BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 604|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
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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
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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.
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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
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