BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                       AB 604


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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING


          AB  
          604 (Olsen)


          As Amended  April 20, 2015


          Majority vote


           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Committee       |Votes |Ayes                |Noes                   |
          |----------------+------+--------------------+-----------------------|
          |Transportation  |11-3  |Achadjian, Baker,   |Frazier, Nazarian,     |
          |                |      |Bloom, Chu, Daly,   |Santiago               |
          |                |      |Dodd, Kim, Linder,  |                       |
          |                |      |Medina, Melendez,   |                       |
          |                |      |O'Donnell           |                       |
          |                |      |                    |                       |
          |----------------+------+--------------------+-----------------------|
          |Appropriations  |17-0  |Gomez, Bigelow,     |                       |
          |                |      |Bloom, Bonta,       |                       |
          |                |      |Calderon, Chang,    |                       |
          |                |      |Daly, Eggman,       |                       |
          |                |      |Gallagher, Eduardo  |                       |
          |                |      |Garcia, Holden,     |                       |
          |                |      |Jones, Quirk,       |                       |
          |                |      |Rendon, Wagner,     |                       |
          |                |      |Weber, Wood         |                       |
          |                |      |                    |                       |
          |                |      |                    |                       |
           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 


          SUMMARY:  Defines "electrically motorized skateboard" and  
          authorizes cities and counties to regulate their use.   








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          Specifically, this bill:  


          1)Defines "electrically motorized skateboard" as any four-wheeled  
            device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when  
            riding that is not greater than 60 inches deep and 18 inches  
            wide, is designed to transport only one person, and has an  
            electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts, the  
            maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a propulsion  
            system on a paved level surface, is no more than 20 miles per  
            hour. 


          2)Specifies that an electrically motorized skateboard may be  
            designed to also be powered by human propulsion.


          3)Specifies that an electrically motorized skateboard is not a  
            motorized skateboard for purposes of an existing ban on  
            motorized skateboards on sidewalks, roadways, highways,  
            bikeways, bicycle paths, bike trails, equestrian trails, hiking  
            trails, and recreational trails.


          4)Provides that an electrically motorized skateboard is not an  
            electric personal assistive mobility device, a motorcycle, a  
            motor-driven cycle, a motorized bicycle or moped, or a motorized  
            scooter.


          5)Authorizes local authority to adopt rules and regulations by  
            ordinance or resolution prohibiting or restricting persons from  
            riding or propelling electrically motorized skateboards on  
            highways, sidewalks, or roadways.


          6)Authorizes a transit development board to adopt ordinances,  
            rules, or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions  
            for, the use of electrically motorized skateboards on property  








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            under the control of, or any portion of property used by, the  
            board.


          7)Authorizes public agencies, including, but not limited to, the  
            Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the  
            California State University, to adopt rules or regulations to  
            restrict, or specify the conditions for, the use of electrically  
            motorized skateboards on public property under the jurisdiction  
            of that agency.


          EXISTING LAW:  


          1)Prohibits motorized skateboards on sidewalks, roadways,  
            highways, bikeways, bicycle paths, trails, equestrian trails,  
            hiking trails, and recreational trails.


          2)Authorizes local authorities to adopt rules and regulations by  
            ordinance or resolution prohibiting or restricting persons from  
            riding skateboards on highways, sidewalks, or roadways.


          3)Authorizes a transit development board to adopt ordinances,  
            rules, or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions  
            for, the use of bicycles, motorized bicycles, skateboards, and  
            roller skates on property under the control of, or any portion  
            of property used by, the board.


          4)Authorizes public agencies, including, but not limited to, the  
            Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the  
            California State University, to adopt rules or regulations to  
            restrict, or specify the conditions for, the use of bicycles,  
            motorized bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates on public  
            property under the jurisdiction of that agency.









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          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, negligible fiscal impact.


          COMMENTS:  Current law prohibits the use of motorized skateboards  
          in California.  This prohibition has been in place since 1977 and  
          came about in response to skateboards that were being equipped  
          with loud, polluting gas motors and that had no brakes or other  
          safety features. The motorized skateboard of the 21st century is a  
          very different product.  The boards are difficult to distinguish  
          from regular skateboards while in use, are silent and produce no  
          emissions, and include brakes. 


          This bill defines an electrically motorized skateboard and  
          authorizes local governments and other specified entities, such as  
          universities on their campuses, to regulate their use.   
          Effectively, this bill treats electrically motorized skateboards  
          the same way that current law treats skateboards. According to the  
          author, the current prohibition on motorized skateboards "directly  
          affects manufacturers that build this product right here in  
          California.  It is unacceptable that an environmentally conscious  
          and safe product, assembled and designed in our state, cannot be  
          legally operated under existing law." 


          While there appears to be little reason to continue to ban  
          motorized skateboards, the boards do raise safety concerns with  
          respect to use by children.  These boards can reach speeds of up  
          to 20 miles per hour and, unlike bicycles, do not have handlebars  
          or some other steering mechanism to help the rider maintain  
          control.  Younger children may not have the level of maturity or  
          judgment necessary to safely operate a motorized skateboard.   
          Limiting the use of these devices to those 16 and over would  
          enhance safety for both riders and for other road and sidewalk  
          users with whom riders will come into contact.










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          Analysis Prepared by:                                               
          Anya Lawler / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093  FN: 0000358