BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 812
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 812 (Ma)
          As Amended  August 6, 2012
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |70-2 |(January 26,    |SENATE: |37-0 |(August 13,    |
          |           |     |2012)           |        |     |2012)          |
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           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  


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