Carolyn Jones, San Francisco Chronicle

The bills are a result of an Assembly hearing in Emeryville eight days after the spill, at which Bay Area Assembly members blasted the delayed response and the lack of communication between government agencies. The bills address most of the problems raised in the hearing, said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.

"I think this package is comprehensive. It addresses prevention, response and recovery," he said, adding that lawmakers will amend the bills as they make their way through the Legislature.

Leno said some of the most critical needs, such as requiring double-hulled ships and banning bunker fuel, are federal issues to be addressed by Congress. California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer are working on those issues, he said.