8654.4. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall enter into a joint powers agreement, in accordance with the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1) and this article, with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program to do both of the following:(1) Encourage cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting that creates fire-resistant homes, businesses, and public buildings.(2) Facilitate vegetation management, the creation and maintenance of defensible space, and other fuel modification activities that provide neighborhood or communitywide benefits against wildfire.(b) The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall delegate its duties and responsibilities for this program to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 225, Sec. 2. (AB 9) Effective January 1, 2022. Conditionally operative as prescribed by Section 8654.10. Repealed as of July 1, 2029, pursuant to Section 8654.10.)