BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 109 Page 1 Date of Hearing: July 3, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 109 (Corbett) - As Amended: June 26, 2013 Policy Committee: TransportationVote:10-3 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill requires limousines operating in the state to be equipped with emergency exits. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires limousines that have been modified or extended for purposes of increasing vehicle length and passenger capacity to have at least two rear side doors and two rear windows, as specified, that passengers may open in case of an emergency. 2)Applies the above requirements to all limousines modified or extended after January 1, 2015, and, beginning January 1, 2016, to all limousines that were modified or extended prior to January 1, 2015. 3)Requires a limousine operator to instruct all passengers regarding the vehicle's safety features and to disclose whether the vehicle meets the above safety requirements. 4)Prohibits a licensed charter-party carrier from operating a limousine that does not conform to the requirements in (1). 5)Requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which regulates charter-party carriers, to adopt rules to implement (4). FISCAL EFFECT One-time special fund costs up to $140,000 for the PUC to adopt the required rules. This will require a part-time transportation analyst, attorney, and administrative law judge. Ongoing PUC costs for enforcement will be absorbable. [Transportation SB 109 Page 2 Reimbursement Account] COMMENTS 1)Purpose . In early June, the author gutted and amended this bill in response to two recent limousine fires. On May 4, 2013, a limousine fire occurred on the San Mateo Bridge, killing five passengers who were unable to escape the vehicle. Several of the other passengers were able to exit the limousine only after climbing through the partition window separating the passengers from the driver. Similarly, on June 9, 2013, nine passengers successfully exited a limousine in Walnut Creek prior to the vehicle catching fire while idling. 2)Opposition . The Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) is concerned about the bill's potential impact on small operators and the issue presented by prohibiting limousine drivers from disabling interior door unlocking, which the GCLA's contends would provide a "dangerous opportunity for passengers to exit the vehicle before the driver determines that existing is safe." 3)Related Legislation . SB 338 (Hill), an urgency measure pending in Senate Appropriations, requires limousines to be equipped with two fire extinguishers. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081