California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Joint ResolutionNo. 28


Introduced by Assembly Member Obernolte

January 26, 2016


Assembly Joint Resolution No. 28—Relative to daylight saving time.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AJR 28, as introduced, Obernolte. Daylight saving time.

This measure would memorialize the Congress and the President to enact legislation that would allow a state to adopt daylight saving time year round.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, The State of California is committed to attaining
250 percent of its energy generation from renewable sources and
3to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below
4its 1990 level by 2030; and

5WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the state to employ any
6and all means of energy reduction that will reduce reliance and
7pressure on energy infrastructure in the state; and

8WHEREAS, Daylight saving time was a widely used 20th
9century energy reduction tool that can be expanded to meet 21st
10century energy shortages; and

11WHEREAS, A 2008 federal Department of Energy report
12concluded that extended daylight saving time saves the United
13States approximately 0.5 percent energy each day that it is used,
14and;

15WHEREAS, A report by the State Energy Resources
16Conservation and Development Commission, issued in May 2001,
P2    1and titled “Effects of Daylight Saving Time on California
2Electricity Use,” indicates that winter daylight saving time, as that
3term is defined in the report, would likely reduce electricity use
4by 3,400 megawatt hours per day and that summer double daylight
5saving time, as that term is defined in the report, would likely
6reduce electricity use by 1,500 megawatt hours per day, producing
7a cost savings of $300,000,000 to $1,025,000,000 per year for
8California ratepayers; and

9WHEREAS, A 2004 study from Rutgers University titled “The
10Effects of Daylight and Daylight Saving Time on United States
11Pedestrian Fatalities and Motor Vehicle Occupant Fatalities” found
12that year-round daylight saving time would reduce pedestrian
13fatalities by 171 or 13 percent of all pedestrian fatalities per year
14in the 5 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. time periods and reduce motor
15vehicle occupants fatalities by 195 or 3 percent per year in the
16same time period; and

17WHEREAS, A 2015 study in The Review of Economics and
18Statistics titled “Under the Cover of Darkness: How Ambient Light
19Influences Criminal Activity” estimated a 7 percent decrease in
20robberies following the shift to daylight saving time; and

21WHEREAS, Scientists have connected a number of health
22consequences with the act of switching between standard time and
23daylight saving time, including greater risks of heart attacks, more
24frequent traffic accidents and workplace injuries, and increased
25suicide rates in the days immediately after the switch; and

26WHEREAS, The citizens of California are being asked to make
27major changes in their personal and professional lives to conserve
28energy and would be grateful to receive the benefits of year-round
29daylight saving time in return; and

30WHEREAS, Although neither standard time nor daylight saving
31time produces much energy reduction for the coldest states during
32the more frigid months of the year, California enjoys a temperate
33climate that would afford greater reductions in energy use by
34utilizing a year-round daylight saving time plan; and

35WHEREAS, The federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows
36states to decline application of daylight saving time and provides
37states with the option of practicing standard time year round, but
38does not allow states to practice daylight saving time year round;
39and

P3    1WHEREAS, By applying daylight saving time uniformly, the
2state could avoid any inconsistencies in time application that would
3otherwise impact and confuse the broadcasting, rail, airline, and
4motor coach industries; and

5WHEREAS, In House of Representatives Report No. 99-185
6from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, numerous benefits
7are listed in support of the extension of daylight saving time,
8including significant energy conservation, improved traffic safety,
9reduction in crime, economic growth, and overwhelming public
10support; and

11WHEREAS, The state would greatly benefit from having the
12option of extending daylight saving time year round; now,
13therefore, be it

14Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
15California, jointly,
That the Legislature of the State of California
16respectfully memorializes the United States Congress and the
17President of the United States to enact legislation that would allow
18a state to adopt daylight saving time year round; and be it further

19Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
20of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
21States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each
22Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the
23United States.



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