BILL NUMBER: AB 1376	CHAPTERED  10/03/01

	CHAPTER  462
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 3, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 2, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 30, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 25, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 1, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 17, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Wyman and Koretz
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Member Cardenas)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to add Section 8587.5 to the Government Code, relating to
emergency services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1376, Wyman.   Emergency response vehicles.
   Existing law requires the Department of Transportation and local
authorities in their respective jurisdictions, to place and maintain,
or cause to be placed and maintained, appropriate signs, signals,
and other traffic control devices.
   This bill would require the department to apply, in cooperation
with other interested cities with Traffic Signal Override Systems, to
the United States Secretary of Transportation for federal funding to
conduct a research program in one or more cities to test the
effectiveness of the installation of signal emitters and sensors in
emergency response vehicles in reducing accidents and injuries.  It
would require the department to submit a report on its findings to
the budget and transportation committees of the Legislature within 6
months after the study is completed.


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


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Every year in California emergency service providers are
unnecessarily killed or injured in traffic accidents.  The National
Safety Council reports that, for 1998, ambulances, fire apparatus,
and police cars were involved in more than 32,000 crashes, 47 percent
of which occurred with their emergency lights, sirens, or both, in
use.
   (b) Increased traffic, along with improved soundproofing of
vehicles and the use of stereo systems and cellular telephones by
drivers, contribute to the distraction of drivers on the state's
streets and highways.
   (c) Most major metropolitan areas in the state now utilize Traffic
Signal Override Systems which, if combined with relatively
inexpensive patented technologies that receive audible signals in
emergency response vehicles and other motor vehicles, could
facilitate the right of way, alert other emergency responders of
similar vehicles in the vicinity, and thereby greatly enhance the
safety of all emergency responders.
   (d) Federal legislation known as the "Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century," Public Law 105-178, provides federal funding
for programs that show the benefits of improving the safety of our
roads.  The federal share of funding can reach 100 percent where
there is substantial public interest or benefit from the program.
   (e) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature in enacting
this act to require the Department of Transportation to apply for
funding under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to
test the ability of new technologies to reduce accidents for
emergency responders.
  SEC. 2.  Section 8587.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   8587.5.  (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in
cooperation with interested cities with Traffic Signal Override
Systems, apply to the United States Secretary of Transportation for
federal funding to conduct a research program in one or more cities
to test the effectiveness of the installation of signal emitters and
sensors in emergency response vehicles in reducing accidents and
injuries.
   (b) The project shall study the reduction in accidents and
injuries involving emergency response vehicles in the program areas,
shall, if possible, assess any reduction in response times by
emergency response vehicles in the program areas, and may study other
valuable data as deemed appropriate.
   (c) The application shall seek full federal funding for the
project, including the evaluation component. If the United States
Secretary of Transportation requires a nonfederal share of funding,
the participating local governments shall pay this share equally.
   (d) The department shall apply for federal funding within six
months of the effective date of this section unless good cause exists
to apply later or not to apply.
   (e) Within six months after the study has been completed, the
department shall submit a written report of its findings to the
Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, the Senate Committee on
Transportation, the Assembly Committee on Budget, and the Assembly
Committee on Transportation.