BILL NUMBER: AB 2276	CHAPTERED  08/26/02

	CHAPTER  241
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 26, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 24, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 12, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 30, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 17, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Dutra

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2002

   An act to amend Section 27903 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
hazardous materials, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take
effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2276, Dutra.  Vehicles:  hazardous materials:  emergency
materials.
   Existing California law requires any vehicle transporting
hazardous materials to display placards in the manner prescribed by
federal regulations applicable to commercial transportation.
   This bill would exempt authorized emergency vehicles operated by
peace officers from the state placarding requirement in certain
circumstances.
   The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately, as
an urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 27903 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   27903.  (a) Subject to Section 114765 of the Health and Safety
Code, any vehicle transporting any explosive, blasting agent,
flammable liquid, flammable solid, oxidizing material, corrosive,
compressed gas, poison, radioactive material, or other hazardous
materials, of the type and in quantities that require the display of
placards or markings on the vehicle exterior by the United States
Department of Transportation regulations (49 C.F.R., Parts 172, 173,
and 177), shall display the placards and markings in the manner and
under conditions prescribed by those regulations of the United States
Department of Transportation.
   (b) This section does not apply to the following:
   (1) Any vehicle transporting not more than 20 pounds of smokeless
powder or not more than five pounds of black sporting powder or any
combination thereof.
   (2) An authorized emergency vehicle as defined in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (b) of Section 165, operated by a peace officer as
defined in Sections 830.1 and 830.2 of the Penal Code, when
transportation is required within the scope and course of law
enforcement explosives detection or removal duties, provided one of
the following conditions applies:
   (A) The law enforcement agency operating the vehicle complies with
regulations adopted by the California Highway Patrol pursuant to
subdivision (b) of Section 34501, notwithstanding Section 34500 and
subdivision (a) of Section 34501.
   (B) The peace officer possesses an exemption issued by the
commissioner, who may require additional transportation restrictions
as deemed appropriate.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to ensure the public safety on the highways and allow the
expeditious removal of hazardous materials from public places, it is
necessary that this act take effect immediately.