BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 290 Page 1 Date of Hearing: July 6, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair SB 290 (Correa) - As Introduced: February 14, 2011 Policy Committee: TransportationVote:13-0 (Consent) Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill extends, from November 1, 2013 to November 1, 2017, the date by which Orange County may establish a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) transportation plan for the Ranch Plan Planned Community, and extends reporting deadlines accordingly. FISCAL EFFECT 1)Minor costs, if any, for Caltrans, to review and approve any component of the proposed NEV transportation plan for Ranch Plan, adopted within the extended timeframe, that allows use of any state highway or any crossing of the highway. (State Highway Account) 2)Minor costs, if any, for the CHP to review and comment on the proposed NEV plan to determine any impacts on traffic law enforcement. (Motor Vehicle Account) COMMENTS 1)Background and Purpose . Existing law defines a low-speed vehicle as a motor vehicle that is four- wheeled, can attain a speed in one mile of more than 20 mph on a paved, level surface, and has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds. Low-speed vehicles are also known as NEVs. Current law prohibits NEVs from being operated on any roadway with a speed limit in excess of 35 mph, unless a designated area has been granted a statutory exemption (see below). To date, no jurisdictions have reported serious problems as a result of having implemented an NEV Plan. SB 956 (Correa)/Chapter 442 of 2007, authorized development of an NEV SB 290 Page 2 transportation plan for Ranch Plan Planned Community in Orange County. Due to the decline in the real estate market, however, the project was delayed, thus the sponsor (Rancho Mission Viejo) is seeking an extension of this authorization. 2)Related Legislation . AB 61 (Jeffries), pending in the Senate, authorizes Riverside County or any city in the county to establish a NEV plan. 3)Prior Legislation . The following legislation authorized NEV transportation plans: a) AB 1781 (Villines)/Chapter 452 of 2010, for the City of Fresno (City). b) AB 584 (Huber)/Chapter 437 of 2010, for the County of Amador and the cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek and Amador City. c) AB 2963 (Gaines)/Chapter 199 of 2008, extended a pilot project for NEV plans in the cities of Lincoln and Rocklin. d) AB 2353 (Leslie)/Chapter 422 of 2004, for the cities of Lincoln and Rocklin. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081