BILL NUMBER: AB 14	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  223
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 28, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 6, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lowenthal

                        DECEMBER 3, 2012

   An act to add Section 13978.8 to the Government Code, relating to
transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 14, Lowenthal. State freight plan.
   Existing law creates the Transportation Agency in state
government, consisting of various departments, including the
Department of Transportation, which, among other things, is
responsible for the state highway system. Existing law also requires
the department to prepare a state rail plan, which contains a freight
element. Existing law provides for the state and regional agencies
to engage in various transportation planning activities, including
goods movement planning activities. Existing federal law provides
certain incentives to the states for developing a state freight plan
consistent with federal guidelines.
   This bill would require the Transportation Agency to prepare a
state freight plan with specified elements to govern the immediate
and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the
state with respect to the movement of freight. The bill would require
the agency to establish a freight advisory committee with various
responsibilities in that regard. The initial state freight plan would
be submitted to the Legislature, the Governor, and certain state
agencies by December 31, 2014, and updated every 5 years thereafter.




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

  SECTION 1.  Section 13978.8 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   13978.8.  (a) The Transportation Agency shall prepare a state
freight plan. The state freight plan shall comply with the relevant
provisions of the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141. The agency shall develop a
state freight plan that provides a comprehensive plan to govern the
immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments
of the state with respect to the movement of freight.
   (b) (1) The agency shall establish a freight advisory committee
consisting of a representative cross section of public and private
sector freight stakeholders, including representatives of ports,
shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, the freight
industry workforce, the California Transportation Commission, the
Department of Transportation, the Public Utilities Commission, the
State Lands Commission, the State Air Resources Board, regional and
local governments, and environmental, safety, and community
organizations.
   (2) The freight advisory committee shall do all of the following:
   (A) Advise the agency on freight-related priorities, issues,
projects, and funding needs.
   (B) Serve as a forum for discussion for state transportation
decisions affecting freight mobility.
   (C) Communicate and coordinate regional priorities with other
organizations.
   (D) Promote the sharing of information between the private and
public sectors on freight issues.
   (E) Participate in the development of the state freight plan.
   (c) The state freight plan shall include, at a minimum, all of the
following:
   (1) An identification of significant freight system trends, needs,
and issues.
   (2) A description of the freight policies, strategies, and
performance measures that will guide freight-related transportation
investment decisions.
   (3) A description of how the state freight plan will improve the
ability of California to meet the national freight goals established
under Section 167 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
   (4) Evidence of consideration of innovative technologies and
operational strategies, including intelligent transportation systems,
that improve the safety and efficiency of freight movement.
   (5) In the case of routes on which travel by heavy vehicles,
including mining, agricultural, energy cargo or equipment, and timber
vehicles, is projected to substantially deteriorate the condition of
roadways, a description of improvements that may be required to
reduce or impede the deterioration.
   (6) An inventory of facilities with freight mobility issues, such
as truck bottlenecks within California, and a description of the
strategies California is employing to address those freight mobility
issues.
   (d) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5, the state freight plan shall
be submitted to the Legislature, the Governor, the California
Transportation Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the
State Air Resources Board on or before December 31, 2014, and every
five years thereafter. The state freight plan shall be submitted
pursuant to Section 9795.
   (e) The state freight plan required by this section may be
developed separately from, or incorporated into, the statewide
strategic long-range transportation plan required by Section 135 of
Title 23 of the United States Code.
   (f) The freight element of the state freight plan may be developed
separately from, or incorporated into, the state rail plan prepared
by the Department of Transportation pursuant to Section 14036.