Section 8597 - Classes of state employees assigned to duty shall be peace officersWhenever a state of emergency is proclaimed to exist within any region or area, or whenever a state of war emergency exists, the following classes of state employees who are within the region or area proclaimed or who may be assigned to duty therein shall be peace officers and shall have the full powers and duties of those officers for all purposes as provided by Section 830.1 of the Penal Code, and shall perform those duties and exercise any powers which are appropriate or which may be directed by their superior officers:
(a) All peace officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol.(b) All deputies of the Department of Fish and Game who have been appointed to enforce the provisions of the Fish and Game Code pursuant to Section 851 of that code.(c) The Director of Forestry and Fire Protection and the classes of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who are designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection as having the powers of peace officers pursuant to Section 4156 of the Public Resources Code.(d) Peace officers who are state employees within the provisions of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code.Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.