Amended in Senate June 17, 2015

Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 400

Introduced by Assembly Member Alejo

February 19, 2015

An act to add Section 101.14 to the Streets and Highways Code, relating to highway signs.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 400, as amended, Alejo. Department of Transportation: changeable message signs.

Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has full possession and control of all state highways. Existing law, the Outdoor Advertising Act, provides for the regulation by the department of advertising displays, as defined, within view of public highways. Existing law also authorizes the department to install and maintain information signs along state highways.

This bill would require the department, by June 30, 2016, to update its internal policies to allow displays of safety, transportation-related, and begin delete voting-relating end delete begin insert voting-related end insert messages on changeable message signs, as defined begin insert , subject to approval by the United States Department of Transportation, as provided end insert .

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 101.14 is added to the Streets and
Highways Code, to read:

101.14.  

(a) Prior to June 30, 2016, begin insert and subject to federal
approval as provided in subdivision (d) end insert begin insert , end insert the department shall
update its internal policies to allow displays of the following types
of messages on changeable message signs:

(1) Safety messages.

(2) Transportation-related messages.

(3) Reminders to register to begin delete vote. end delete begin insert end insert begin insert vote, not more than 14 days
prior to the deadline to register to vote in a particular statewide
general, primary, or special election. end insert

(4) Reminders to vote as elections begin delete approach. end delete begin insert approach, not
more than 14 days prior to a particular statewide general, primary,
or special election. end insert

(b) For purposes of this section, “changeable message sign”
means any electronic sign on a roadway with a changeable message
typically used to alert motorists of traffic conditions, unusual
weather conditions, emergencies, or other events.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the
requirements of the Emergency Alert begin delete System or end delete begin insert System, end insert the Amber
Plan under Section 8594 of the Government Code, or the begin delete Blue
Alert System end delete under Section 8594.5 of the Government Code. begin insert The
department shall give priority to the display of emergency alerts,
Amber Alerts, and Blue Alerts over the messages authorized
pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) of subdivision (a). end insert

begin insert

(d) The department shall not display any information on a
changeable message sign authorized pursuant to paragraph (3)
or (4) of subdivision (a) unless the United States Department of
Transportation, or any of its agencies, has expressly approved the
display of that information. If the department is advised by the
United States Department of Transportation, or any of its agencies,
that the display of information otherwise authorized by paragraph
(3) or (4) of subdivision (a) will result in the reduction of federal
aid highway funds to the state pursuant to Section 131 of Title 23
of the United States Code, that display of information shall not be
made.

end insert

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CORRECTIONS:

Text--Page 2.

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