BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 1092
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 15, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     AB 1092 (Levine) - As Amended:  May 2, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                               
          TransportationVote:12-3
                        Housing                                 5-2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill:

          1)Requires the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)  
            to adopt mandatory building standards for future installation  
            of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for parking spaces  
            in multifamily dwellings and nonresidential development, and  
            to publish these standards in the next triennial edition of  
            the state Building Standards Code.

          2)Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development  
            (HCD) to propose the building standards per (1) for  
            multifamily dwellings.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          One-time special fund cost of around $100,000 per year for two  
          years (2014-15 and 2015-16) for one-half position each at the  
          CBSC and HCD to develop the standards and for the commission to  
          review and adopt the standards for the next edition of the state  
          building code, which will become effective January 1, 2017.   
          [Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund]

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background  . The CBSC was established in 1953 and is  
            responsible for administering California's building codes,  
            including adopting, approving, publishing, and implementing  
            codes and standards. The Code is published every three years,  
            with supplements published in intervening years. Building  








                                                                  AB 1092
                                                                  Page  2

            regulations and standards take effect 180 days after their  
            publication unless otherwise stated. The 2013 Code will become  
            effective January 1, 2014.

            In 2010, the CBSC adopted CALGreen, which included both  
            mandatory and voluntary building standards intended to enhance  
            the design and construction of buildings using concepts that  
            encourage sustainable construction practices. This Code  
            establishes a voluntary standard to install electric vehicle  
            charging infrastructure in multifamily dwellings so that at  
            least 3% of the total parking spaces are capable of supporting  
            future electric vehicle supply equipment. For non-residential  
            development, the CALGreen Code establishes a voluntary  
            standard for at least 10% of total parking spaces to be  
            designated for low-emitting, fuel-efficient, and  
            carpool/vanpool vehicles, including electric vehicles.

           2)Purpose  . The author asserts that the state needs to prepare  
            mandatory building standards on this topic. According to a  
            2012 study completed by the California Center for Sustainable  
            Energy in coordination with the California Air Resources Board  
            (ARB), Californians own more than 12,000 plug-in electric  
            vehicles, and approximately 1,000 new plug-in vehicles are  
            being sold in the state every month. By anticipating the  
            needed infrastructure and planning now, expensive retrofitting  
            would be avoided in the future as more and more individuals  
            purchase plug-in electric vehicles.

            Supporters indicate that HCD has already initiated research on  
            this subject and is working with stakeholders on developing  
            new standards that will also be of use to CBSC as they move  
            forward with similar building standards for non-residential  
            buildings.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081