Amended in Senate August 13, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 755

Introduced by Assembly Member Ammiano

February 21, 2013

An act to add Section begin delete 2415 end delete begin insert 14527.1 end insert to the begin delete Streets and Highways end delete begin insert Government end insert Code, relating to bridges.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 755, as amended, Ammiano. Suicide barriers.

Existing law does not require bridges to be constructed with suicide barriers. begin insert Existing law requires a project study report or a project study report equivalent to be prepared prior to the inclusion of a transportation capital improvement project in the regional transportation improvement program, which is prepared by regional agencies, or the interregional transportation improvement program, which is prepared by the Department of Transportation. Existing law requires the California Transportation Commission to adopt the state transportation improvement program incorporating projects included in the regional transportation improvement program and the interregional transportation improvement program. Existing law also requires the department to prepare, for approval by the commission, a separate state highway operation and protection program for capital improvements that are necessary to preserve and protect the state highway system. end insert

This bill would begin delete provide that the construction or reconstruction of a bridge designed for use by motor vehicles shall not be eligible for federal funds apportioned to the state, funds made available from the Highway Users Tax Account, or toll bridge funds unless the planning process for the bridge project takes into account the need for a suicide barrier. To the extent the bill would apply to bridges of local agencies, it would thereby impose a state-mandated local program end delete begin insert require a project study report or project study report equivalent that is prepared for any new project involving the construction or reconstruction of a bridge, as defined, that is included in the regional transportation improvement program, the interregional transportation improvement program, or the state highway operation and protection program to include a document demonstrating that a suicide barrier was a feature considered during the project’s planning process end insert .

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The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

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This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:  begin delete yes end delete begin insert no end insert .

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert Section 14527.1 is added to the end insert begin insert Government Code end insert begin insert ,
to read: end insert

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begin insert 14527.1. end insert   

(a) A project study report or project study report
equivalent that is prepared for any new project involving the
construction or reconstruction of a bridge, as defined in subdivision
(b), included in a regional transportation improvement program,
as described in Section 14527, the interregional transportation
improvement program, as described in Section 14526, or the state
highway operation and protection program, as defined in Section
14526.5, shall include a document demonstrating that a suicide
barrier was a feature considered for each bridge during the
project’s planning process.

(b) “Bridge” means a publicly owned bridge on the national
highway system or the federal-aid highway system, or off system,
a publicly owned bridge classified as non-federal-aid highway
system.

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SECTION 1.  

Section 2415 is added to the Streets and Highways
Code, to read:

2415.  

The construction or reconstruction of a bridge designed
for use by motor vehicles shall not be eligible for federal funds
apportioned to the state, funds made available from the Highway
Users Tax Account, or toll bridge funds unless the planning process
for the bridge project takes into account the need for a suicide
barrier.

end delete

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SEC. 2.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

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