BILL NUMBER: AB 516	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 21, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members  Ammiano,  Buchanan,
Dickinson, Eng, Fuentes, and Solorio)

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to amend Section 2333.5 of the Streets and Highways Code,
relating to transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 516, as amended, V. Manuel Pérez. Safe routes to school.
   Existing law requires the Department of Transportation, in
consultation with the California Highway Patrol, to establish and
administer a "Safe Routes to School" program for construction of
bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects, and to
award grants to local agencies in that regard from available federal
and state funds, based on the results of a statewide competition.
Existing law requires the department to rate proposals submitted by
applicants using specified factors. One of the factors relates to
consultation of and support for projects by school-based
organizations, local traffic engineers, local elected officials, law
enforcement agencies, school officials, and other relevant community
stakeholders.
   This bill would delete that factor and instead substitute a factor
relating to use of a specified public participation process, with
involvement by the public, schools, parents, teachers, local
agencies, the business community, key professionals, and others,
which process identifies community priorities and ensures those
priorities are reflected in the proposal, and secures support for the
proposal by relevant community stakeholders. The bill would add
another factor relating to benefit of a proposal to a low-income
school, as defined, and would make other related changes.  The
bill would require up to 5% of any annual budget allocation to fund
grants pursuant to these provisions to be expended for technical
assistance to eligible low-income schools and communities, as
specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 2333.5 of the Streets and Highways Code is
amended to read:
   2333.5.  (a) The department, in consultation with the Department
of the California Highway Patrol, shall establish and administer a
"Safe Routes to School" construction program for construction of
bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects.
   (b) The department shall award grants to local governmental
agencies, including school districts, under the program based on the
results of a statewide competition that requires submission of
proposals for funding and rates those proposals on all of the
following factors:
   (1) Demonstrated needs of the applicant.
   (2) Potential of the proposal for reducing child injuries and
fatalities.
   (3) Potential of the proposal for encouraging increased walking
and bicycling among students.
   (4) Identification of safety hazards.
   (5) Identification of current and potential walking and bicycling
routes to school.
   (6) Use of a public participation process, including, but not
limited to, a public meeting that satisfies all of the following:
   (A) Involves the public, schools, parents, teachers, local
agencies, the business community, key professionals, and others.
   (B) Identifies community priorities and gathers community input to
guide the development of projects included in the proposal.
   (C) Ensures that community priorities are reflected in the
proposal.
   (D) Secures support for the proposal by relevant stakeholders.
   (7) Benefit to a low-income school, defined for purposes of this
section to mean a school where at least 75 percent of students are
eligible to receive free or  reduced price  
reduced-price  meals under the National School Lunch Program.
   (c) Any annual budget allocation to fund grants described in
subdivision (b) shall be in addition to any federal funding received
by the state that is designated for "Safe Routes to School" projects
pursuant to Section 1404 of SAFETEA-LU or any similar program funded
through a subsequent transportation act.
   (d) Any federal funding received by the state that is designated
for "Safe Routes to School" projects shall be distributed by the
department under the competitive grant process, consistent with all
applicable federal requirements.
   (e) Prior to the award of any construction grant or the department'
s use of those funds for a "Safe Routes to School" construction
project encompassing a freeway, state highway, or county road, the
department shall consult with, and obtain approval from, the
Department of the California Highway Patrol, ensuring that the "Safe
Routes to School" proposal complements the California Highway Patrol'
s Pedestrian Corridor Safety Program and is consistent with its
statewide pedestrian safety statistical analysis.
   (f) The department is encouraged to coordinate with law
enforcement agencies' community policing efforts in establishing and
maintaining the "Safe Routes to School" construction program.
   (g) In the development of guidelines and procedures governing this
program, the department shall fully consider the needs of low-income
schools. 
   (h) Up to 5 percent of any annual budget allocation to fund grants
described in this section shall be expended for technical assistance
to eligible low-income schools and communities to encourage strong,
viable applications for projects benefiting low-income communities.