BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 604| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIRD READING Bill No: AB 604 Author: Olsen (R), et al. Amended: 6/24/15 in Senate Vote: 21 SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 10-1, 6/16/15 AYES: Beall, Cannella, Bates, Gaines, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire, Mendoza, Roth, Wieckowski NOES: Allen SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8 ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 61-8, 5/18/15 - See last page for vote SUBJECT: Electrically motorized skateboards SOURCE: Author DIGEST: This bill allows electrically motorized skateboards to be operated on sidewalks, roads and bike paths unless prohibited by a local government, with specified restrictions. ANALYSIS: Existing law: 1)Prohibits the use of motorized skateboards on any sidewalk, roadway, bikepath, or trail. 2)Requires helmets for persons under 18 when operating a bicycle, non-motorized scooter, roller skates, or non-motorized skateboard. AB 604 Page 2 This bill: 1)Creates a new type of vehicle known as an "electrically motorized skateboard," which is a four-wheeled device that is a) designed to be stood upon, b) not longer than five feet, c) not wider than 18 inches, d) designed to transport only one person, and e) equipped with an electric propulsion system of less than 1,000 watts (i.e., about 1.34 horsepower) with a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour on a level paved surface. 2)Allows electrically motorized skateboards to be used only by persons aged 14 or older. 3)Requires users under 18 years of age to wear a helmet. 4)Makes it illegal to operate an electrically motorized skateboard while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 5)Exempts electrically motorized skateboards from the prohibition on the use of motorized skateboards on sidewalks, roads, bike paths, equestrian trails, or recreational trails. 6)Authorizes local governments and other public agencies to establish regulations prohibiting or restricting the use of electrically motorized skateboards. Comments Purpose. The author believes that the current prohibition on motorized skateboards is archaic, having been established in 1977 and targeted at skateboards with dirty, noisy gas motors. Newer electric-powered skateboards are cleaner and quieter, and provide an alternative, clean mode of transportation. More choice. Providing Californians with choices in their modes for transportation is one of the keys to meeting our greenhouse gas reduction goals. This is particularly helpful in leveraging the use of transit, as these other transportation modes can help people cover the parts of their trips which the transit services do not. AB 604 Page 3 FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.:YesLocal: Yes SUPPORT: (Verified7/6/15) Boosted, Inc. Inboard Sports Five individuals OPPOSITION: (Verified7/6/15) American College of Emergency Physicians ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 61-8, 5/18/15 AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Dababneh, Dahle, Dodd, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Gipson, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Wilk, Atkins NOES: Campos, Frazier, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Rendon, Weber, Williams NO VOTE RECORDED: Bonta, Cooper, Daly, Eggman, Eduardo Garcia, Gordon, Kim, Mathis, Melendez, Nazarian, Wood Prepared by:Randy Chinn / T. & H. / (916) 651-4121 7/7/15 17:15:50 **** END **** AB 604 Page 4