submit an annual emergency preparedness assessment. As part of the budget process, the Senate and Assembly budget committees should require the Governor's [OES] and [OHS] to submit annually an assessment of state and local progress toward preparedness goals. Assessments should be based on the benchmarks and standards developed by the department. The report should include strategies to be undertaken in the following budget year to achieve improvement. Annual reports should be reviewed by the Emergency Council. (1.c) Require local report cards on preparedness. Based on the State's performance measures and benchmarks, each local agency should develop and publicly release a report card on preparedness. For those measures requiring confidentially, the State should develop strategies to assess and monitor performance without releasing sensitive information. (2) The Legislature should direct the California Emergency Council to promote improvement and accountability. The council should be charged with the following responsibilities: (2.a) Advise policy-makers and administrators on preparedness goals and progress in meeting them. The council should advise the department on the formulation of preparedness goals and benchmarks and a strategic plan The council also should provide ongoing advice to the Legislature on legislative proposals, the governor's budget and other proposals to bolster preparedness. The council should be authorized to issue reports on preparedness as needed. (2.b) Evaluate after action reports. The council should assess after action reports issued by state and local agencies, report its findings to policy-makers and the public and recommend changes in policies and practice s based on lessons learned following emergency events. The council also should recommend strategies to improve the value of after action reports. (2.c) Authorize the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to review and approve contingent emergency rules? the [OES] should promulgate contingent emergency management rules and regulations to support catastrophic response, emergency response and recovery. To provide a reasonable check of the governor's unilateral authority, any order established in advance of an emergency that would suspend existing rules or regulations or represent new rules or regulations, as authorized by Government Code Section 8567, should be submitted to the Joint Committee, rather than the Emergency Council, for review and approval". (Little Hoover Com., Safeguarding?State?, 2007, 61-62)