BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ab 1092
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: levine
VERSION: 6/10/13
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 18, 2013
SUBJECT:
Building standards for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
DESCRIPTION:
This bill requires the Building Standards Commission, as part of
the next building code adoption cycle, to include mandatory
building standards for the installation of electric vehicle
charging infrastructure in multifamily dwellings and
non-residential development.
ANALYSIS:
The California Building Standards Law establishes the Building
Standards Commission (BSC) and the process for adopting state
building codes. Under this process, relevant state agencies
propose amendments to model building codes, which the BSC must
then adopt, modify, or reject. For example, the Department of
Housing and Community Development (HCD) is the relevant state
agency for residential building codes. The Office of Statewide
Health Planning and Development is responsible for hospitals and
clinics, and the Division of the State Architect is the relevant
agency for schools and emergency service buildings. Not all
buildings fall under the jurisdiction of a relevant state
agency. Most commercial, industrial, and manufacturing
structures are considered "local buildings," over which local
governments may determine applicable building standards. With
respect to green building standards, however, current law gives
BSC the authority to adopt building standards for these local
buildings. Every three years, the BSC adopts a new version of
the California Building Code (CBC), known as the triennial
update.
Since 2008, the BSC has maintained a separate chapter of the
CBC, known as the CalGreen Code, that contains green building
standards. The 2010 CalGreen Code allows cities and counties to
adopt additional tiers of green building standards, known as
AB 1092 (LEVINE) Page 2
Tier 1 and Tier 2 standards, some of which are mandatory and
some of which are voluntary for builders to follow.
This bill requires the BSC, as part of the next triennial
adoption of the CBC, to include mandatory building standards for
the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
multifamily dwellings and non-residential development. The bill
further requires HCD to develop and propose these standards for
multifamily dwellings and both HCD and the BSC to consult
actively with interested parties in the development of the
standards.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the bill . According to the author, there are
currently no mandatory building standards for electric vehicle
charging infrastructure in new development in spite of the
fact that accelerating the market for electric vehicles is a
cornerstone of California's long-term strategy to reduce
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation
sector. This bill recognizes the need to incorporate electric
vehicle infrastructure into new construction now to avoid
expensive retrofitting in the future.
2.Not applicable to single-family homes . This bill requires BSC
to adopt building standards on electric vehicle charging
infrastructure only for multifamily dwellings and
non-residential structure. The bill does not require
standards for single-family homes.
3.Building on current local options . The bill requires HCD and
BSC to use existing sections of the CalGreen Code as the
starting point for the mandatory building standards and to
amend those standards as necessary. The existing sections
that relate to electric vehicle charging are found in the Tier
1 and Tier 2 portions of the CalGreen Code, which apply only
in those cities and counties that have adopted them. For
multifamily housing, those sections require that at least
three percent of the total parking spaces, but not less than
one, be capable of supporting future electric vehicle supply
equipment (i.e., the charging station need not be installed,
but the wiring must be in place). With respect to
non-residential development, Tier 1 requires the development
provide at least 10% of parking spaces for low-emitting,
fuel-efficient and carpool/van pool vehicles. Tier 2 requires
that the development provide at least 12% of parking spaces
AB 1092 (LEVINE) Page 3
for such vehicles. To the extent that the development
provides these spaces for electric vehicles, the space must
have wiring to accommodate a charger but not necessarily
provide the charger. While the bill gives HCD and BSC
discretion to determine the ultimate requirements, the author
desires to see these Tier 1 or Tier 2 standards applied
statewide and expanded to require a certain percentage of
parking spaces in non-residential buildings to be wired for
electric vehicle chargers specifically.
4.Double referral . The Senate Rules Committee has referred this
bill to both this committee and the Committee on Environmental
Quality.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 48-21
Appr: 12-5
H&CD: 5-2
Trans: 12-3
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, June 12,
2013.)
SUPPORT: American Planning Association, California Chapter
California Apartment Association
California Building Industry Association
California Business Properties Association
California State Association of Electrical
Workers
South Coast Air Quality Management District
OPPOSED: None received.