BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AB 514


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          Date of Hearing:  May 20, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          AB  
          514 (Williams) - As Amended May 4, 2015


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  YesReimbursable:   
          No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill increases the statutory caps on fines that a county  
          may impose for violations, determined to be infractions, of  
          ordinances governing building and safety, brush removal,  








                                                                     AB 514


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          grading, film permitting, or zoning.


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          The bill is permissive and, therefore, any local costs are not  
          reimbursable.


          COMMENTS:


          1)Purpose. This bill seeks to encourage proper permitting for  
            construction activities and for large events at residential  
            locations by providing for increased fines for specified  
            county ordinance violations. According to the author, "The  
            Land Use and Development codes focus on events that have over  
            300 people attending, if there is potential public  
            disturbance, and/or a structure is built that would alter the  
            local landscape.  The current small fines for violations of  
            forgoing permits do not provide disincentives for violations  
            of the Land Use and Development codes for special events  
            (parties, weddings, and film shoots) and conditions for  
            construction hours and days. AB 514 creates a reasonable  
            deterrence mechanism and provides counties with more control  
            to enforce local health and safety ordinances."



          2)Background. Current law allows cities and counties to  
            establish ordinances, makes violations of ordinances  
            misdemeanors, unless they are made infractions via ordinance  
            adopted by the city or county, and outlines the fee structure  
            for ordinance violations and building and safety code  
            violations that are determined to be infractions. Fines for  
            first violations, under current law, cannot exceed $100. 










                                                                     AB 514


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            Supporters contend that in some cases the fines are so low  
            that property owners find it easier to violate County's land  
            use and development codes and pay the low fine than to obtain  
            a permit. Permit fees are accessed on a situational bases,  
            thus the cost of each permit varies.  The cost of permits for  
            large events and certain construction projects is typically  
            higher than $100, which does not incentivize property owners  
            to obtain the permit.   





          Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081