BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 812 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 812 (Ma) As Amended August 6, 2012 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |70-2 |(January 26, |SENATE: |37-0 |(August 13, | | | |2012) | | |2012) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: TRANS . SUMMARY : Allows the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to establish specifications for the use of up to, and possibly in excess of, 40% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) for hot asphalt mixes on or before January 1, 2014, and requires Caltrans to report to the Legislature regarding the progress toward developing and implementing the specification on or before March 1, 2016. The Senate amendments specify that Caltrans is authorized to establish specifications for the use of RAP in excess of 40% for hot mix asphalt mixes. EXISTING LAW : 1)Requires Caltrans to use recycled materials unless it determines that the use of these materials is not cost effective. 2)Defines "recycled materials" to include, but not be limited to, recycled asphalt, crushed concrete sub-base, foundry slag, ash, glass, glassy aggregates, and paving materials utilizing crumb rubber from automobile tires. 3)Requires state agencies to make maximum use of recycled products. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill allowed Caltrans to establish specifications for the use of up to 40% RAP for hot asphalt mixes on or before January 1, 2014, and required Caltrans to report to the Legislature regarding the progress toward developing and implementing the specification on or before March 1, 2016. AB 812 Page 2 FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. COMMENTS : According to the author, the intent of this bill is to encourage increased use of recycled materials, thereby increasing conservation of natural resources. RAP (the term given to reprocessed materials containing asphalt pavement) is created when asphalt pavements are crushed, screened, and recoated with a binder before being re-applied as pavement. In discussions on this bill last year, Caltrans committed to the author to "fast track" completion of a specification allowing for the use of up to 25% RAP in surface paving projects following the release of a study by the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in June 2011. Caltrans released the draft specification on October 27, 2011, and it is now in use. Caltrans will be further testing the specification in the coming year in anticipation of increasing the allowable percentage of RAP up to 40%, where applicable, by January 1, 2014. This bill simply codifies Caltrans' efforts in this regard. Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0004537