BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 385 (Chu) - Daylight Saving Time ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: May 9, 2016 |Policy Vote: E.Q. 7 - 0, E.Q. 2 | | | - 4, E., U., & C. 9 - | | | 2 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: June 27, 2016 |Consultant: Narisha Bonakdar | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 385 places a question before the voters regarding whether to maintain Daylight Saving Time (DST) or to switch to year round standard time. Fiscal Impact: One-time costs between $414,000 and $552,000 to the Secretary of State for printing and mailing costs to place the measure on the ballot in the next statewide election. (General Fund). Background: The Daylight Saving Time Act. California voters passed Proposition 12 in 1949, which approved DST in the state and designated the United States Standard Pacific Time as the standard time within the state. AB 385 (Chu) Page 1 of ? The Uniform Time Act of 1966. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a standardized system of operating DST throughout the U.S. and its territories. While most states opted for a coordinated DST, states and territories that enacted laws to maintain standard time were exempt from the act. Statute has never allowed states the option to remain on DST year round. Estimates of DST effects. A 2008 National Bureau of Economic Research study provided the first empirical estimates on how DST effects electricity consumption. The study found that DST increases residential electricity demand by approximately one percent, and up to four percent in the fall. Proposed Law: This bill places a question before the voters regarding whether to keep DST as it currently exists or to switch to year round standard time. Related Legislation: AB 2496 (Chu, 2016) declares legislative intent to establish United States Standard Pacific Time as the standard time within the state during the entire year. The bill is pending referral at the Assembly Desk. AJR 28 (Obernolte, 2016) memorializes the Congress and the President to enact legislation that would allow a state to adopt DST year round. The bill is on the Senate Floor. -- END --