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.








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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


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