BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 755
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Date of Hearing: April 15, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 755 (Ammiano) - As Introduced: February 21, 2013
SUBJECT : Bridges: suicide barriers
SUMMARY : Requires, as a condition of receiving federal or state
highway funds or toll bridge funds for a project, consideration
of a suicide barrier in the planning process for construction or
reconstruction of a bridge intended for motor vehicle crossings.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Directs boards of supervisors, city councils, the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California
Transportation Commission (CTC) do all things necessary and
proper in their respective jurisdictions to secure the federal
funds for county highways, city streets, and state highways.
2)Directs Caltrans to expedite bridge replacement projects so
that federal funds can be used fully as soon as they become
available.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : The author has introduced AB 755 to increase the
consideration for suicide barriers on the state's bridges. His
office reports that this bill is as a result of the author's
work to secure a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Statistics point to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge as the
location of more suicides than virtually any other location in
the world. Since it opened in 1937, over 1,400 confirmed deaths
have been reported with untold others having gone undetected.
In 2008, directors of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and
Transportation District voted to install a suicide barrier on
the bridge. The planned barrier will be a stainless-steel net
system that will make it nearly impossible for someone to commit
suicide from jumping from the bridge. The cost of the barrier
is estimated to be $40 million to $50 million. These costs
could have undoubtedly been reduced substantially had the
barrier been incorporated into the initial designs of the
AB 755
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bridge.
Ample evidence exists to support the effectiveness of suicide
barriers. For example, in a 2006 English National Institute of
Mental Health study, researchers analyzed all suicide prevention
approaches--including for example, barriers, signs, telephone
hotlines, and bridge patrols-and concluded that "The most
effective form of prevention at jumping sites is a physical
barrier which literally restricts access to the drop."
Furthermore, studies show that once people are prevented from
jumping, they typically do not go on to commit suicide by other
means.
This bill does not impose a specific, onerous planning process
on Caltrans and local agencies with regard to bridges within
their respective jurisdictions. By requiring "consideration"
for suicide barriers in the planning stages of a bridge project,
project designers will have greater opportunities to incorporate
suicide barriers in earlier design stages, potentially reducing
overall costs for the barriers.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Psychological Association
Mental Health America of California
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093