Senate Joint Resolution, 2nd Ext. Session
BILL NUMBER: SJRX2 1 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 1
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 27, 2001
ADOPTED IN SENATE JUNE 25, 2001
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 21, 2001
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 18, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Senator Karnette
(Coauthors: Senators Alarcon, Battin, Johannessen, Kuehl, Romero,
and Vasconcellos)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Havice, Longville, and Runner)
MAY 17, 2001
Senate Joint Resolution No. 1--Relative to daylight saving time.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SJR 1, Karnette. Daylight saving time.
This measure would memorialize the Congress to approve legislation
that allows a state to uniformly apply daylight saving time year
round.
WHEREAS, The State of California is currently experiencing an
energy crisis that imperils commercial and residential energy
consumers throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the State of California to
employ any and all means of energy reduction that will reduce
reliance and pressure on energy infrastructure in the State of
California; and
WHEREAS, Daylight saving time was a widely used 20th century
energy reduction tool that can be expanded to meet 21st century
energy shortages; and
WHEREAS, A report by the California State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission, issued May 2001 and entitled
"Effects of Daylight Saving Time on California Energy Use,"
indicates that winter daylight saving time, as that term is defined
in the report, would likely reduce electricity use by 3,400 megawatt
hours per day and that summer double daylight saving time, as that
term is defined in the report, would likely reduce electricity use by
1,500 megawatt hours per day, producing a cost savings of
$300,000,000 to $1,025,000,000 per year for California ratepayers;
and
WHEREAS, Federal studies have shown that daylight saving time
provides benefits in addition to energy use reduction, such as safer
streets and highways during evening commute hours and reduction in
crime due to increased hours of light in the evenings; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of California are being asked to make major
changes in their personal and professional lives to conserve energy
and would be grateful to receive the benefits of year-round daylight
saving time in return; and
WHEREAS, Although neither standard time nor daylight saving time
produce much energy reduction for the coldest states during the more
frigid months of the year, California enjoys a temperate climate that
would afford greater reductions in energy use by utilizing a
year-round daylight saving time plan than could be enjoyed by the
coldest states; and
WHEREAS, The federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to
decline application of daylight saving time and provides states with
the option of practicing standard time year round, but does not allow
states to practice daylight saving time year round; and
WHEREAS, By applying daylight saving time uniformly, the State of
California could avoid any inconsistencies in time application that
would otherwise impact and confuse the broadcasting, rail, airline
and motorcoach industries; and
WHEREAS, The State of California would greatly benefit from having
the option of extending daylight saving time year round; and
WHEREAS, The State of California should have at its disposal any
and every appropriate tool to triumph during this energy crisis; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully
memorializes the Congress of the United States to approve
legislation that allows a state to uniformly apply daylight saving
time year round; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President of the United States, Members of the
United States Congress, the Secretary of the United States Department
of Energy, the Governor of the State of California, the California
State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and
the California Public Utilities Commission.