BILL NUMBER: SB 691 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 22, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Senator Lieu
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
An act to amend Section 7151 of the Labor Code, relating
to employment. An act to amend Sections 627 and
22358.3 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 691, as amended, Lieu. Employment: safety.
Vehicles: reducing prima facie speed limits: local authority.
Existing law authorizes a local authority to decrease the prima
facie speed limits in a business or residential district or a public
park on any street having a roadway not exceeding 25 feet in width to
20 or 15 miles per hour if the local authority determines, upon the
basis of an engineering and traffic survey, that the prima facie
speed limit of 25 miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe.
Existing law also authorizes a local authority to decrease the prima
facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour to a speed limit of 20 or 15
miles per hour, upon the basis of an engineering or traffic survey.
Existing law defines "engineering and traffic survey" to include the
consideration of, among other things, highway, traffic, and roadside
conditions not readily apparent to the driver.
This bill would eliminate the width limitation of the roadway for
which the local authority may decrease the prima facie speed limits.
The bill would authorize the local authority to reduce the prima
facie speed limits to any speed lower than 25 miles per hour that is
found to be most appropriate and is reasonable and safe. The bill
would revise the definition of "engineering and traffic survey" to
specify conditions that are considered to be conditions not readily
apparent to the driver.
Existing law requires specified safety procedures for the use of
scaffolding by workers.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 627 of the Vehicle
Code is amended to read:
627. (a) "Engineering and traffic survey," as used in this code,
means a survey of highway and traffic conditions in accordance with
methods determined by the Department of Transportation for use by
state and local authorities.
(b) An engineering and traffic survey shall include, among other
requirements deemed necessary by the department, consideration of all
of the following:
(1) Prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering
measurements.
(2) Accident records.
(3) Highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent
to the driver . including all of the
following:
(A) Elevated accident frequency.
(B) Elevated accident severity.
(C) High percentage of usage by trucks or other slow moving
vehicles.
(D) Multiple uncontrolled access points or frequent cross traffic
conflicts from closely spaced driveways or jogged intersections, or
both.
(E) Poor pavement condition or rough roads.
(F) Roadway slope.
(G) Presence of horizontal or vertical curbs, or both, limiting
motorist sight distance.
(H) Presence of multiple uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.
(I) Presence of school zones, multiple uncontrolled school
crossings, and school bus stops.
(J) Proximity to parks with active use or playgrounds.
(K) Proximity to senior facilities or crossings frequented by
seniors.
(L) Roadway that is parking impacted with heavy parking turnover.
(M) Roadway with heavily used bike routes that are not afforded
with bike lanes.
(N) Equestrian activity or crossings.
(O) Roadway with heavy transit usage.
(P) Presence of nonlicensed electric or motorized vehicle
crossings, such as golf cart crossings.
(Q) Key roadway connections for neighborhood electric vehicles.
(c) When conducting an engineering and traffic survey, local
authorities, in addition to the factors set forth in paragraphs (1)
to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) may consider all of the
following:
(1) Residential density, if any of the following conditions exist
on the particular portion of highway and the property contiguous
thereto, other than a business district:
(A) Upon one side of the highway, within a distance of a quarter
of a mile, the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by 13
or more separate dwelling houses or business structures.
(B) Upon both sides of the highway, collectively, within a
distance of a quarter of a mile, the contiguous property fronting
thereon is occupied by 16 or more separate dwelling houses or
business structures.
(C) The portion of highway is longer than one-quarter of a mile
but has the ratio of separate dwelling houses or business structures
to the length of the highway described in either subparagraph (A) or
(B).
(2) Pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
SEC. 2. Section 22358.3 of the Vehicle
Code is amended to read:
22358.3. Whenever Notwithstanding Section
22358.4, whenever a local authority determines upon the basis
of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit
of 25 miles per hour in a business or residence district or in a
public park on any street having a roadway not exceeding 25
feet in width , other than a state highway, is more than is
reasonable or safe, the local authority may, by ordinance or
resolution, determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 20 or
15 miles per hour , or any speed lower than 25 miles
per hour , whichever is found most appropriate and is
reasonable and safe. The declared prima facie limit shall be
effective when appropriate signs or pavement markings, or both
signs and pavement markings, giving notice thereof
of the speed limit are erected or placed
upon the street.
SECTION 1. Section 7151 of the Labor Code is
amended to read:
7151. If the working platform of any scaffolding swung or
suspended from an overhead support is more than 10 feet above the
ground, floor, or area to which an employee on the scaffolding might
fall, it shall have a safety rail of wood or other equally rigid
material of adequate strength. The rail shall comply with the
applicable orders of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Suspended scaffolding shall be secured so as to prevent the
scaffolding from swaying from the building, or structure, or other
object being worked on from the scaffolding. All parts of the
scaffolding shall be of sufficient strength to support, bear, or
withstand with safety any weight of persons, tools, appliances, or
materials which might reasonably be placed on it or which are to be
supported by it.